Compare the2026 Mercedes GLCVS 2026 Nissan Murano

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 Murano 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 Murano doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The GLC has standard Post-Collision Brake, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Murano 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.

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

Both the GLC and Murano have rear cross-traffic warning, but the GLC has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Murano’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the GLC and the Murano have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, 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, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

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

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

The GLC 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 14 more horsepower (255 vs. 241) and 35 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 260) than the Murano’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The GLC 350e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 72 more horsepower (313 vs. 241) and 146 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 260) than the Murano’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes GLC is faster than the Nissan Murano:

	GLC 300	GLC 350e	Murano
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	6 sec	7.7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	14.4 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.8 MPH	96.6 MPH	91.2 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the GLC 350e running on electricity gets better mileage than the Murano (60 city/70 hwy MPGe vs. 21 city/27 hwy).

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

			MPG
GLC
	RWD	300 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/32 hwy
	AWD	300 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/31 hwy
		350e 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/28 hwy
Murano
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy

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

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

The GLC has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port on the 350e, which lock and unlock with the power locks. The Murano doesn’t offer a locking fuel filler door. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

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

The GLC stops much shorter than the Murano:

	GLC	Murano
60 to 0 MPH	106 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

The GLC’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Murano Platinum’s 50 series tires.

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

The GLC has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Murano doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

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 Murano doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLC’s wheelbase is 1.9 inches longer than on the Murano (113.1 inches vs. 111.2 inches).

The GLC 300 4MATIC handles at .87 G’s, while the Murano Platinum pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The GLC 350e executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Murano Platinum (26.2 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

The GLC is 7.2 inches shorter than the Murano, making the GLC easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Mercedes GLC amounts to more than styling. The GLC has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Murano (.34) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GLC get better fuel mileage.

The GLC has .2 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more rear legroom and 1.4 inches more rear hip room than the Murano.

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

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

Optional Trailer Stability Assist on the GLC uses the Electronic Stability Program sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Murano doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Murano SL/Platinum, the GLC has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

If the windows are left open on the GLC the driver can close all of them 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 Murano can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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. Intelligent Key standard on the Murano doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The GLC’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Murano’s power window and power mirror switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The GLC’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 Murano’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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 Murano 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’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Murano’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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

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 Murano 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 Murano Platinum.

The Mercedes GLC 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. Nissan charges extra for Homelink® on the Murano.

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

The GLC is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Murano doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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

The Mercedes GLC outsold the Nissan Murano by over three to one during 2024.