Compare the2024 Mercedes GLC CoupeVS 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale

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 Alfa Romeo Tonale 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 Tonale doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 Tonale 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 Tonale 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 Tonale doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the GLC Coupe and Tonale have rear cross-traffic warning, but the GLC Coupe has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Tonale’s Rear Cross-Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the GLC Coupe and the Tonale 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.

There are over 3 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Alfa Romeo dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the GLC Coupe’s warranty.

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 Alfa Romeo vehicles. With 20 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Alfa Romeo.

The GLC Coupe has 6.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Tonale (17.4 vs. 11.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes GLC Coupe higher (7 out of 10) than the Alfa Romeo Tonale (6). This means the GLC Coupe produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Tonale every 15,000 miles.

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 Tonale.

For better stopping power the GLC Coupe’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Tonale:

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 Tonale are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the GLC Coupe has larger standard tires than the Tonale (235/55R19 vs. 225/55R18). The GLC Coupe’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Tonale (F:255/45R20 & R:285/40R20 vs. 235/45R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLC Coupe has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Tonale.

The GLC Coupe has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Tonale; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

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 Tonale doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLC Coupe’s wheelbase is 9.9 inches longer than on the Tonale (113.7 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLC Coupe is 1.7 inches wider in the front and 2.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Tonale.

The GLC Coupe has .1 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Tonale.

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

The GLC Coupe has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Tonale with its rear seat folded (52.6 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

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

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

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

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Tonale, 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. An easy entry system costs extra on the Tonale.

The GLC Coupe offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Tonale doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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. Keyless-Enter-n-Go standard on the Tonale 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 Tonale doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

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

When the GLC Coupe is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Tonale’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the GLC Coupe and the Tonale have standard heated front seats. The GLC Coupe also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Tonale.

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 Tonale’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

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

The Mercedes GLC outsold the Alfa Romeo Tonale by over 19 to one during 2023.