Compare the2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross SportVS 2023 Mercedes GLC

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Atlas Cross Sport are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The GLC doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The GLC doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Atlas Cross Sport 4Motion’s standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The GLC doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLC.

Both the Atlas Cross Sport and the GLC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Atlas Cross Sport its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 50 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GLC has not been tested, yet.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the GLC’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the Atlas Cross Sport for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLC.

There are over 66 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Atlas Cross Sport’s warranty.

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the GLC’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Volkswagen 1 place higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Atlas Cross Sport’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 14 more horsepower (269 vs. 255) than the GLC’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The GLC requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Atlas Cross Sport has 1.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC (18.6 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better traction, the Atlas Cross Sport has larger standard tires than the GLC (245/60R18 vs. 235/60R18). The Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLC (265/45R21 vs. 255/45R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Atlas Cross Sport SEL Premium R-Line has standard 21-inch wheels. The GLC’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Atlas Cross Sport’s wheelbase is 4.2 inches longer than on the GLC (117.3 inches vs. 113.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Atlas Cross Sport is 3.1 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than on the GLC.

The Atlas Cross Sport has 1 inch more front legroom, 4.2 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear legroom, .4 inches more rear hip room and 3.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLC.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLC with its rear seat up (40.3 vs. 21.9 cubic feet). The Atlas Cross Sport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLC with its rear seat folded (77.6 vs. 59.3 cubic feet).

The Atlas Cross Sport offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The GLC doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Atlas Cross Sport SEL to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The GLC doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Atlas Cross Sport has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the GLC.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Volkswagen Atlas outsold the Mercedes GLC by 25% during 2022.