2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2020 Honda Passport

The 2020 Honda Passport was a testament to Honda's consistent design philosophy, offering a familiar yet appealing aesthetic that resonated with loyal Honda buyers. Its exterior design was a blend of ruggedness and athleticism, positioned between the larger Pilot and the smaller CR-V. The Passport's elevated ground clearance and robust styling cues suggested off-road capability, while its interior focused on practicality and comfort. The Elite trim, in particular, boasted luxurious features such as heated and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, and a spacious cabin layout that emphasized utility over flashiness.

In contrast, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC embraced a timeless design language characterized by soft curves and rounded edges, offering a sophisticated and elegant appearance. The GLC's exterior, with its long hood and wide grille, exuded a car-like stance, while the interior was a masterpiece of automotive design. The cabin's flowing dash and minimalist approach set a high standard for luxury SUVs, with the GLC's interior being a benchmark for its class. The GLC was available in both conventional SUV and coupe body styles, with the latter sacrificing some cargo space for a sleeker profile.

The 2020 Honda Passport was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque through a nine-speed automatic transmission. While its performance was reliable across various driving conditions, its fuel economy was less impressive, with FWD models achieving 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. The AWD variant offered slightly lower figures. The Passport excelled in off-road scenarios, thanks to its torque-vectoring AWD system and multiple drive modes, making it a capable companion for adventurous journeys. It also boasted a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, surpassing many of its competitors.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, provided a balanced and responsive driving experience. The GLC offered various drive modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor the vehicle's performance to their preferences. For those seeking more power, the AMG variants offered significantly higher horsepower, with the AMG GLC63 S delivering an impressive 503 hp. The GLC's handling was precise, and its ride quality was refined, making it a pleasure to drive.

The 2020 Honda Passport was a practical midsize SUV, offering ample interior space and comfort for passengers. Its seating arrangement accommodated four adults comfortably, with generous knee and legroom. The Passport's cargo area was a standout feature, providing 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and the most under-floor storage in its class. The interior was designed with practicality in mind, featuring easy-to-clean surfaces and thoughtful storage solutions, such as a spacious center console and additional shelf space in the front doors.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC offered a versatile interior with 56.5 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seats were folded. The GLC Coupe, with its sleek design, sacrificed some cargo capacity but still provided adequate space for most needs. The GLC's interior was well-appointed, with deep door pockets and a center console for storage. Rear-seat space was decent, with ample legroom and headroom in the SUV variant. The Coupe's low roofline slightly compromised headroom, but the overall interior design was both functional and luxurious.

The 2020 Honda Passport featured a straightforward infotainment system, with the EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims offering an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The system was user-friendly, with pinch, swipe, and tap functionality. Standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, and a seven-speaker audio system, while higher trims added a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Passport's dashboard design, borrowed from the Pilot, was practical but somewhat dated.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was equipped with the advanced MBUX infotainment system, featuring a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a center console touch controller, and a sophisticated voice-control system. The system was intuitive, offering both touch and controller options for navigating menus. The steering wheel included touch-sensitive pads for customizing the digital instrument panel and navigating the infotainment screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, although switching between the GLC's radio and smartphone apps required some navigation.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety, earning high scores from the IIHS and NHTSA, and was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. It came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, which included collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic detection, providing comprehensive safety coverage.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was equipped with a robust suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring. It also featured parking sensors and a driver drowsiness monitor. While the sensors were occasionally overly sensitive, they could be deactivated if needed. Optional safety features included a 360-degree parking camera and dynamic cruise control, enhancing the GLC's safety profile.