Compare the2024 Ford EdgeVS 2024 Mercedes GLC

The Ford Edge has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GLC doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Edge has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The GLC doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Edge. But it costs extra on the GLC.

The Edge’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLC.

Both the Edge and the GLC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available front and rear parking sensors.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Edge 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLC. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the GLC ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 8 times as many Ford dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Edge’s warranty.

The Edge has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The GLC doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Edge has a standard 175-amp alternator. The GLC’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Edge’s reliability 51 points higher than the GLC.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 7 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Edge ST’s standard 2.7 turbo V6 produces 80 more horsepower (335 vs. 255) and 85 lbs.-ft. more torque (380 vs. 295) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Edge uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The GLC requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Edge has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC (18.5 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Edge has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The GLC doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Edge stops shorter than the GLC:

For better traction, the Edge has larger standard tires than the GLC (245/60R18 vs. 235/60R18). The Edge ST’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLC (265/40R21 vs. 255/45R20).

The Edge ST’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLC’s optional 45 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Edge ST offers optional 21-inch wheels. The GLC’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Edge ST handles at .88 G’s, while the GLC 300 4MATIC pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Edge ST executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the GLC 300 4MATIC (26 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

The front grille of the Edge uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The GLC doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Edge ST uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The GLC doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Edge has 1.9 inches more front legroom, 3 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear legroom and 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLC.

The Edge has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLC with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 21.9 cubic feet). The Edge has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLC with its rear seat folded (73.4 vs. 56.3 cubic feet).

The Edge’s cargo area is larger than the GLC’s in every dimension:

The Edge ST can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Edge can be unhitched and driven around locally. The GLC can’t be towed flat on the ground.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Edge has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLC only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Edge’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the GLC’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Ford Edge has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Ford Edge outsold the Mercedes GLC by almost three to one during 2023.