Specs at a Glance
2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 43 AMG® vs 2018 Porsche Macan
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Since the mid-‘90s, compact crossovers have appealed to a segment of the buying public that not only wants something that’s small enough to be maneuverable and fuel efficient, but also spacious and all-weather-ready. It would also help if said crossover had an extra boost in hi-tech features or sports-like driving personality. That’s where vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz GLC and the 2018 Porsche Macan come in. In the 2018 model year, Mercedes-Benz introduced a high-performance variant of the GLC aimed at the North American market for those who crave an even higher level of on-road performance. That variant is known as the GLC 43 AMG®. Such an introduction overshadows the Macan, which remains unchanged for the 2018 model year. Indeed, the GLC 43 AMG® is the clear winner of the two for the following reasons:
Peak Engine Power
The GLC 43 AMG® gets its suffix from the high-performance division of the company in charge of its manufacture: Mercedes-AMG®. It is from here that it gets its handcrafted 3.0-liter bi-turbo V6, which churns out 362 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque. For peak output on the 2018 Porsche Macan, you would need to go with the GTS variant, which has a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6, which provides 360 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. While that output is remarkable, it provides 2 less horsepower and 15 less lb-ft of torque than the AMG® engine.
Acceleration Ability
The superior output from the GLC SUV's AMG®-crafted engine translates into greater acceleration ability. It can take the vehicle from 0 to 60 mph in a blistering 4.8 seconds. Not to be discounted, the 9-speed automatic transmission that it is paired with provides enough additional gear ratios to ensure peak acceleration. On the aforementioned GTS Macan trim, the 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 is joined with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission, which shows its efficiency with two separate clutches dedicated to odd and even gear sets. Still, it has a slower 0-60 mph time than the GLC 43 AMG®, which is measured at 5 seconds.
Safety
According to organizations like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC is an exceptionally safe vehicle. The IIHS awards the vehicle a 2018 TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation: an honor that Mercedes-Benz makes known at the car’s website. This is the highest designation awarded by the IIHS, and the GLC earned it because it scored the top-level “Good” rating on the organization’s five crashworthiness test categories, as well as the top-rated “Superior” rating in terms of front crash prevention ability. By contrast, the 2018 Porsche Macan does not have any crash safety rating from the IIHS, thus making it hard to evaluate how effective it is in preventing injuries or deaths from a collision.
To check out the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 43 AMG® for yourself, rather than the 2018 Porsche Macan, check out what we have at our dealership in McKinney, Texas. With glowing reviews on Google, Cars.com, and DealerRater.com, we have consistently shown that we take customer satisfaction very seriously. Call us today to set up an appointment with one of our Benz experts for a test drive - and get ready to purchase the GLC 43 AMG® that meets your specifications.
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