2019
New 2021
Used 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

Mercedes-Benz GLC Change Vehicle

Unlock Ratings
Furthering its model name revitalization, Mercedes-Benz replaced the sharp-edged GLK compact SUV with a softer-shaped, more refined GLC. The GLC slots between the entry-level GLA and mid-sized GLE.
Alerts
There are 10 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.
2019
New 2021
Used 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

Mercedes-Benz GLC

Reliability
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Owner Satisfaction
See All
Crash and Rollover Tests
IIHS Front Moderate Overlap Good
IIHS Front Small Overlap, Driver Good
IIHS Side Crash Good
NHTSA Frontal-Crash, Driver
NHTSA Frontal-Crash, Passenger
See All

Road Test Results

Performance
Acceleration Acceleration Acceleration tests are conducted on a smooth, flat pavement straightaway at the track. Time, speed, and distance measurements are taken with a precise GPS-based device that’s hooked to a data-logging computer.
0 to 60 mph 0 to 60 mph (sec.) The time in seconds that a vehicle takes to reach 60 mph from a standstill with the engine idling.
Transmission Transmission Transmission performance is determined by shifting smoothness, response, shifter action, and clutch actuation for manual transmissions.
Braking Braking The braking rating is a composite of wet and dry stopping distances and pedal feel. Braking distance is from 60 mph, with no wheels locked.
Emergency Handling Emergency Handling Several factors go into the rating, including the avoidance maneuver speed and confidence, as well as how the vehicle behaves when pushed to its limit.
Comfort / Convenience
Ride Ride Our expert judgment of how well the suspension isolates and absorbs road imperfections and how steady it keeps the body on various road surfaces.
Noise Noise Our expert judgment of the vehicle's interior noise level in everyday driving.
Front Seat Comfort Front Seat Comfort Our judgment of how comfortable the front seat is for drivers of various heights.
Rear Seat Comfort Rear Seat Comfort Our judgment of how comfortable the rear seat is for two passengers to sit across.
Interior Fit and Finish Interior Fit and Finish An expert evaluation of the interior quality and craftsmanship.
Trunk/Cargo Area Trunk/Cargo Area Our rating is based on the amount of luggage or cargo space that a vehicle has in the trunk or cargo area.
Fuel Economy & Emissions
Fuel Economy Fuel Economy We perform our own fuel-economy tests, independent of the government's often-quoted EPA figures and the manufacturers' claims. Using a precise fuel-flow measuring device spliced into the fuel line, we run two separate circuits to represent city and highway consumption.
CR's Overall Mileage CR's Overall Mileage CR's overall mileage is a composite of measured fuel usage on a prescribed city course and highway cruising; and CR's 150-mile test trip of mixed driving, if tested. In recent road tests, we've discontinued the 150-mile trip test.
CR's City Mileage CR's City Mileage Measured fuel usage on a prescribed city course.
CR's Highway Mileage CR's Highway Mileage Measured fuel usage on a prescribed highway cruising.
Annual Fuel Cost Annual Fuel Cost The cost and amount of fuel used in 12,000 miles and is calculated from CR's overall mileage.
Greenhouse Gas Greenhouse Gas The Greenhouse Gas Rating represents the amount of carbon dioxide the vehicle emits compared to other vehicles of the same model year. This score from the EPA ranges from 1 (worst) to 10 (best).
NA
Smog Rating Smog Rating The Smog Rating represents the amount of health-damaging and smog-forming airborne pollutants the vehicle emits compared to other vehicles of the same model year. This score from the EPA ranges from 1 (worst) to 10 (best).
NA

Owner Reports

Worse Better
Reliability History Reliability History The reliability charts are based on responses on hundreds of thousands of vehicles from our latest Annual Auto Survey. Consumer Reports subscribers reported on any serious problems they had with their vehicles during the past 12 months that they considered serious because of cost, failure, safety, or downtime, in any of the trouble spots included in the table below. The results are presented relative to the average model that year. Extra weight is given to the more serious areas such as major engine or transmission problems. Based on this data and further analysis, we predict reliability for the latest year. N/A indicates that we did not receive a large enough sample size to provide data for a specific year. An X indicates that the vehicle was not manufactured for a specific year.
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Reliability Trouble Spots
Engine Major Engine Major Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbo or supercharger, timing chain or timing belt.
NA
Engine Minor Engine Minor Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, oil leaks.
NA
Engine Cooling Engine Cooling Radiator, cooling fan, antifreeze leaks, water pump, thermostat, overheating.
NA
Transmission Major Transmission Major Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, clutch replacement.
NA
Transmission Minor Transmission Minor Gear selector or linkage, leaks, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission.
NA
Drive System Drive System Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, 4WD/AWD components, driveline vibration, traction control, electronic stability control (ESC), electrical failure.
NA
View all Reliability
Owner Satisfaction Owner Satisfaction To learn about satisfaction, CR has collected survey data from our annual survey on more than half a million vehicles. Our subscribers provide great insights into their satisfaction by answering one simple question: If they had it to do all over again, would they definitely buy or lease the same model? In addition, respondents also rate their cars in six categories: driving experience, comfort, value, styling, audio, and climate systems. N/A indicates that we did not receive a large enough sample size to provide data for a specific year. An X indicates that the vehicle was not manufactured for a specific year.
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Driving Experience Driving Experience Includes acceleration and handling
Comfort Comfort Includes seats, climate control, noise, and ride
Value Value Did you get what you wanted relative to the price you paid?
Styling Styling How it looks inside and out
View all Owner Satisfaction
Safety Equipment
ABS and ESC standard. Side and head protection air bags standard.
Road Test

Furthering its model name revitalization, Mercedes-Benz replaced the sharp-edged GLK compact SUV with a softer-shaped, more refined GLC. The GLC slots between the entry-level GLA and mid-sized GLE.

With bones coming from the excellent C-Class sedan, the GLC swaddles its occupants in a luxurious leather-lined cabin, quiet solitude, and the solid, substantial and sophisticated driving experience typical of Mercedes that convinces people to part with a considerable chunk of change.

Seating
2 front, 3 rear
Drive Wheels
AWD , Rear
Warranty
Coverage varies among versions of this vehicle

In most cases, automotive warranties are based on the vehicle identification number (VIN), and the warranty will be valid regardless of ownership. The dealership can tell you exactly how much warranty is left.

Read more about extended warranties
Body Styles
4-door SUV
Transmissions Available
  • 7-speed Automatic
  • 9-speed Automatic
Engines Available
  • 2-liter 4 turbo (241 hp)
  • 2-liter 4 hybrid (315 hp)
  • 3-liter V6 turbo (362 hp)
  • 4-liter V8 turbo (469 hp)

Owner Reported Trouble Spots

The Reliability score is based on our latest subscriber survey of 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC owners. The owner comments describe problems respondents experienced with this vehicle.

In-car Electronics

CD or DVD players, radio, speakers, GPS, communication system (e.g., OnStar), display screen freezes or goes blank, phone pairing (e.g. Bluetooth), voice control commands, steering wheel controls, portable music device interface (e.g., iPod/MP3 player), backup or other camera/sensors.

What Owners Say

Backup or other camera/sensors

"no audible warnings when backing up. MERCEDES-BENZ refused to do anything about it!"

Anonymous, FL (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC)
In-dash navigation system (GPS)

"The navigation software program is defective. It is interrupted by phone calls and the screen goes black and the only way to return to work means looking down between the seats and trying to dial and scroll through various menus which is highly dangerous. A phone call will blacken out your entire navigation screen. The only way to turn back to navigation is to look down at you scroll bar and take your eyes off the road. Highly dangerous. In addition the speech recognition program is not accurate. As well as many addresses in the United States do not seem to be recognized by the program. Even the MERCEDES-BENZ people could not get it to find addresses in Chicago."

Anonymous, IL (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC GLC300 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Phone pairing (e.g., Bluetooth)

"The automatic update on contacts did not work properly. I turned it off and use manual m"

Anonymous, (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC GLC300 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Radio

"HORRIBLE system. You have to take your eyes off the road to change radio stations, or change media. Very complicated. Why are there NO TUNING BUTTONS for radio stations. Insultingly, when you start the car, a message appears on the screen telling the driver “Do not let the system distract you from traffic”. How about designing a non-distracting system?? For $2000 extra, apparently there is a voice controlled system, but the sales person never mentioned this fact."

Anonymous, CA (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC GLC300 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Voice control commands

"UNABLE TO VOICE CALL ON PHONE OR TO SET NAVI BY VOICE."

Henry A., TX (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC GLC300 3.0-L V6 turbo)
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Fuel System

Check engine light, sensors (includes O2 or oxygen sensor), emission control devices (includes EGR), engine computer, engine computer, fuel cap, fuel gauge/sender, fuel injection system, fuel pump, fuel leaks, stalling or hesitation.

What Owners Say

Fuel pump

"Second day of the new car a tube that connects the fuel pump was disconnected resulted in combustion engine not working at all."

Fan F., CA (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC GLC300 2.0-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Sensors (includes O2 or oxygen sensor)

"Warning light glitch"

Anonymous, CA (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC 2.0-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Body Integrity

Squeaks, rattles, wind noises, loose or cracked seals and/or weather-stripping, air and water leaks.

What Owners Say

Squeaks or rattles

"the driver's side rear seat and the door I believe were misaligned. The door is still misaligned. The latter just looks poor. The squeaks were fixed."

Anonymous, ON (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC GLC300 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Wind noise

"Wind noise above 40 mph. The solution is thicker glass, which I will have installed (warranty) as soon as the Covid 19 issue has settled some."

Anonymous, WA (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC GLC300 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Engine Cooling

Radiator, cooling fan, antifreeze leaks, water pump, thermostat, overheating.

What Owners Say

Overheating

"Upon driving away from the dealership immediately following Service B, my car started smoking. I had to leave the car with the dealership another 2 days."

Anonymous, LA (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC GLC300 Unsure)
Water pump

"It failed and had to be replaced"

Anonymous, (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC Unsure 2.0-L 4 Cyl hybrid)

Engine Minor

Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, oil leaks.

What Owners Say

Engine computer

"A software update was required to correct an issue with erroneous illumination of the check engine light"

Anonymous, (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC Unsure 2.0-L 4 Cyl hybrid)
Fuel leaks

"Check engine light is on 4 times after they said fixed; In the last repair, they said it was leaking fuel vapor due to high compression in the engine system."

Jaesub L., TX (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC GLC300 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Transmission Minor

Gear selector or linkage, leaks, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission.

What Owners Say

Slipping transmission

"WHEN I AM STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL THE CAR WILL DOWNSHIFT WITH A JERK IN ABOUR 30 SECONDS"

Henry A., TX (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC GLC300 3.0-L V6 turbo)

Paint/Trim

Paint (fading, chalking, cracking, or peeling), loose interior and exterior trim or moldings, rust.

What Owners Say

Loose exterior trim or moldings

"Rear trip piece loose at one end. Replaced by dealer under warranty."

Anonymous, IA (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC GLC300 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Electric System

Alternator, starter, hybrid battery and related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, distributor or rotor failure, spark plugs and wires failure.

What Owners Say

Keyless entry

"Needed new battery. Dealership provided at no cost"

Anonymous, IL (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC GLC300 Unsure)

Exhaust

Muffler, pipes, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, leaks.

What Owners Say

Other/unsure

"While driving down the street or backing up if there are plants that are waving in wind all the warning lights and noise sensors go off frantically because the car thinks you were going to hit a pedestrian Or another car"

Anonymous, IL (2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC GLC300 2.0-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Body Hardware

Power or manual windows, locks and latches, tailgate, hatch or trunk, doors or sliding doors, mirrors, seat controls, safety belts, sunroof, convertible top.

Brakes

Antilock system (ABS), parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, rotors, pulsation or vibration, squeaking, brake failure or wear.

Engine Major

Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbo or supercharger, timing chain or timing belt.

Suspension

Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.

Drive System

Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, 4WD/AWD components, driveline vibration, traction control, electronic stability control (ESC), electrical failure.

Climate System

Blower (fan) motor, A/C compressor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate control, refrigerant leakage, electrical failure.

Power Equipment

Cruise control, clock, warning lights, body control module, keyless entry, wiper motor or washer, tire pressure monitor, interior or exterior lights, horn, gauges, 12V power plug, remote engine start, alarm or security system

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