Compare the2024 Mercedes GLC CoupeVS 2024 Mazda CX-50

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLC Coupe have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Mazda CX-50 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The GLC Coupe’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The CX-50 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the GLC Coupe are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The GLC Coupe has standard NECK-PRO front head restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the NECK-PRO front head restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GLC Coupe’s standard Downhill Speed Regulation allows you to creep down safely. The CX-50 doesn’t offer Downhill Speed Regulation.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLC Coupe has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GLC Coupe has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert with Active Brake Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus offers Rear Cross Traffic Braking.

Both the GLC Coupe and the CX-50 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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 lane departure warning systems.

Warranty

The GLC Coupe comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-50’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the GLC Coupe has a 150-amp alternator. The CX-50’s standard 100-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. With 26 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Mazda.

Engine

The GLC Coupe’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 68 more horsepower (255 vs. 187) and 109 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 186) than the CX-50’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the GLC 300 Coupe gets better fuel mileage than the CX-50 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder (24 city/30 hwy vs. 23 city/29 hwy).

Regenerative brakes improve the GLC Coupe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The GLC Coupe has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-50 (17.4 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes GLC Coupe higher (7 out of 10) than the Mazda CX-50 (5 to 7). This means the GLC Coupe produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CX-50 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLC Coupe, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-50.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GLC Coupe’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-50:

	GLC Coupe	GLC Coupe	CX-50
Front Rotors	13.5 inches	14.6 inches	12.8 inches

The GLC Coupe’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CX-50 are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLC Coupe has larger standard tires than the CX-50 (235/55R19 vs. 225/65R17). The GLC Coupe’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-50 (F:255/45R20 & R:285/40R20 vs. 245/45R20).

The GLC Coupe’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-50’s standard 65 series tires. The GLC Coupe’s optional 285/40R20 rear tires have a lower 40 series profile than the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLC Coupe has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the CX-50.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Mercedes GLC Coupe has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda CX-50 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The GLC Coupe has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the GLC Coupe flat and controlled during cornering. The CX-50’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The GLC Coupe’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The CX-50 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLC Coupe’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the CX-50 (113.7 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

Passenger Space

The GLC Coupe has 1.4 inches more front shoulder room and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-50.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GLC Coupe’s rear seats recline. The CX-50’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the GLC Coupe. The CX-50 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the GLC Coupe’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

The GLC Coupe’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CX-50’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

Optional Trailer Stability Assist on the GLC Coupe uses the Electronic Stability Program sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The CX-50 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the GLC Coupe is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the CX-50. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The GLC Coupe has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo, the GLC Coupe has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLC Coupe’s standard easy entry and exit feature raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CX-50 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the GLC Coupe and the CX-50 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the GLC Coupe is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-50 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the GLC Coupe the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the CX-50 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The GLC Coupe’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Advanced Keyless Entry and Start standard on the CX-50 doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the GLC Coupe to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The CX-50 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the GLC Coupe to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The CX-50 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The GLC Coupe’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the CX-50 Preferred/Premium/Turbo.

Both the GLC Coupe and the CX-50 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the GLC Coupe has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The CX-50 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLC has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the CX-50.

The GLC Coupe’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The CX-50 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Motor Trend selected the GLC as their 2017 Sport Utility of the Year. The CX-50 has never been chosen.