2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport's new styling closely resembled the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, especially from the doors forward. This similarity was due to the shared vehicle platform that Honda also used for the Odyssey minivan and the Pilot three-row SUV. Essentially, the Passport was a shorter Pilot without a third-row seat and with distinct styling. Honda aimed to give the Passport a tougher look with its new nose design, which was applied across all three trim levels: EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite. The TrailSport trim, new for 2022, was designed to appeal to off-road enthusiasts, though it was more about aesthetics than actual capability. The Passport TrailSport featured standard all-wheel drive, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and traction management driving modes for various conditions.

In contrast, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class was a mix of new and old. The GLC 300 was redesigned, while the Coupe models were carryovers from the previous year. The most noticeable change in the GLC 300 was its narrower taillights, but overall, it retained the classy and timeless design of its predecessor. The interior received a significant makeover, featuring a large vertical infotainment touchscreen and a tablet-like instrument panel. The GLC's cabin was modern, high-tech, and constructed with excellent materials. The returning GLC Coupe models maintained their distinctive coupe-like roofline and first-generation interior, which had aged well and offered some usability advantages over the newer model.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard on the EX-L trim, while the TrailSport and Elite trims came with Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management Four (i-VTM4) all-wheel-drive system. The V6 engine was smooth and felt stronger than its power ratings suggested. The Passport's fuel economy was rated at 22 mpg combined for FWD and 21 mpg for AWD. The TrailSport test vehicle averaged 21.3 mpg. The Passport offered a firm, communicative ride and surprisingly athletic handling, making it enjoyable to drive on various terrains. However, the brakes could heat up and vibrate during mountain descents, which was a concern given the SUV's 5,000-pound towing capacity.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It featured a nine-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, with 4Matic all-wheel drive available. The GLC 300 accelerated smoothly, reaching 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. The brake pedal effort was soft but effective, and the suspension favored comfort over sporty handling. The GLC 4Matic Coupe continued with its older four-cylinder turbo engine, while the AMG GLC 43 Coupe offered a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with 385 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, reaching 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The AMG model had a sport-tuned suspension and exhaust, providing a firmer ride and louder engine.

The 2022 Honda Passport featured large doors and a low step-in height, making it easy to enter and exit. The front seats were large and comfortable, with leather upholstery and heated front seats as standard. The Elite trim added ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The rear seats offered ample space and a slightly elevated seating position, with large side windows creating an open and airy feel. The Passport had plenty of storage options, including a massive center console bin, door panel shelving, and rear door cupholders. Cargo space was generous, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 77.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC's front seats were adjustable and well-shaped for long-distance comfort, with synthetic leather upholstery that looked and felt substantial. Real leather was available for a smoother surface. The GLC had a large center console bin with a wireless charging pad and cupholders, though the piano black lid attracted dust and fingerprints. The rear seats offered ample legroom but slightly limited headroom for taller passengers. The standard GLC had 21.9 cubic feet of cargo space, which was smaller than some rivals but still adequate. The rear seats folded flat to accommodate larger items. The GLC Coupe's sloping roofline reduced cargo capacity to 17.6 cubic feet and lowered rear headroom by 1.3 inches.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added a navigation system, while the Elite trim featured a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services with a WiFi hotspot. The system had shortcut buttons for the Home menu, Back, screen brightness, and stereo volume, but lacked a stereo tuning knob. The Passport's navigation system was clunky, and voice commands were not always effective. However, Apple CarPlay and Siri worked well. Wireless smartphone charging was standard, but the Passport was not technologically advanced, which might be a blessing for some.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a large 11.9-inch touchscreen with sharp graphics and immediate responses. However, its lower placement on the dash made it more distracting to use. The previous generation had a smaller screen mounted higher on the dash with a trackpad for easier control. The new GLC retained a tiny capacitive-touch trackpad on the steering wheel, which was frustrating to use due to its sensitivity. The MBUX infotainment system had excellent voice recognition but interrupted music or podcasts. The new system performed better but was more distracting due to the layout and lack of physical buttons. Standard connectivity included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with an available Burmester 3D Surround Sound system.

The 2022 Honda Passport came with the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. It also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, a rear-seat reminder system, and a seatbelt reminder system. However, the lane-departure warning and lane-centering assist functions were intrusive, and the adaptive cruise control was not smooth in heavy traffic. The blind-spot monitoring warning light was poorly placed. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA in most categories but earned four stars for front passenger protection and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave it top ratings in most respects but an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

Crash-test results for the 2023 GLC 300 were not yet available, but the previous GLC received top scores from the NHTSA and IIHS. The new GLC 300 included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, a blind-spot monitor, adaptive headlights with automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, emergency stop assist, a surround-view camera system, and upgraded headlights. The GLC Coupe came standard with cross-traffic alerts and the surround-view camera. The adaptive cruise control was smooth and trustworthy, and false alarms were rare.