2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class exhibited a unique, boxy design that stood out among other Mercedes SUVs. This front-wheel-drive platform vehicle, with an optional 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, displayed a long, flat hood terminating at an upright windshield. The side windows were generously proportioned, and the nearly vertical rear liftgate reinforced its practical design. Balancing its front and rear overhangs for visual symmetry, the GLB prioritized functionality over sleek aesthetics. With robust roof rails as standard, it was ever ready for action. Painted in Mountain Gray metallic and enhanced by the AMG Line design package and 20-inch AMG wheels, our test model boasted considerable style and attitude, especially compared to the base GLB 250 versions. Starting at $36,600, this loaded GLB 250 4Matic had a sticker price of $55,890, featuring nearly every available package.

Inside, the GLB 250 exuded a sense of luxury with upgraded dual 10.25-inch screens and an optional ambient lighting system that brightened up the cabin. Red contrast stitching, MB-Tex leatherette, and Dinamica suede seats contributed to an artful interior. Despite its complexity, the cabin design merged sophistication with simplicity. However, some lower-quality materials reminded users of its affordability within the Mercedes lineup. Overall, the GLB provided a cozy and stylish driving experience.

Conversely, the 2020 Honda CR-V maintained a familiar, curvy, and car-like design since the fifth generation's debut in 2017. With familial ties to Honda's sedan lineup, its exterior leaned more towards a station wagon than an SUV, making it an ideal family vehicle on the outside. Inside, the CR-V exhibited a mish-mash of textures and materials. While higher trims offered wood-look trim and leather upholstery, the lower-quality plastics undermined the upscale touches, making it feel more like a souped-up commodity car.

With base prices starting at $26,270, Honda kept the CR-V lineup straightforward with four trims: LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring. The pricing escalated modestly with each trim, and AWD was a $1,500 option across all models. The wheels ranged from 17-inch standard on base trims to 19-inch on the Touring. The panoramic-style moonroof was notably absent, only being a basic retractable design on higher trims. Roof rails were exclusive to the Touring model, maintaining a low-profile look.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 221 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque from 1,800 to 4,000 rpm. Mercedes claimed that the GLB could achieve 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, a feat made possible by its wide torque band and eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The GLB 250 drove its front wheels unless optioned with the 4Matic AWD system, which automatically redirected power to the rear wheels for optimal performance. An Off-Road mode further enhanced traction with a 50:50 power split.

Equipped with adaptive damping suspension and 20-inch AMG wheels, the GLB delivered a soft, comfortable ride in Comfort mode, perfect for urban and highway driving. Switching to Sport mode offered greater road feedback and immediate power delivery. This small SUV provided an unexpected driving delight, especially on curvy mountain roads. However, it fell short on fuel efficiency, returning only 21.4 mpg compared to the EPA's 26-mpg estimate. Additionally, the brakes faded quickly under enthusiastic driving conditions.

The 2020 Honda CR-V simplified its lineup by offering a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine exclusively, which replaced the previous 2.4-liter base engine. This turbocharged powertrain produced 190 horsepower and 179 lb-ft of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Despite usual CVT drawbacks, Honda managed to tune it for responsive performance, making the CR-V feel quick, especially in Sport mode.

The CR-V exhibited car-like road manners, with nimble handling, well-weighted steering, and minimal body roll. With a curb weight of just 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model, the CR-V maintained its agility. The combined fuel economy was impressive, with FWD models rated at 30 mpg and AWD models at 29 mpg, surpassing many competitors in the class. For those prioritizing fuel efficiency, Honda also introduced a hybrid version for 2020, although it was reviewed separately.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class offered remarkable interior space, often surpassing the larger Mercedes-Benz GLC. Notably, it offered an optional third row, a feature only shared with the much larger GLS within the Mercedes lineup. The GLB comfortably accommodated four adults with ample headroom, high seating positions, large windows, and an optional panoramic glass sunroof for excellent visibility. The second-row seat could slide to create more space for either cargo or third-row passengers.

Despite having power-adjustable front seats, our test vehicle lacked heating and ventilation features, which would have added over $1,000 to its cost. Even without these upgrades, the seats were supportive and comfortable. While three people could sit in the second row, two made for a more comfortable fit due to the GLB's narrow width. Cargo capacity was 22 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 62 cubic feet with the seats folded, surpassing both the GLC and GLA in terms of storage.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in packaging efficiency, rivaling the Volkswagen Tiguan in cabin space without feeling oversized. Both front and rear occupants enjoyed ample head- and legroom, thanks to an excellent seating position that maximized front visibility. The cargo area mirrored the Tiguan's volume, despite being three inches shorter, offering practical storage solutions like a deep center console bin and a two-position load floor. This versatile design allowed owners to choose between a flat cargo floor or maximum space, achieving a total of 75.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

Additionally, clever storage compartments included large door pockets and additional room above the spare tire compartment, enhancing practicality. Overall, the CR-V’s thoughtful design made it easy to stow and organize personal items, highlighting its user-friendly nature.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class offered an impressive array of technology, particularly with the optional $2,200 Premium Package. This package swapped out the standard 7-inch screens for twin 10.25-inch displays housed under a single glass panel, providing lush graphics, customization options, and fast input responses. The Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, part of the standard equipment, included features like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with advanced voice recognition.

Our test vehicle also included the Multimedia Package, adding a navigation system with augmented video, displayed on the right MBUX touchscreen. This feature used the forward-facing camera to overlay navigation directions on a live video feed, significantly aiding navigation in dense urban areas. The optional Parking Assistance Package provided a high-definition surround-view camera system and semi-autonomous parking assistance, making parking effortless. The GLB also featured a 12-speaker Burmester premium sound system, delivering excellent audio quality and aesthetic appeal.

Conversely, the 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system showed its age. The base LX trim had a basic 5-inch screen offering minimal features like Bluetooth connectivity and Pandora compatibility. Higher trims came with a 7-inch touchscreen, which still felt undersized compared to competitors. The CR-V’s infotainment system required multiple taps to navigate functions, lacking hard buttons for ease of use. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto improved the experience but felt tacked on rather than seamlessly integrated. Navigation was confined to the top Touring trim.

Despite these shortcomings, the CR-V included numerous USB ports from the EX trim upwards, featuring two high-powered ports in the backseat. The Touring trim also introduced a wireless phone charger for the 2020 model year, allowing convenient device charging throughout the cabin.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class came equipped with several standard safety features, including a driver monitoring system, a backup camera, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and the Pre-Safe front collision preparation system. Additionally, an SOS emergency call service was standard for the vehicle's lifetime. Optional second-row side-impact airbags and blind-spot monitoring with Exit Warning Assist further enhanced safety.

The optional Driver Assistance Package included advanced features like adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, evasive steering assistance, and an automatic emergency stop system. These systems operated smoothly and accurately, adding layers of safety and convenience. However, crash-test ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS were unavailable at the time of this review.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came with the "Honda Sensing" system as standard, offering forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, road-departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist across all trims. Automatic high beams were also standard, while EX trims and above got blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alerts.

In NHTSA tests, the 2020 CR-V earned five stars overall, including five stars each in the frontal and side crash tests and four stars in the rollover test. The IIHS awarded the CR-V a Top Safety Pick designation, though trims below Touring scored lower due to the performance of their halogen headlights. The Touring’s LED headlights significantly improved nighttime visibility. There was a recall affecting 358 vehicles regarding a possible rear subframe failure, but this was promptly addressed.