2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a new front fascia with a trapezoidal grille and angled LED headlights, echoing the aggressive designs of the A-Class and CLS-Class. The taillights had square LEDs within the same housing, making it hard to distinguish from previous models unless parked side by side. While the GLC wasn't unattractive, it lacked visual excitement from most angles, especially in the mass-market GLC 300 model. The AMG versions, with their wide tires and vertical-bar grille, added some flair, and the GLC Coupe’s fastback roof brought a touch of entertainment. However, the beige paint and 18-inch wheels of the test car made it blend into parking lots, despite its over $60,000 price tag.

What truly set the GLC apart was its interior, considered one of the best in the business. The all-black interior with stained gray ash wood was rich and luxurious, featuring a continuous sweep of wood from the air vents, padded and stitched leather seats and doors, and cold metal speaker covers. The fit, finish, and overall quality were impeccable. The 2020 model introduced a standard 10.3-inch touchscreen, replacing the older, smaller displays, and a new touchpad on the console. The steering wheel, identical to the E-Class, had more buttons and felt thicker and softer. The instrument cluster could be upgraded to a 12.3-inch display, and the previously aligned shiny buttons were replaced by a blank plate.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB, in contrast, was boxy and tall, sitting on a front-wheel-drive platform with optional 4Matic all-wheel-drive. It had a long, flat hood, an upright windshield, large side windows, and a vertical rear liftgate, ensuring visual symmetry. The GLB prioritized interior volume over rakish looks, with robust standard roof rails ready for action. Painted in Mountain Gray metallic and equipped with the AMG Line design package and 20-inch AMG wheels, the test vehicle exuded style and attitude compared to the base GLB 250.

Starting at $36,600, the GLB 250 4Matic tested had a sticker price of $55,890, loaded with nearly every option package, including metallic paint, big wheels, adaptive damping suspension, ambient lighting, and a Burmester premium sound system. The GLB 250 made drivers feel special, especially with the upgraded dual 10.25-inch screens. At night, the optional ambient lighting system illuminated the classy turbine-style air vents and other cabin parts. The red contrast stitching and MB-Tex leatherette and Dinamica suede seats added extra flair to the already stylish interior. The design blended high style with simplicity, though the column-mounted transmission shifter required acclimation. Materials and construction were of high quality, though some metallic trim pieces revealed their budget-friendly mission.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 came with a new turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. This setup improved the GLC 300's performance, making it feel more responsive than previous models. However, the engine still fell short compared to competitors like the BMW X3. The AMG GLC 43, arriving in late 2019, featured a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 with 385 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque, delivering linear and strong power. The AMG GLC 63 4Matic Coupe and AMG GLC 63 S 4Matic Coupe offered even more power with their twin-turbo V8 engines, producing 469 hp and 479 lb-ft, and 503 hp and 516 lb-ft, respectively.

Despite the impressive AMG models, the GLC 300's steering and handling were disappointing, with body roll, vague steering, and sloppy suspension control. The GLC 300's fuel economy was EPA-rated at 21 mpg city, 28 highway, and 24 combined, but real-world testing averaged just under 22 mpg. The AMG models had lower fuel economy estimates, and a plug-in hybrid GLC 350e was expected in early 2020.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 and GLB 250 4Matic featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 221 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The GLB accelerated to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, feeling faster due to the engine's wide torque band and snappy eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The DCT powered the front wheels, with optional 4Matic AWD available. The GLB's adaptive damping suspension and 20-inch AMG wheels provided a soft, pillowy ride in Comfort mode, perfect for city and highway driving. In Sport mode, the GLB tensed up, delivering greater road feel and responsive turbo power.

The GLB's unusual driving position and large windows made it fun to drive on mountain roads, despite its modest engine specifications. However, the brakes faded prematurely during enthusiastic driving, cutting short an otherwise enjoyable experience. The GLB's fuel economy fell short of the EPA's 26-mpg estimate, averaging 21.4 mpg during testing.

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 required an upward tap for Reverse and a downward tap for Drive, while seat controls were located on the doors. The MBUX system, with its touchscreen, thumb pad, and touchpad, became intuitive with practice. The GLC had enough room for four adults, but the back seat's reclining mechanism was perplexing and uncomfortable. Cargo space measured 19 cubic feet behind the seats and 57 cubic feet with them folded, less than the BMW X3.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB, on the other hand, offered more interior space than the GLC, with an optional third row of seats. The GLB comfortably accommodated four adults, with ample headroom, tall seating positions, and large windows. The second-row seat slid forward and back, allowing for extra space for third-row passengers or cargo. The front seats offered power adjustment but lacked heating and ventilation. The second-row seat could fit three people, but two was more comfortable. Cargo space measured 22 cubic feet behind the second row and 62 cubic feet with it folded, more than the GLA and GLC.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC's MBUX system featured augmented reality for navigation, using a windshield-mounted camera to overlay directional arrows and street names on a live feed. The system also used a cloud-based voice assistant for internet searches and AI-based tasks. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with optional wireless device charging. The Off-Road Engineering Package added hill-descent control and underbody shields.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB's Premium Package, costing $2,200, upgraded the standard 7-inch screens to twin 10.25-inch displays with lush graphics and fast response. The MBUX system offered natural voice recognition, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The Multimedia Package added navigation with augmented video, using a forward-facing camera to provide a live video feed with turn-by-turn directions. The Parking Assistance Package included a high-definition surround-view camera system and semi-autonomous active parking assistance. The 12-speaker Burmester premium sound system was a valuable addition, offering excellent sound quality and stylish aluminum speaker grilles.

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, Exit Warning Assist used blind-spot-monitoring radar sensors to detect approaching cyclists or cars, warning occupants for up to 3 minutes after shutting down the car. Other features included Pre-Safe Sound, which played "pink noise" to protect eardrums in a crash, and Predictive Brake Priming, which moved the brake pads closer to the discs in anticipation of sudden braking.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB came standard with several safety features, including a driver monitoring system, backup camera, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and Pre-Safe front collision preparation. Optional features included second-row side-impact airbags and blind-spot monitoring with Exit Warning Assist. The Driver Assistance Package added active speed- and lane-maintenance systems, evasive steering assistance, and automatic emergency stop assistance. Enhancements to the standard Pre-Safe technology included rear-impact preparation and ear protection at the moment of impact. The GLB's advanced driving assistance and collision avoidance systems operated with accuracy and refinement, though crash-test ratings were not available at the time of publication.