Compare the2024 Mercedes GLCVS 2024 Dodge Hornet

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLC have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Dodge Hornet doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 Hornet doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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

Both the GLC and Hornet 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 Hornet’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the GLC and the Hornet have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

The Mercedes GLC achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Hornet has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

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 Hornet’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes GLC is faster than the Hornet GT 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

	GLC	Hornet
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	6.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	14.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93.8 MPH	91.9 MPH

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

			MPG
GLC
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	26 city/33 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/32 hwy
Hornet
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy

The GLC has 6.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Hornet R/T’s standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 11.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The GLC has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Hornet GT’s standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 13.5 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes GLC higher (7 out of 10) than the Dodge Hornet (6 to 7). This means the GLC produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Hornet every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the GLC’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Hornet:

	GLC	GLC	Hornet GT	Hornet R/T
Front Rotors	13.5 inches	14.6 inches	12.1 inches	13.5 inches
Rear Rotors	12.6 inches	12.6 inches	10.9 inches	12.1 inches

The GLC’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Hornet are solid, not vented.

The GLC stops much shorter than the Hornet:

	GLC	Hornet
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	112 feet	124 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the GLC has larger standard tires than the Hornet (235/60R18 vs. 215/60R17). The GLC’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Hornet (F:255/45R20 & R:285/40R20 vs. 235/40R20).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLC has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Hornet GT.

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 Hornet 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 Hornet doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLC’s wheelbase is 9.3 inches longer than on the Hornet (113.1 inches vs. 103.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLC is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than on the Hornet.

The GLC 300 4MATIC handles at .88 G’s, while the Hornet GT pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLC has 2.5 inches more front headroom, 4.7 inches more front hip room, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 4.8 inches more rear hip room and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Hornet.

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

The GLC has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Hornet with its rear seat folded (56.3 vs. 54.7 cubic feet).

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the GLC’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Hornet doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the GLC. The Hornet doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The GLC’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Hornet’s (5291 vs. 2000 pounds).

Standard 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 Hornet doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Hornet, 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.

The GLC offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Hornet doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The GLC’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Enter-N-Go standard on the Hornet doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Hornet’s optional cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The GLC’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the GLC to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Hornet doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the GLC is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Hornet’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

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 Hornet offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The GLC has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Hornet. The GLC also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Hornet.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLC has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Hornet.

The GLC offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Hornet doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The GLC’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The Hornet’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

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

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

The Mercedes GLC outsold the Dodge Hornet by over four to one during 2023.