Mercedes GLC 400 4Matic vs Tesla Mannequin Y AWD Lengthy Vary

Mercedes GLC EQ vs. Tesla Mannequin Y: Mercedes now has a rival for the world’s best-selling electrical automotive. First static comparability between Mercedes GLC 400 4Matic and Tesla Mannequin Y AWD Lengthy Vary.

Launched in January 2020, the Tesla Mannequin Y acquired a facelift originally of 2025, often called the Juniper venture.

With no robust rivals for a number of years, the Tesla Mannequin Y turned the world’s best-selling electrical automotive in 2022, 2023, and 2024 — and in 2023 it was even the best-selling automotive on the earth total, no matter powertrain. In 2023 over 1.2 million items had been offered, and in 2024 over 1 million.

Now, nonetheless, the Tesla Mannequin Y Juniper faces the German premium competitors: Audi Q6 e-tron, Porsche Macan, BMW iX3 and Mercedes GLC EQ — all with related efficiency however a lot increased costs.

Will the German manufacturers handle to dethrone the Tesla Mannequin Y? On this article we made a comparability between the brand new Mercedes GLC EQ — at the moment obtainable solely because the Mercedes GLC 400 4Matic model with two motors producing a complete of 489 PS and a 94 kWh web battery — and the Tesla Mannequin Y AWD Lengthy Vary with two motors producing 514 PS and a 78.4 kWh web battery.

The Tesla Mannequin Y AWD Lengthy Vary prices €52,990, whereas the Mercedes GLC 400 4Matic begins at €71,281. So, a distinction of just about €20,000. Is it value paying the additional quantity?

Dimensions and dimension

The 2 fashions have very related dimensions. At 4,845 mm lengthy, 1,913 mm large, and 1,644 mm tall, the Mercedes GLC EV is 55 mm longer, 7 mm narrower and 20 mm taller than the Tesla Mannequin Y. Though it’s solely 55 mm longer total, the Mercedes GLC EV has a 2,972 mm wheelbase — 82 mm longer than the Mannequin Y. In the course of the first static check on the Munich motor present, the Mercedes felt barely extra spacious within the again, though the seat cushion is shorter than Tesla’s.

Mercedes affords a 40/20/40 cut up rear bench, whereas Tesla’s is 40/60. Nonetheless, Tesla gives electrical actuation for the rear backrest — they are often lowered or raised electrically from the seat base or from the trunk.

Though the Mercedes is barely longer, its trunk is far smaller than Tesla’s, which additionally has an enormous storage compartment underneath the trunk flooring. The Mercedes trunk quantity ranges from 570 to 1,740 liters in comparison with Tesla’s 822–2,138 liters.

As well as, the Tesla Mannequin Y has a 116-liter frunk in comparison with 100 liters within the Mercedes, and the Mannequin Y provides one other handy function: the frunk has a drainage outlet.

Alternatively, the Mercedes can tow a 2,400-kg trailer, whereas the Tesla can tow as much as 1,600 kg.

Powertrain and battery

The Mercedes GLC EQ is constructed on the brand new devoted electrical MB.EA platform with 800-V expertise, whereas Tesla makes use of a 345-V system.

Each fashions have two motors: a permanent-magnet synchronous rear motor and a entrance asynchronous motor that prompts solely when wanted. Mercedes {couples} the rear motor to a 2-speed gearbox with 11:1 in first gear and 5:1 in second, whereas the Mannequin Y has a single-speed rear transmission.

Each use NMC lithium-ion batteries, however with fully completely different architectures. Tesla makes use of cylindrical cells organized in a cell-to-pack construction — a extra fashionable answer with superior cooling. The Mercedes GLC EV makes use of prismatic cells grouped into modules.

Despite the fact that Tesla’s battery design permits higher cooling, the Mannequin Y doesn’t cost quicker as a result of Tesla depends on a lower-voltage system of solely 345 V. Thus Tesla fees at a most of 250 kW, whereas Mercedes reaches as much as 330 kW.

On AC charging, Tesla is proscribed to 11 kW, whereas Mercedes additionally affords elective 22 kW charging (€654.50).

The Mercedes CLA has a significant downside with older 400-V stations, being unable to cost at them. In contrast, the Mercedes GLC EQ affords an elective adapter for 400-V charging (€654.50).

With its bigger battery, the Mercedes GLC EQ claims a WLTP vary of 673 km, whereas Tesla declares 600 km. Each show very related WLTP consumption figures: 15.9 kWh/100 km for Tesla and 16 kWh/100 km for Mercedes.

With 489 PS, the Mercedes GLC 400 4Matic accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and reaches a prime pace of 210 km/h, whereas the Tesla Mannequin Y AWD Lengthy Vary wants 4.8 seconds and reaches 201 km/h.

There’s additionally an elective improve for Tesla permitting 0–100 km/h in 4.2 seconds. Surprisingly, though the Tesla Mannequin Y is far lighter than the Mercedes GLC 400 4Matic (2,072 kg vs. 2,535 kg) and has 25 PS extra, it isn’t faster.

Suspension

Mercedes continues to deal with consolation, promising distinctive experience high quality. The MB.EA platform features a new 4-link entrance multilink suspension and a 5-link rear multilink, with each motors mounted on aluminum subframes elastically hooked up to the physique. The usual suspension makes use of metal springs; air suspension and rear-wheel steering are elective as a part of the Agility & Consolation bundle (€2,844.10).

Tesla makes use of double-wishbone entrance suspension and a rear multilink setup however lacks adaptive or air suspension in addition to rear-wheel steering. Consequently, its turning circle of 12.13 meters is sort of 1 meter bigger than that of the Mercedes GLC EQ, which is 11.2 meters.

Ergonomics and inside design

There are additionally main variations in dashboard design.

Mercedes comes normal with the Superscreen dashboard grouping three shows underneath one glass panel: a ten.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14-inch touchscreen for the multimedia system, and a 14-inch passenger show (obtainable from the Superior Plus trim upwards).

The elective Hyperscreen consists of a single steady show 99.3 cm (39.1 inch) large spanning your entire dashboard.

Mercedes is utilizing its personal new MB.OS software program for the primary time, however integrates Google Maps navigation and AI help from Google, ChatGPT, and Microsoft, and affords over 40 exterior apps, together with Spotify and Disney.

The Tesla Mannequin Y retains its radical answer of concentrating almost all controls on the 15.4-inch touchscreen. Solely the turn-signal stalk stays, whereas the gear selector can be operated through the touchscreen. There isn’t any instrument cluster; pace is proven on the central display, and the mirrors and steering wheel are adjusted from that very same show.

Costs

The Mercedes GLC 400 4Matic begins at €71,281, however with the air suspension and rear-wheel steering bundle (€2,844.10), the Hyperscreen (€1,487.50), the Premium with Digital Additional bundle (€7,497) together with Digital Gentle, the Burmester audio system, Sky Management panoramic roof and illuminated grille, the AMG bundle with 20-inch wheels (€3,451), metallic paint (€963.90), pure leather-based upholstery (€2,189.60), and the prolonged driver help bundle (€1,785), the Mercedes GLC 400 4Matic simply reaches €90,000.

By comparability, the Tesla Mannequin Y is much better geared up as normal and much cheaper, beginning at €52,990. The 19-inch alloy wheels are normal; 20-inch wheels price €2,200 further. The brand new metallic paints price €1,300 (Stealth Gray) or €2,600 (Extremely Pink). The bottom Autopilot is normal, and the mid-level model prices €3,800. Thus the ultimate worth is round €60,000 — €30,000 lower than the Mercedes GLC 400 4Matic.

The Mercedes GLC EV might be constructed on the Bremen plant, and later in Kecskemét (Hungary) and Beijing (China). Its motors are manufactured in Sebeș, Romania, on the Mercedes Star Meeting subsidiary. The Tesla Mannequin Y is produced in Shanghai, China, in Grünheide, Germany, and in Fremont, California.