Performance

The GLC has always been available in AMG® variants for those who want the most performance out of their SUVs. For the 2018 model year, there’s a brand-new model named the GLC 43. It is propelled by a 3.0-liter bi-turbo V6 that churns out 362 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque. Joined to a 9-speed automatic transmission, this engine enables a 0-60 mph speed of 4.8 seconds. The 2018 Audi Q5 comes with just one engine: a much smaller and tamer 2.0-liter TFSI® inline 4-cylinder that provides 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. That’s 110 less horsepower and 111 less lb-ft of torque than the GLC’s top-level engine. Plus, at 5.9 seconds, its 0-60 mph time is 1.1 seconds slower. So, the Mercedes-Benz is the obvious choice if you want to maximize acceleration ability for merging into traffic and switching lanes quicker and more effectively.

Drivetrain Choice

As SUVs, all-wheel drive is available on both the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC and the 2018 Audi Q5 for optimizing traction, especially on surfaces made slippery by rain, snow, or ice. However, the GLC also offers the choice of a rear-wheel drive, which creates better distribution of the vehicle’s weight, since the engine is placed in the front and power is sent to the rear wheels. The result is improved handling ability and gas mileage. Rear-wheel drive is not available on the Q5.

Headlight Effectiveness

Perhaps the most touted quality of the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC —at least according to the automaker’s website—is its TOP SAFETY PICK + designation, which is the highest honor awarded by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). This is mainly because the crossover SUV scored the top-level “Good” rating on all five crashworthiness test categories used by the IIHS, as well as the top-rated “Superior” rating in terms of front crash prevention ability. Granted, the 2018 Audi Q5 also has the TOP SAFETY PICK + for exactly the same reason. However, it’s in the evaluation of the headlights where the GLC sets itself apart from its Audi counterpart. According to the IIHS, about 50 percent of all fatal crashes in the United States occur in the dark, and more than 25 percent of them occur on unlit roads. So, the organization tests each vehicle on how effective their exterior illumination is. The 2018 GLC performs exceptionally in this area, bagging the top-level “Good” rating. By comparison, the Q5 is rated “Marginal,” which is just a notch above the bottom-level rating (“Poor”).

Ready to try out the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC for yourself? At our dealership in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, we offer a wide range of trim combinations to appeal to the variety of customer tastes. And with sterling aggregated reviews on Google, Cars.com, and DealerRater.com, it’s obvious that we take our customer service very seriously. Call us today to set up an appointment with one of our experienced Mercedes-Benz sales specialists.