Mercedes GLC and Mercedes GLE are among the brand’s most popular SUVs, but the latest Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) ratings show meaningful differences in their overall safety performance. While both models perform well in crashworthiness testing, the GLC posts stronger crash-prevention results and ultimately earns the higher overall safety rating.
Both Mercedes SUVs Perform Well in Crash Tests
The IIHS evaluates crashworthiness through three primary tests: the side-impact test, the small overlap front test, and the moderate front overlap test. Vehicles receive ratings of Good, Acceptable, Marginal, or Poor.
Both the compact Mercedes GLC and midsize Mercedes GLE earned overall Good ratings in all three crashworthiness evaluations, indicating strong occupant protection in the organization’s major crash tests.
However, the detailed results reveal several differences between the two SUVs.
Moderate Overlap Test Shows Minor Differences
In the moderate front overlap test, both SUVs received an Acceptable rating for potential head and neck injuries affecting rear-seat passengers.
The GLC also earned an Acceptable rating for rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics in the same evaluation. The larger GLE received a Good rating in that category.
GLC Delivers Stronger Side-Impact Performance
During the IIHS side-impact test, the Mercedes GLE received an Acceptable rating because the driver showed a slightly increased risk of torso and pelvis injuries, while rear-seat passengers faced a marginally elevated risk of pelvis injuries.
The Mercedes GLC received Good ratings throughout the side-impact evaluation.
Overall, both SUVs delivered strong crash protection despite these minor differences.
Crash Prevention Gives the GLC the Edge
The IIHS also evaluates crash-prevention technology by measuring how effectively vehicles avoid collisions with pedestrians and other vehicles. Headlight performance is included as part of these evaluations.
Neither SUV achieved perfect results. Both models require optional equipment to improve pedestrian crash-prevention performance, a result that falls short of some lower-priced SUVs.
The GLC produced stronger pedestrian-avoidance results than the GLE. In one nighttime test at 12 mph, the GLC successfully avoided striking an adult pedestrian crossing in front of the vehicle, while the GLE hit the adult dummy.
The GLE also performed less effectively when attempting to avoid a stationary adult pedestrian.
Both SUVs earned Good ratings for their headlights, although only the GLE was evaluated in the vehicle-to-vehicle crash-prevention test.
IIHS Award Favors the Mercedes GLC
Based on its overall performance, the Mercedes GLC earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick award.
The Mercedes GLE did not qualify for one of the organization’s Top Safety Pick awards because of its crash-prevention results.
Final Comparison
The Mercedes GLC-Class costs more than $12,000 less than the Mercedes GLE while achieving stronger overall IIHS safety results. Although both luxury SUVs provide solid occupant protection in crash testing, the GLC’s superior crash-prevention performance and Top Safety Pick designation give it the advantage in this comparison.
