Compare the2025 Mercedes GLCVS 2025 Lincoln Nautilus

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 Nautilus 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 Nautilus doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The GLC 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 Nautilus doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GLC 4MATIC’s standard Downhill Speed Regulation allows you to creep down safely. The Nautilus 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 offers optional Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the GLC and the Nautilus 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

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 Lincoln vehicles. With 18 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Lincoln.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln With 33 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Lincoln.

The GLC 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 5 more horsepower (255 vs. 250) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 280) than the Nautilus’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The GLC 350e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 3 more horsepower (313 vs. 310) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 295) than the Nautilus’ optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the GLC 300 is faster than the Lincoln Nautilus:

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

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

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

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLC, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Nautilus.

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

The GLC stops much shorter than the Nautilus:

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

The GLC 300 4MATIC handles at .88 G’s, while the Nautilus Black Label pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLC 300 4MATIC executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Nautilus Black Label (27.3 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the GLC has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Nautilus (8.2 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the GLC to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The GLC is 7.5 inches shorter than the Nautilus, making the GLC easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The GLC has 1.7 inches more front headroom, 2.2 inches more front hip room and 2 inches more rear hip room than the Nautilus.

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

The GLC’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Nautilus’ (3500 vs. 0 pounds).

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

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Nautilus, 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 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 Nautilus doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The GLC’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Intelligent Access standard on the Nautilus 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 optional on the GLC to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Nautilus doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

The GLC’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Nautilus has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The GLC is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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

The Mercedes GLC outsold the Lincoln Nautilus by 65% during 2023.