Compare the2025 Mercedes GLC CoupeVS 2025 Ford Bronco

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLC Coupe are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Ford Bronco doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Mercedes GLC Coupe has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Bronco doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The GLC Coupe 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 Bronco doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The GLC Coupe 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 Bronco doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

With its available Active Distance Assist Distronic, the Mercedes GLC Coupe is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Ford Bronco, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	GLC Coupe	Bronco
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	-10 MPH
25 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-3 MPH
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-23 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-10 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-21 MPH
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-22 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	2.1 sec	1 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-26 MPH	-8 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	1 sec	.6 sec

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The GLC Coupe has a standard Maneuvering Brake Function that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Bronco doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GLC Coupe has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the Bronco Big Bend/Outer Banks/Badlands/Stroppe/Raptor/Heritage offers Cross Traffic Alert and the Bronco’s Cross Traffic Alert does not include automatic braking.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the GLC Coupe uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Bronco uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the GLC Coupe and the Bronco have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available lane departure warning systems.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the GLC Coupe is much safer than the Bronco:

	GLC Coupe	Bronco
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE
Chest Rating	GOOD	MARGINAL
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD

The Mercedes GLC Coupe has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 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 Bronco is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

The GLC Coupe comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Bronco’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Reliability

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 Ford With 21 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Ford.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the GLC Coupe gets better mileage than the Bronco 4-Door:

			MPG
GLC Coupe
AWD	Auto	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/31 hwy
Bronco 4-Door
AWD	Manual	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	18 city/22 hwy
		Badlands 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	17 city/18 hwy
		Sasquatch 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	16 city/18 hwy
AWD	Auto	3.0 turbo V6	15 city/16 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	18 city/22 hwy
		Outer Banks 2.7 turbo V6	19 city/21 hwy
		Sasquatch 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	17 city/19 hwy
		Big Bend 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	17 city/19 hwy
		Badlands/Stroppe 2.7 turbo V6	17 city/18 hwy
		Badlands 2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	17 city/17 hwy

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

The GLC Coupe has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Bronco. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes GLC Coupe higher (6 out of 10) than the Ford Bronco (5 to 6). This means the GLC Coupe produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Bronco every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Mercedes GLC Coupe comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the Bronco.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	GLC Coupe	Bronco
Front Rotors	13.5 inches	12.2 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	12.1 inches

Tires and Wheels

The GLC Coupe’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 Bronco Big Bend’s standard 75 series tires. The GLC Coupe’s optional 255/40R21 front and 285/35R21 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the Bronco’s optional 70 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLC Coupe has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Bronco Base. The GLC Coupe’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Bronco Outer Banks.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Mercedes GLC Coupe has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Ford Bronco has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The GLC Coupe has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the GLC Coupe flat and controlled during cornering. The Bronco’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

Chassis

The GLC Coupe is 8.4 inches shorter in height than the Bronco, making the GLC Coupe much easier to wash and garage and drive (lower center of gravity).

Unibody construction lowers the GLC Coupe’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Bronco doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the GLC Coupe easier. The GLC Coupe’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.4 inches, while the Bronco’s liftover is 31 inches.

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

The GLC Coupe’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The Bronco’s swing out door blocks loading from the passenger’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the GLC Coupe’s power cargo door can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Bronco doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening cargo door.

Servicing Ease

The GLC Coupe uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Bronco uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the GLC Coupe, the memory system makes it convenient for all three. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver and front passenger’s seat positions, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle. The Bronco doesn’t offer a memory system.

The GLC Coupe’s standard easy entry and exit feature raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Bronco doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The GLC Coupe 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 Bronco doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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

The GLC Coupe’s standard power window controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Bronco’s available power window controls are spread out on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.

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

The GLC Coupe’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Push Button Start standard on the Bronco only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle. Push Button Start is not available on the Bronco Big Bend/Outer Banks/Badlands/Stroppe/Raptor/Heritage.

The GLC Coupe’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Bronco’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The GLC Coupe’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Bronco’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the GLC Coupe offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Bronco doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The GLC Coupe’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Bronco’s power mirror controls are on the center console where they can’t be seen without the driver completely removing his eyes from the road.

When the GLC Coupe is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Bronco’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The GLC Coupe’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 Bronco offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Both the Mercedes GLC Coupe and Ford Bronco offer exterior mirrors that can be folded to provide convenience. The GLC Coupe features standard power folding mirrors, which allow for easy, one-touch folding or unfolding at the driver’s discretion. This provides added convenience when maneuvering or parking, as well as when walking past the parked vehicle. In comparison, the Bronco’s foldable mirrors are manual, requiring the driver to get out and physically fold them once parked and unfold them before getting in.

The GLC Coupe has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Bronco Big Bend/Outer Banks/Badlands/Stroppe/Raptor/Heritage. The GLC Coupe also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Bronco.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the GLC Coupe keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Bronco doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The GLC Coupe has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Bronco Big Bend/Outer Banks/Badlands/Stroppe/Raptor/Heritage.

Both the GLC Coupe and the Bronco offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the GLC Coupe has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Bronco doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

The Mercedes GLC Coupe has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Ford charges extra for Homelink® on the Bronco and isn’t available on the Bronco Base/Big Bend/Heritage.

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. Only the Bronco Outer Banks/Badlands/Wildtrak/Raptor offers wireless charging and it costs extra.

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

Recommendations

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

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