2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC had a timeless aesthetic, characterized by soft curves and rounded edges, which contrasted with the aggressive styling trends of many contemporary SUVs. Its long hood and wide grille gave it a dramatic stance, reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan, emphasizing its car-like characteristics. The cabin was an automotive work of art, with flowing lines and a minimalist approach that elevated the interior to an art form. The GLC was available in both conventional SUV and crossover “coupe” body styles, with the latter sacrificing some cargo space for a sharper look.

Standard equipment on the 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, and a fully digital instrument panel. The MBUX infotainment system with a 10.2-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto was also standard. Optional packages added features like navigation, ambient lighting, and a Burmester premium sound system. The AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 variants offered more potent powertrains and performance upgrades.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey, while adhering to the classic minivan design, had a sense of style with its kinked sliding doors and hockey-stick character lines. The Elite trim level featured dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels, adding to its visual appeal. The interior was designed with family convenience in mind, offering quality leather, supportive front seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Odyssey also had numerous storage spaces and the innovative Magic Slide second-row seats for flexible seating arrangements.

The Odyssey's third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the cargo space behind it was impressive at 32.8 cubic feet. Folding the third-row seat increased the cargo space to 88.8 cubic feet, and removing the second-row seats provided a massive 144.9 cubic feet of cargo volume. The Elite trim also included an onboard vacuum cleaner for easy clean-up.

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. The powertrain was generally responsive, with occasional lag when pulling away from a stop. The AMG GLC43 had a twin-turbocharged V6 with 385 horsepower, while the AMG GLC63 offered a twin-turbo V8 with up to 503 horsepower in the 63 S variant.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine making 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls. It was front-wheel drive only, with an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. The Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with quick acceleration, responsive handling, and remarkable composure on mountain roads. However, repeated use of the brakes on downhill grades caused pedal vibration and an audible grumble, indicating a need for more heat-resistant brakes.

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 had a decently sized center console, deep door pockets, and retractable cupholders, making good use of its interior space. Rear-seat space was adequate, with plenty of legroom and headroom in the SUV, though the Coupe's low roofline cut into headroom.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey provided easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. The Elite trim featured quality leather, supportive front seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Odyssey had numerous storage spaces, including shelving in the front door panels and a handy floor tray. The Magic Slide second-row seats offered flexible seating arrangements, and the third-row seat was comfortable for adults. The Odyssey's cargo space was impressive, with 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured the MBUX infotainment system with a 10.25-inch center touchscreen, center console touch controller, and advanced voice-control system. The system was intuitive, with 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. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, though switching between the GLC's radio and smartphone music apps required navigating through menus.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was packed with technology, but its infotainment features were increasingly outclassed by rivals. Starting with the EX trim, it had an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services, including WiFi hotspot access. The Odyssey also had CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, a rear-seat entertainment system with a 10.2-inch display, and an 11-speaker premium audio system in the Elite trim. However, the infotainment system's small screen and lack of a tuning knob were drawbacks, and the embedded navigation system required specific voice commands.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came with standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It also had front- and rear parking sensors, hands-free parking assist, and a driver drowsiness monitor. Optional safety features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning. However, the parking and proximity sensors were overly sensitive, causing distractions.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available starting with the EX trim. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The blind-spot monitoring system's warning light was poorly placed, and the radar's range was insufficient. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS.