2019 GMC Acadia vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC

The 2019 GMC Acadia was a handsome SUV with a shorter wheelbase that provided a more athletic stance. Its upright grille gave it an upscale appearance, rivaling even the more expensive Buick Envision. Despite not being marketed as an upscale SUV, the Acadia had broader appeal and felt closer in size to compact competitors like the Nissan Rogue. The Acadia came in several trims, from the base SL to the luxurious Denali, each adding more features and options, such as LED headlights, power liftgate, and premium stereo systems. The SLT-1 AWD trim, with the Black Edition appearance package, gave the Acadia a more menacing look, aligning with current buyer tastes.

In contrast, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a new front fascia with a trapezoidal grille and angled LED headlights, giving it an aggressive look similar to the A-Class and CLS-Class. However, from most angles other than head-on, the GLC was considered boring. The GLC 300, the mass-market model, lacked visual drama compared to competitors like the Volvo XC60 and Acura RDX. The AMG versions added some visual excitement with wide tires and a vertical-bar grille. The GLC Coupe’s fastback roof brought some entertainment to the mix. Despite its high price, the GLC's beige paint and 18-inch wheels made it easy to lose in parking lots.

The 2019 GMC Acadia offered two engines: an inline 4-cylinder and a V6. The base 4-cylinder engine produced 193 horsepower and was adequate, but the 3.6-liter V6, making 310 hp, delivered fantastic acceleration. The V6 was available with both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), while the 4-cylinder was FWD-only. The AWD system featured GMC’s Active Twin Clutch system, allowing drivers to switch between FWD, AWD, Sport mode, and All-Terrain mode. The V6 Acadia could tow up to 4,000 pounds when properly equipped. Fuel economy for the base SL with the 4-cylinder engine and FWD was 21 mpg city, 26 highway, and 23 combined. The SLT-1 AWD with the V6 returned 17/25/20, and in a week of combined driving, it averaged 19.8 mpg.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 came with a new turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The 9-speed automatic transmission routed power to either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or Mercedes' 4Matic AWD. The GLC 300 no longer felt laggardly, holding gears longer and downshifting earlier. However, the engine fell short in sound quality, vibration, and response compared to competitors. The AMG GLC 43 featured a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 with 385 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque, delivering phenomenal performance. The AMG GLC 63 4Matic Coupe's 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 produced 469 hp and 479 lb-ft, with the AMG GLC 63 S 4Matic Coupe topping at 503 hp and 516 lb-ft. Fuel economy for the GLC 300 4Matic was 21 mpg city, 28 highway, and 24 combined, averaging just under 22 mpg over 430 miles. The 63-series AMG models were estimated at 16/22/18.

The 2019 GMC Acadia provided ample space for the driver and front passenger, with deep trays for small items and functional center console and in-door bins. The SL, SLE-1, and SLE-2 trims featured 7-passenger seating with a middle bench seat, while the SLT-1 AWD had captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to 6. The second-row seats were comfortable and provided decent head- and legroom, but the third-row seats were suitable only for kids. Cargo space was 12.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 41.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 79 cubic feet with both rows down. This was small for the midsize SUV class but made the Acadia a great platform for outdoor activities.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC had a mix of digital and physical controls, with a steep learning curve for new Mercedes drivers. The column shifter required an upward tap for Reverse and a downward tap for Drive, and the seat controls were on the doors. The MBUX system, with its touchscreen, thumb pad, and touchpad, became second nature with practice. The GLC had enough room for four adults, but the back seat's recline mechanism was perplexing and uncomfortable. Cargo space was 19 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 57 cubic feet with them folded, less than competitors like the BMW X3.

The 2019 GMC Acadia's base SL trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen running GMC’s IntelliLink infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, five USB ports, and a WiFi hotspot. The SLT-1 trim upgraded to an 8-inch screen, and the Denali added standard navigation. The SLT-1 and SLT-2 trims included a 4.2-inch color information display within the gauge cluster, with the Denali featuring an 8-inch display. The Acadia also offered a color head-up display for additional information.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC's MBUX system included augmented reality for navigation, a cloud-based voice assistant, and AI-based tasks. It featured a touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, USB-C ports, and optional wireless device charging. The Off-Road Engineering Package added hill-descent control and underbody shields. MBUX's features, like the live camera feed for navigation, were innovative but sometimes felt half-baked.

The 2019 GMC Acadia came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and traction control. The Driver Alert Package 1, standard on the SLT-1 and optional on the SLE-2, added a blind-spot warning system, lane-change alert, and rear park assist. The SLT-2 trim included the Driver Alert Package 2, with low-speed forward automatic braking, lane-departure warning, pedestrian detection, forward-collision alert, and adaptive headlights and high beams. These packages offered comprehensive driver-assistance features, though some were standard on base trims of other vehicles.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC was named a 2019 Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS and received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA. New for 2020 was Exit Warning Assist, which used blind-spot-monitoring sensors to detect approaching cyclists or cars. Other features included Pre-Safe Sound, which played “pink noise” to protect eardrums in a crash, and Predictive Brake Priming, which moved brake pads closer to the discs in anticipation of hard braking.