Compare the2026 Mercedes GLCVS 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan

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 Tiguan doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 Tiguan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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 Tiguan doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

The GLC’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Tiguan doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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

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 is much safer than the Tiguan:

The Mercedes GLC 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 Tiguan is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

The GLC’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Tiguan’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

J.D. Power and Associates rated the GLC first among compact premium suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Tiguan isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 15 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volkswagen.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen With 42 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volkswagen.

The GLC has more powerful engines than the Tiguan:

As tested in Motor Trend the GLC 300 is faster than the Volkswagen Tiguan turbo 4 cyl.:

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

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

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

The GLC has a tether attaching its gas cap to prevent its loss. The Tiguan’s gas cap isn’t tethered, so it can be left at a gas station if the driver forgets to screw the cap back in.

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 Tiguan.

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

The GLC’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the Tiguan 4Motion® are solid, not vented.

The GLC stops much shorter than the Tiguan:

For better traction, the GLC has larger standard tires than the Tiguan (235/60R18 vs. 215/65R17).

The GLC’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Tiguan’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLC has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Tiguan.

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

The GLC’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Tiguan doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLC’s wheelbase is 3.2 inches longer than on the Tiguan (113.1 inches vs. 109.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLC is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Tiguan.

The GLC 300 4MATIC handles at .87 G’s, while the Tiguan SE pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The GLC 350e executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Tiguan SE (26.2 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the GLC has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Tiguan (8.2 vs. 7 inches), allowing the GLC to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The GLC has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front legroom, 4.6 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room, 5 inches more rear hip room and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Tiguan.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GLC’s rear seats recline. The Tiguan’s rear seats don’t recline.

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

The GLC’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tiguan’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds).

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

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. KESSY Keyless Access standard on the Tiguan 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 Tiguan doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

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 Tiguan offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Mercedes GLC has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Tiguan SEL.

Compared to the Volkswagen Tiguan, the Mercedes GLC eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries with its standard integrated Homelink® universal remote controlled from the rear view mirror.

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