Compare the2025 Genesis GV80VS 2025 Mercedes GLC

Both the GV80 and GLC have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The GV80 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’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.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Genesis GV80 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Mercedes GLC has not been tested.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GV80. But it costs extra on the GLC.

The GV80’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.

Both the GV80 and the GLC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, front seat center airbag, 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The GV80 comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes free 24-hour roadside assistance. The GLC’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Genesis’ powertrain warranty covers the GV80 6 years and 50,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLC. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the GLC ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The GV80’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the GLC’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Genesis pays for scheduled maintenance on the GV80 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Genesis 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.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the GV80’s reliability 21 points higher than the GLC.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GV80 third among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The 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 Genesis vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Genesis above average in initial quality. With 22 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 Genesis vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes With 18 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Genesis higher than Mercedes.

The GV80 2.5T’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 45 more horsepower (300 vs. 255) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 295) than the GLC 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The GV80 3.5T’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 62 more horsepower (375 vs. 313) than the GLC 350e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the GV80 3.5T 3.5 turbo V6 is faster than the GLC 350e:

The GV80 has 8.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC 350e’s standard fuel tank (21.1 vs. 12.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The GV80 has 4.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC’s standard fuel tank (21.1 vs. 16.4 gallons).

For better stopping power the GV80’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLC:

The GV80 stops shorter than the GLC:

For better traction, the GV80 has larger tires than the GLC (265/40R22 vs. 235/60R18). The GV80’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLC (265/40R22 vs. 255/45R20).

The GV80’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLC’s standard 60 series tires. The GV80’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the GLC’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GV80 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the GLC. The GV80’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the GLC.

The GV80 offers an optional 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’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GV80’s wheelbase is 3.2 inches longer than on the GLC (116.3 inches vs. 113.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GV80 is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than on the GLC.

The GV80 Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GLC 300 4MATIC (26.9 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the GV80 3.5T has a liquid-filled front engine mount. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The GLC uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The front grille of the GV80 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The GLC doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The GV80 Prestige uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The GLC doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The GV80 offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the GLC can only carry 5.

The GV80 has .9 inches more front legroom, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLC.

The GV80’s cargo area provides more volume than the GLC.

The GV80’s cargo area is larger than the GLC’s in every dimension:

The GV80’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the GLC’s (6000 vs. 3500 pounds).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the GV80 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLC only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the GV80 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The GLC doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The GV80 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 GLC.

The GV80 Prestige/3.5T has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the GLC.

Both the Genesis GV80 and the Mercedes GLC have a standard Qi wireless phone charging system in the front seat. To easily keep personal devices charged in the second row seat, without cables tangling and wearing out, the GV80 also offers an optional wireless charging system in the second row seat. The GLC does not.

The GV80 Advanced/Prestige’s Smart Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Smart Parking Assist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The GLC’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Genesis GV80, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes GLC isn't recommended.

The GV80 was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2021. The GLC has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.