Compare the2025 Mercedes GLCVS 2025 Cadillac XT4

The GLC’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The XT4 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The GLC has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The XT4 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The GLC has standard Post-Collision Brake, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The XT4 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.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLC offers optional Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The XT4 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

The GLC’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The XT4 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GLC and the XT4 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, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

The Mercedes GLC has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” to “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The XT4 has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

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 Cadillac vehicles. With 8 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Cadillac.

The GLC 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 20 more horsepower (255 vs. 235) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 258) than the XT4’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The GLC 350e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 78 more horsepower (313 vs. 235) and 148 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 258) than the XT4’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the GLC 300 is faster than the Cadillac XT4:

On the EPA test cycle the GLC running on electricity gets better mileage than the XT4:

On the EPA test cycle the GLC running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the XT4:

The GLC 350e can travel with zero emissions for 54 miles. The XT4 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the GLC’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The XT4 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The GLC has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port on the 350e which lock and unlock with the power locks. The XT4 doesn’t offer a locking fuel filler door. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

For better stopping power the GLC’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XT4:

The GLC stops much shorter than the XT4:

For better traction, the GLC’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT4 (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R20).

The GLC has a standard automatic load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The XT4 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The GLC’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 XT4 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLC’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the XT4 (113.1 inches vs. 109.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLC is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the XT4.

The GLC 300 4MATIC handles at .88 G’s, while the XT4 Sport AWD pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the GLC has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XT4 (8.2 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the GLC to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The GLC has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 4.5 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 8.5 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the XT4.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GLC’s rear seats recline. The XT4’s rear seats don’t recline.

The GLC has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XT4 with its rear seat folded (56.3 vs. 48.9 cubic feet).

The GLC’s cargo area is larger than the XT4’s in almost every dimension:

Pressing a button automatically lowers the GLC’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XT4 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The GLC’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT4’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

The engine in the GLC is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XT4. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the XT4, the GLC 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’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The XT4’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the GLC 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 XT4 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLC to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The XT4 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

The XT4’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The GLC’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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 XT4.

The GLC’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The XT4 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Motor Trend selected the GLC as their 2017 Sport Utility of the Year. The XT4 has never been chosen.

The Mercedes GLC outsold the Cadillac XT4 by 77% during 2023.