2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC presented a familiar yet slightly refreshed design, with a new front fascia featuring a trapezoidal grille and angled LED headlights. While the GLC wasn't considered unattractive, its design was often described as lacking excitement, especially in the mass-market GLC 300 model. The AMG versions, however, added some visual flair with their wide tires and distinctive grilles. The interior of the GLC was a standout, offering one of the best in the business with high-quality materials and impeccable fit and finish. The 2020 model introduced a standard 10.3-inch touchscreen, enhancing the user experience with a more modern interface.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar struck a balance between the sleek Evoque and the boxy Range Rover, offering a unique profile with its low roof and steeply-raked windshield. The Velar maintained an intimidating presence with its broad front end and short overhangs, which also improved its off-road capabilities. The SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition added sportier styling elements, including larger air intakes and quad exhaust tips. Inside, the Velar featured high-quality leather and metal trim, creating a luxurious yet cockpit-like feel. However, its avant-garde styling compromised interior space, making it feel more cramped compared to its competitors.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 was equipped with a new turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, offered improved performance over previous models, though it still fell short compared to competitors like the BMW X3. The AMG GLC 43 and GLC 63 models provided more thrilling performance, with the GLC 43's twin-turbo V6 delivering 385 horsepower and the GLC 63's V8 offering up to 503 horsepower. Despite these powerful options, the GLC 300's handling and steering were criticized for being lackluster, with noticeable body roll and vague steering.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar introduced a V8 engine for the first time in the SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition, producing 550 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. This allowed the Velar to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, though it was not the quickest in its class. The Velar's aluminum platform provided a solid and refined driving experience, but its chassis lacked the sharpness of other performance SUVs. The rest of the Velar's powertrain lineup remained unchanged, with a base 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four and a 3.0-liter supercharged V6 available. The Velar also retained its off-road capabilities with features like Terrain Response and All-Terrain Progress Control.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC offered a mix of digital and physical controls, with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) system providing an intuitive interface. The GLC's interior space was adequate for four adults, though the back seat's reclining mechanism was cumbersome. Cargo space was limited, with 19 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 57 cubic feet with them folded, falling short of competitors like the BMW X3.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar was positioned between small and midsize luxury SUVs, offering a unique size that felt larger on the road but didn't translate to more interior space. The Velar's avant-garde styling limited headroom and visibility, creating a claustrophobic feel inside. Cargo space was competitive, with 15.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 48.9 cubic feet with them folded. The Velar's towing capacity was respectable, with the V6 and SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition models capable of towing up to 5,511 pounds.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured the MBUX system, which included innovative features like augmented reality navigation and a cloud-based voice assistant. While these features were advanced, they were not always seamlessly integrated. The GLC also offered standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with optional wireless device charging. An Off-Road Engineering Package was available, though the GLC was not designed for serious off-roading.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar used the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system, featuring dual 10.0-inch touchscreens and a built-in WiFi hotspot. While the system offered high-quality graphics and a well-organized menu layout, it was criticized for slow response times. The Velar also included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, and capacitive steering-wheel controls, enhancing the minimalist cabin design.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC received top safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA, with features like Exit Warning Assist and Pre-Safe Sound enhancing its safety credentials. These features, along with Predictive Brake Priming, demonstrated Mercedes' commitment to advanced safety engineering.

The 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, as low-volume luxury vehicles were a lower priority for crash testing. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist, with adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring available as options. However, Land Rover's driver-assist offerings were less sophisticated compared to competitors.