2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was a testament to the brand's commitment to a timeless aesthetic, characterized by soft curves and rounded edges. While it maintained a modern edge with its menacing LED headlights, it avoided the overly aggressive styling seen in some competitors. The GLC's 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. Inside, the GLC's cabin was an artful blend of soft lines and curves, with a flowing dash and a floating center touchscreen. Mercedes-Benz was known for its minimalist approach, and the GLC's interior set a high standard for compact luxury SUV cabins.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Passport shared its styling with the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, giving it a tougher look. The Passport was essentially a shorter version of the Pilot SUV, minus the third-row seat. Honda's updated design was applied across all trim levels, including the new TrailSport, which aimed to appeal to off-road enthusiasts. While the TrailSport trim added a rugged appearance, it was more about looks than actual capability. The Passport's interior was spacious, with quality materials and thoughtful design elements like orange contrast stitching and amber ambient lighting in the TrailSport trim. The SUV's large interior and comfortable seating made it a practical choice for families.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It featured a nine-speed automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive or optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLC offered a balanced driving experience, with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select drive modes. While not overly sporty, the GLC's powertrain was responsive, and its steering was precise, making it a refined and enjoyable drive. For those seeking more power, the AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 variants offered significantly higher horsepower, with the latter's twin-turbo V8 delivering up to 503 hp.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, generating 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Passport offered front-wheel drive on the EX-L trim, while the TrailSport and Elite trims came with Honda's i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system. The V6 engine provided smooth acceleration, and the Passport's ride was firm yet communicative. The SUV's handling was surprisingly athletic, with good steering feel and an expansive outward view. However, the brakes could become less confidence-inspiring on mountain descents. The Passport's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, but its brakes could be a concern under load.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC offered 56.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, dropping to 19.4 cubic feet with them up. The GLC Coupe's fastback design reduced these figures to 49.4 and 17.6 cubic feet, respectively. The GLC's interior was well-designed, with ample storage options, including a center console and deep door pockets. Rear-seat space was decent, with adequate legroom and headroom, although the Coupe's low roofline compromised headroom.

The 2022 Honda Passport excelled in interior space, with easy access through large doors and a low step-in height. The front seats were comfortable, with leather upholstery and heated options. The Passport Elite added ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Rear passengers enjoyed ample legroom and a slightly elevated seating position, with large side windows enhancing the sense of space. The Passport's cargo area offered 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 77.7 cubic feet with them folded. The SUV's interior was practical, with numerous storage compartments and a power liftgate for easy access.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured the MBUX infotainment system, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, touch controller, and advanced voice control. The system was intuitive, with options for both touch and controller navigation. The steering wheel had touch-sensitive pads for customizing the digital instrument panel and navigating the infotainment screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, though switching between the radio and smartphone apps could be cumbersome.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added navigation, while the Elite trim featured a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services. The system had shortcut buttons for easy navigation, but the lack of a stereo tuning knob was a minor inconvenience. Apple CarPlay was preferred for navigation due to the Passport's clunky system. Wireless smartphone charging was standard, but the Passport's technology was not particularly advanced.

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 included parking sensors, hands-free parking assist, and a driver drowsiness monitor. However, the parking sensors were overly sensitive, causing distractions. Optional features included a 360-degree parking camera and dynamic cruise control.

The 2022 Honda Passport featured the Honda Sensing suite, with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. It also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. The Passport's lane-departure warning and lane-centering assist were less refined, prompting drivers to disable them. The adaptive cruise control could be abrupt in traffic. The Passport received high safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, though it had some areas for improvement.