Compare the2024 Mercedes GLBVS 2024 Mazda CX-50

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLB 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 Mazda CX-50 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The GLB’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The CX-50 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GLB’s standard Downhill Speed Regulation allows you to creep down safely. The CX-50 doesn’t offer Downhill Speed Regulation.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GLB has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert with Active Brake Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the CX-50 Turbo Premium Plus offers Rear Cross Traffic Braking.

Both the GLB and the CX-50 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. With 26 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Mazda.

The GLB’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 34 more horsepower (221 vs. 187) and 72 lbs.-ft. more torque (258 vs. 186) than the CX-50’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes GLB is faster than the Mazda CX-50:

	GLB	CX-50 4 cyl.	CX-50 turbo 4 cyl.
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	8.5 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	16.5 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94.1 MPH	84.1 MPH	89.7 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the GLB gets better mileage than the CX-50:

			MPG
GLB
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	25 city/33 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/32 hwy
CX-50
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
		2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/29 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the GLB’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Mercedes GLB, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the CX-50.

The GLB offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The CX-50 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

For better stopping power the GLB’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-50:

	GLB	CX-50
Front Rotors	13 inches	12.8 inches

For better traction, the GLB has larger tires than the CX-50 (235/55R18 vs. 225/65R17).

The GLB’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-50’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLB has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the CX-50.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the GLB can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The CX-50 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For superior ride and handling, the Mercedes GLB has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mazda CX-50 has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The GLB has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the GLB flat and controlled during cornering. The CX-50’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The GLB offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The CX-50’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GLB’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 CX-50 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The GLB 250 4MATIC handles at .83 G’s, while the CX-50 pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The GLB 250 4MATIC executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-50 (27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

The GLB is 3.4 inches shorter than the CX-50, making the GLB easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The GLB offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the CX-50 can only carry 5.

The GLB has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more rear headroom and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-50.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GLB’s middle row seats recline. The CX-50’s rear seats don’t recline.

The GLB’s cargo area provides more volume than the CX-50.

	GLB	CX-50
Second Seat Folded	62 cubic feet	56.3 cubic feet

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the GLB. The CX-50 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the GLB’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The GLB has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the CX-50 Premium Plus/Turbo, the GLB has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLB’s standard easy entry and exit feature glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CX-50 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the GLB and the CX-50 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the GLB is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-50 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the GLB the driver can close them all 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 CX-50 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The GLB’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. Advanced Keyless Entry and Start standard on the CX-50 doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the GLB to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The CX-50 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The GLB’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Mazda only offers heated mirrors on the CX-50 Preferred/Premium/Turbo.

Both the GLB and the CX-50 offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the GLB has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The CX-50 doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLB has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the CX-50.

The GLB 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 CX-50 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The GLB’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The CX-50 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The GLB is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-50 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The GLB will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the GLB will retain 61.32% of its original price after five years, while the CX-50 only retains 53.88% to 56.04%.