2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC showcased a timeless aesthetic with its soft curves and rounded edges, a design language that Mercedes-Benz consistently applied across its portfolio. The GLC's long hood and wide grille gave it a dramatic stance, reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan, which emphasized its car-like characteristics. The menacing LED headlights added a touch of modern aggression without the overly sharp lines seen in competitors like the Lexus NX. Inside, the GLC's cabin was an automotive work of art, featuring flowing dash lines and a floating center touchscreen with rounded edges. Mercedes-Benz was moving towards larger screens and a minimalist approach, but the GLC's interior design set a high bar for compact luxury SUV cabins.

The GLC was available in both conventional SUV and crossover “coupe” body styles. The coupe version, despite its sharp look, sacrificed some cargo space. Standard equipment on the entry-level GLC 300 included 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and a power liftgate. Inside, it featured synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable and heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, dual USB ports, a fully digital instrument panel, and the MBUX infotainment system with a 10.2-inch touchscreen. Optional packages added features like navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, ambient lighting, wireless device charging, and a Burmester premium sound system. The AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 trims offered more potent powertrains and additional performance upgrades.

The 2021 Honda Passport, essentially a shortened Pilot with two rows of seats, shared many styling similarities with its three-row sibling. The Passport's dash layout was visually identical to the Pilot's, including the awkward “button shifter” design. Despite this, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with high-quality materials throughout. Trim levels included Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The entry-level Sport featured 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, push-button start, tri-zone climate control, and a seven-speaker audio system. The EX-L added leather upholstery, a power moonroof, a power rear liftgate, and power-adjustable front seats. The Touring trim included front-and-rear parking sensors, a hands-free liftgate, an upgraded 10-speaker stereo system, and satellite-linked navigation. The range-topping Elite trim offered heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 came standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered rear-wheel drive or optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLC featured steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes. Even in Comfort mode, the turbocharged engine provided ample power, though there was occasional lag when pulling away from a stop. The steering was soft but precise, and the GLC handled higher-speed turns with confidence, striking a balance between refinement and responsiveness. For those seeking more power, the AMG GLC43 offered a twin-turbocharged V6 with 385 horsepower, while the AMG GLC63 featured a twin-turbo V8 with up to 503 horsepower in the 63 S variant.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. The V6 provided strong acceleration, and the automatic transmission managed power well, though the stop-start system could be abrupt. The Passport's ride was optimized for comfort and refined handling, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and Intelligent Traction Management with Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes for the AWD model. The Passport could tow up to 3,500 pounds with FWD and up to 5,000 pounds with AWD.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 offered 56.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 19.4 cubic feet with the seats up. The GLC Coupe's fastback profile reduced these figures to 49.4 and 17.6 cubic feet, respectively. The GLC's interior featured a decently sized center console, deep door pockets, and retractable cupholders. Rear-seat space was adequate, with plenty of legroom and headroom in the SUV, though the Coupe's low roofline reduced headroom.

The 2021 Honda Passport provided a generous 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 50.5 cubic feet with the second row in use. An additional 2.5 cubic feet was available in an under-floor storage tray. The EX-L trim included a power liftgate, while the Touring and Elite trims featured a hands-free power liftgate. The upright seating position offered excellent visibility, and the center console included a deep bin and an open cargo tray. Both front and rear seats had deep in-door pockets, and the rear seats offered ample headroom and legroom, with the ability to recline and slide.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with a 10.25-inch center touchscreen, a center console touch controller, and an advanced voice-control system. The system was intuitive, offering both touch controller and touchscreen options. The steering wheel had touch-sensitive pads for customizing the digital instrument panel and navigating the main infotainment screen. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though switching between the GLC's radio and smartphone music apps required navigating through menus.

The 2021 Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard, included with the newly-standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While this was a distinct advantage over the Pilot, the Passport's infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that felt like an afterthought. The audio interface lacked a tuning dial, which was a notable omission.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came with standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front-and-rear parking sensors, hands-free parking assist, and a driver drowsiness monitor. The parking and proximity sensors were overly sensitive, often triggering false positives. Optional safety features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning.

The 2021 Honda Passport was well equipped with advanced safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Passport received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and top "Good" scores in most crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though it received "Acceptable" ratings for headlights, child-seat anchor ease of use, and front crash prevention tech.