Compare the2025 Porsche CayenneVS 2025 Mercedes AMG GLC

Both the Cayenne and AMG GLC have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Cayenne 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 AMG GLC’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 Porsche Cayenne has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The AMG GLC doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Cayenne helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The AMG GLC doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Cayenne’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 AMG GLC.

Both the Cayenne and the AMG GLC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cayenne second among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The AMG GLC isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in initial quality. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Porsche above average in long-term dependability. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Porsche vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Porsche 21 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 58 more horsepower (729 vs. 671) than the AMG GLC 63 S E Performance’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Cayenne E-Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 2 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG GLC 43’s standard fuel tank (18.4 vs. 16.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Cayenne’s standard fuel tank has 6.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG GLC 63 S E Performance’s standard fuel tank (23.7 vs. 17.2 gallons).

For better stopping power the Cayenne CCB’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG GLC:

The Cayenne Turbo has standard air brakes, which adjust the spoiler automatically during high-speed braking in order to shorten stopping distances. The AMG GLC doesn’t offer air brakes.

For better traction, the Cayenne’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the AMG GLC (F:285/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. F:265/45R20 & R:295/40R20).

The Cayenne’s optional 315/35R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG GLC’s optional 38 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Cayenne offers optional 22-inch wheels. The AMG GLC’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The Cayenne Base/S has a standard space-saver spare (not available on E-Hybrid) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the AMG GLC; it requires you to depend on its optional run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Cayenne offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Mercedes doesn’t offer an active suspension on the AMG GLC.

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

For better maneuverability, the Cayenne’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the AMG GLC 63 S E Performance’s (39.7 feet vs. 40.4 feet). The Cayenne’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the AMG GLC 43’s (39.7 feet vs. 40.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Cayenne E-Hybrid has a 2.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the AMG GLC 63 S E Performance (8.2 vs. 5.7 inches), allowing the Cayenne to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid’s minimum ground clearance is 3.3 inches higher than on the AMG GLC 43 (9.5 vs. 6.2 inches).

The front grille of the Cayenne uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The AMG GLC doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Cayenne has .4 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room and 2.9 inches more rear legroom than the AMG GLC.

The Cayenne has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the AMG GLC with its rear seat up (27.3 vs. 21.9 cubic feet). The Cayenne has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the AMG GLC with its rear seat folded (60.3 vs. 59.3 cubic feet).

The Cayenne’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the AMG GLC’s (7716 vs. 3500 pounds).

A trailer sway control is standard on the Cayenne, using the Porsche Stability Management 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 AMG GLC.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Porsche service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Porsche second in service department satisfaction. With a 36% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 17th.

The Cayenne’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The AMG GLC does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the Cayenne has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The AMG GLC doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

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

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Cayenne’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The AMG GLC doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Cayenne has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the AMG GLC.

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

The Cayenne’s Active Parking Assistance can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote ParkAssist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The AMG GLC’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Porsche Cayenne, based on reliability, safety and performance.