2020 Honda CR-V vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC presented a modern yet somewhat uninspiring exterior design. It featured a new front fascia with a trapezoidal grille and angled LED headlights, reminiscent of the A-Class and CLS-Class. The taillights housed square LEDs, but the overall look was considered bland from most angles, lacking the visual drama found in competitors like the Volvo XC60 or Acura RDX. The AMG versions, with their wide tires and vertical-bar grille, added some excitement, while the GLC Coupe's fastback roof offered a touch of flair. Despite its high price tag, the GLC's exterior failed to stand out in a crowded parking lot.

Inside, the GLC boasted one of the best interiors in its class, with high-quality materials and impeccable fit and finish. The all-black interior with stained gray ash wood was luxurious, featuring a continuous sweep of wood from the air vents, padded leather seats, and metal speaker covers. The 2020 model introduced a standard 10.3-inch touchscreen, replacing the smaller displays of previous models, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was available. The steering wheel was updated with more buttons and a thicker, softer feel, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2020 Honda CR-V maintained its familiar and practical design, with curvy, car-like lines that resembled Honda's sedan lineup. Its styling leaned more towards a station wagon than an SUV, making it a quintessential family vehicle. Inside, the CR-V's interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery in higher trims. However, these clashed with some low-quality plastics, reminding drivers of its commodity car roots.

The CR-V's interior was spacious, offering excellent head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers. Honda's clever packaging included a deep center console with a sliding cover, inspired by the Odyssey minivan, and a two-position load floor in the rear for versatile cargo space. With the rear seats folded, the CR-V provided a generous 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space, making it easy to accommodate various storage needs. The door pockets were also large, adding to the CR-V's practicality.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 featured a new turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, it offered improved performance over previous models, with better gear holding and downshifting. However, the engine's sound quality and response fell short compared to competitors like the BMW X3. The AMG GLC 43, with its twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine, delivered 385 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, providing exhilarating performance. The AMG GLC 63 models offered even more power with a twin-turbo V8 engine, but the GLC 300's steering and handling were disappointing, with body roll and vague steering detracting from the driving experience. Fuel economy for the GLC 300 4Matic was rated at 21 mpg city, 28 highway, and 24 combined.

The 2020 Honda CR-V simplified its lineup by replacing the previous base engine with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a CVT, the CR-V's powertrain was well-matched, offering quick acceleration, especially in Sport mode. The CR-V's car-like demeanor extended to its road manners, with nimble handling and minimal body roll. Its low curb weight of 3,337 pounds contributed to its excellent fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 30 mpg combined and AWD models 29 mpg. The CR-V Hybrid, introduced for 2020, offered even higher fuel efficiency.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a mix of digital and physical controls, with a steep learning curve for those unfamiliar with modern Mercedes vehicles. The column shifter and door-mounted seat controls were unconventional but practical. The MBUX infotainment system offered a customizable interface with shortcut buttons and a digital instrument cluster. However, the GLC's interior space was limited, with a perplexing backseat recline mechanism and only 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 57 cubic feet with them folded.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and practicality, offering a roomy cabin with excellent head- and legroom. Its clever packaging included a deep center console and a two-position load floor in the rear, providing 75.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded. The CR-V's seating position and visibility were excellent, and the door pockets were large, adding to its practicality. The CR-V's interior was easy to live with, accommodating various storage needs.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC's MBUX system offered advanced features like augmented reality navigation and a cloud-based voice assistant. However, some features felt half-baked and limited in functionality. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with optional wireless charging. The Off-Road Engineering Package added hill-descent control and underbody shields, but the GLC was not designed for serious off-roading.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age, with a 5-inch screen in the base LX trim and a 7-inch touchscreen in higher trims. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available with the larger screen, but the integration felt tacked on. The CR-V offered plenty of USB ports in higher trims, with a wireless phone charger added to the Touring trim for 2020.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC was named a 2019 Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, scoring top ratings in all crash tests and for its standard forward emergency braking. The NHTSA awarded the GLC its highest 5-star rating in all crash tests. New for 2020 was Exit Warning Assist, which used radar sensors to detect approaching cyclists or cars. Other features included Pre-Safe Sound and Predictive Brake Priming, offering advanced safety engineering.

The 2020 Honda CR-V included the Honda Sensing system as standard, with features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Automatic high beams were standard, with blind-spot monitoring available in higher trims. The CR-V earned five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with the Touring trim offering better headlights. A recall for a rear subframe issue affected a small number of vehicles.