Compare the2025 Volvo XC60VS 2024 Mercedes GLC Coupe

Both the XC60 and GLC Coupe have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The XC60 Plus/Ultra/Polestar has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The GLC Coupe’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Volvo XC60 offers optional built in child booster seats. They’re more crash worthy than an added child seat because of their direct attachment to the seat. Mercedes doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the GLC Coupe. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; XC60 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the XC60 deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The XC60’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The GLC Coupe’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The XC60 has standard Post-impact braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The GLC Coupe 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.

The XC60’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 Coupe.

Both the XC60 and the GLC Coupe 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, 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 around view monitors.

The XC60’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLC Coupe’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the XC60 for 3 years and 30,000 miles. Volvo will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLC Coupe.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Volvo vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Volvo 4 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The XC60 T8’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 200 more horsepower (455 vs. 255) and 228 lbs.-ft. more torque (523 vs. 295) than the GLC Coupe’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the XC60 T8 Extended Range running on electricity gets better mileage than the GLC 300 Coupe (66 city/60 hwy MPGe vs. 24 city/30 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the XC60 T8 Extended Range 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the GLC 300 Coupe (28 city/28 hwy vs. 24 city/30 hwy).

The XC60 T8 Extended Range can travel with zero emissions for 35 miles. The GLC Coupe can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The XC60 has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC Coupe (18.8 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The XC60 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 Coupe doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLC Coupe:

For better traction, the XC60’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLC Coupe (265/35R22 vs. 255/45R20).

The XC60’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLC Coupe’s optional 45 series front and 40 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the XC60 offers optional 21-inch wheels. The GLC Coupe’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The XC60 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The GLC Coupe’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The XC60 Ultimate has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The XC60’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the XC60 is 1.2 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than on the GLC Coupe.

For better maneuverability, the XC60’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the GLC Coupe’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the XC60 has a 3.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the GLC Coupe (8.5 vs. 5.1 inches), allowing the XC60 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The XC60 has .8 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear legroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLC Coupe.

The XC60 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLC Coupe with its rear seat up (22.4 vs. 19.2 cubic feet). The XC60 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLC Coupe with its rear seat folded (63.3 vs. 52.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the XC60 easier. The XC60’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26 inches, while the GLC Coupe’s liftover is 29.4 inches.

A Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) is standard on the XC60, using the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the GLC Coupe.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the XC60 has a standard rear wiper. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The XC60 offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The GLC Coupe doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The XC60 Ultra offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the GLC Coupe.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the XC60 as the 2018 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The GLC Coupe has never been chosen.