Verdict
The RM37,000 saving makes the Mercedes-Benz C-Class the sharper Malaysian buy if you want the quicker car: its 0-100 km/h time is 7.3 seconds versus 7.8 seconds, while annual road tax is only RM90 against RM440. Its 455-litre boot is enough for a sedan, but the Mercedes-Benz GLC’s 620 litres and 62-litre tank suit family trips better. The GLC also brings all-wheel drive, 320 Nm and a four-year warranty, yet costs more to buy and run. Pick the GLC for space and SUV access; pick the C-Class for pace and lower ownership outlay.
C-Class
Pick the Mercedes-Benz C-Class if lower RM90 road tax, a 7.3-second 0-100 km/h time and sedan driving manners matter more than cargo space.
GLC
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLC if you need its 620-litre boot, all-wheel drive and four-year manufacturer warranty.
Key differences
- Price: Mercedes-Benz C-Class RM292,888; Mercedes-Benz GLC RM329,888.
- Road tax: Mercedes-Benz C-Class RM90 per year; Mercedes-Benz GLC RM440 per year.
- Performance: Mercedes-Benz C-Class 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds; Mercedes-Benz GLC in 7.8 seconds.
- Driveline and torque: Mercedes-Benz C-Class rear-wheel drive with 300 Nm; Mercedes-Benz GLC all-wheel drive with 320 Nm.
- Boot space: Mercedes-Benz C-Class 455 litres; Mercedes-Benz GLC 620 litres.
- Warranty: Mercedes-Benz C-Class two years; Mercedes-Benz GLC four years.
C-Class
- RM37,000 lower purchase price and RM350 lower annual road tax
- Quicker 7.3-second 0-100 km/h time and higher 246 km/h top speed
- LED projector headlamps, powered rear sunshade and rear door sunshades
- 455-litre boot trails the GLC’s 620 litres
- Rear-wheel drive rather than the GLC’s all-wheel drive
- Two-year manufacturer warranty is half the GLC’s four years
GLC
- 620-litre boot and 62-litre fuel tank
- All-wheel drive, 320 Nm and front-seat heating
- 360-degree camera and four-year manufacturer warranty
- Costs RM37,000 more and annual road tax is RM440 versus RM90
- Slower 0-100 km/h time of 7.8 seconds versus 7.3 seconds
- LED reflector headlamps instead of the C-Class’s LED projectors
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM292,888✓ | RM329,888 |
| Body type | Sedan | SUV |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM90✓ | RM440 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing, Mild Hybrid Assist |
| Capacity | 1,496 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 201 hp at 5,800 rpm | 201 hp at 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | 300 Nm at 1,800 rpm | 320 Nm at 1,600 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore × Stroke | 78 mm × 78.3 mm | 83 mm × 92.4 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | 10 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 20 hp | 23 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 200 Nm | 205 Nm✓ |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 9G-TRONIC | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | 9 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Mercedes-Benz | — |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.3 seconds✓ | 7.8 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 6.6 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 246 km/h✓ | 221 km/h |
| Co2 | 151 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,751 mm | 4,716 mm |
| Width | 1,820 mm | 1,890 mm |
| Height | 1,437 mm | 1,640 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,865 mm | 2,888 mm |
| Weight | 1,650 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 50 litres | 62 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 455 litres | 620 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/45R18 | 255/45R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 245/40R18 | 285/40R20 |
| Spare Tyre | — | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli Cinturato P7 Run-flat | Continental EcoContact 6 Q |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-Link | Multi-link |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-Link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" 5-spoke 2-tone Alloy | 20" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 18" 5-spoke 2-tone Alloy | 20" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Agility Control Suspension | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on outer two rear seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes (7 to 250 km/h), with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection (7 to 80 km/h) | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Blind Spot Collision Prevention, Rear Cross Traffic Collision Prevention, Active Bonnet | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Auto High Beam | LED Reflectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function and Adjustable Lumbar | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory & Heating |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Rear AC Vents |
| Power Sockets | 4 Front USB-C | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (64 Colours) | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered Rear Sun Shade, Manual Rear Door Window Sun Shades | Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | 11.4" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 8 Speakers | 11.9" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 8 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot, with Contactless Operation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes, Parallel and Perpendicular | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Auto-dimming Mirrors, Qi Wireless Charger, Fingerprint Scanner | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 4 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 2 years | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used C-Class & GLC for sale
C-Class vs GLC FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or Mercedes-Benz GLC better?
The C-Class is better for lower purchase and road-tax costs, plus quicker acceleration. The GLC is better for family carrying duties, with 620 litres of boot space, all-wheel drive and a four-year warranty.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz GLC costs RM329,888, which is RM37,000 more than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class at RM292,888.
Which has more luggage space?
The Mercedes-Benz GLC has the larger boot at 620 litres, exceeding the Mercedes-Benz C-Class’s 455 litres by 165 litres. Both have 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats.
