2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was a longer version of the standard two-row Grand Cherokee, extending 11.4 inches to accommodate a third row of seats. Its wheelbase stretched five inches for more second-row legroom and wider rear doors. The extra mass and larger rear blended seamlessly into the body, making the standard Grand Cherokee appear truncated. Jeep introduced the L first as a 2021 model, delaying the two-row Grand Cherokee until 2022. The Grand Cherokee L was elegant and unmistakably a Jeep from any angle, featuring the iconic seven-slot rectangular grille, U-shaped wheel arches, and a blunt front end. Modernized lighting, improved paint finish, and better panel fit enhanced its appeal. The high-end Summit and Summit Reserve trims added black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome. New exterior paint colors for 2022 included Ember, Hydro Blue, and Midnight Sky.

The interior of the Grand Cherokee L was luxurious, with dual high-resolution screens, real wood, aluminum, quilted Nappa leather, and a faux-suede roof. The layout exuded quality, reminiscent of a Mercedes without sharing any parts. Even in all-black, the interior offered enough detail and contrast to keep passengers comfortable and visually stimulated. The lighter tan leather option required extra care to maintain its pristine condition. Overall, the Grand Cherokee L's interior felt like money well spent, providing a luxurious experience.

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, with new Coupes expected for the 2024 model year. The standard GLC 300, despite being all-new, required a keen eye to spot the differences, with the most noticeable change being the narrower taillights. Otherwise, it closely resembled the first-generation GLC from 2016. This continuity wasn't necessarily negative, as the original GLC led the small luxury SUV class for much of its production run. Its timeless design remained attractive, though a bit more personality to distinguish the new model would have been welcome.

The new GLC's interior received a significant makeover, aligning with newer Mercedes models. A large vertical infotainment touchscreen dominated the center of the dashboard, complemented by a tablet-like instrument panel in front of the driver. The modern, high-tech design featured excellent materials quality and solid construction. Compared to rivals like the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Lexus RX, the GLC's cockpit design was simpler and cleaner. The returning GLC Coupe models retained their exterior design, with a coupe-like roofline that set them apart from the traditional GLC 300. The first-generation interior aged well and offered some usability advantages over the newer sibling. Overall, the GLC-Class maintained its traditional luxury appeal while evolving its design.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered two familiar engines: a 3.6-liter V6 and a 5.7-liter V8, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). A 48-volt hybrid system was available on Ram pickup trucks but not on the Grand Cherokee. However, the 4xe plug-in hybrid was a superior option, combining a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack and two electric motors, delivering 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.

The test vehicle had the V6 engine, which felt underpowered for the vehicle's weight. The 293 horsepower required high revs, and the 260 lb-ft of torque was insufficient, especially when the vehicle was fully loaded. The engine noise was intrusive, and the transmission's early upshifts didn't help. Sport mode kept the revs high but never allowed them to settle. Manual mode with paddle shifters was preferred, but the transmission programming couldn't sync with the weaker engine. The V8, with 357 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, was a better choice, available only on the Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims with 4WD.

Fuel economy for the V6 was decent, with an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. The V8 was less efficient at 14/22/17. Estimates for the 4xe plug-in hybrid were not available. The Grand Cherokee L's chassis was impressive, with excellent ride composure and steering feel. The optional air suspension provided a range of settings, from soft to firm, and minimized body roll, pitch, and dive. The air springs offered five ride height settings, enhancing accessibility and off-road capability. The Grand Cherokee L's driving modes were similar to Land Rover's, adjusting various systems for different terrains. The Overland trim with the Off-Road Group option package was the only trim to earn the Jeep Trail-Rated badge, including skid plates and smaller 18-inch wheels. The Grand Cherokee L had a maximum towing capacity of 6,200 pounds for RWD models and 7,200 pounds with 4WD.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class was limited to the GLC 300 trim level in its first year. It was powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive (RWD) were standard, with Mercedes' 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD) available.

Acceleration was smooth and linear, similar to an electric vehicle. Mercedes estimated a 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds, which was average for the class. The GLC 300 had sufficient power for highway merging and passing, though it wasn't as lively as the BMW X3's four-cylinder powertrain. The brake pedal effort was soft but effective, providing smooth stops. The suspension favored comfort over sporty handling, but the GLC still cornered confidently. Future AMG models were expected to offer sportier handling. The GLC 300 delivered a smooth ride and a nearly silent cabin.

The returning GLC 4Matic Coupe retained its older four-cylinder turbo engine, producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, with an identical 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds. The AMG GLC 43 Coupe featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6, increasing output to 385 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds. The AMG model had a sport-tuned suspension and exhaust, providing a firmer ride and louder engine, appealing to sport-minded drivers.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, known for its simplicity and straightforward graphics. The interface was sleeker and sharper, with physical switches for climate, seat climate controls, and stereo functions. These switches were easy to use and had a satisfying tactile feel. A row of buttons above the touchscreen allowed for quick adjustments of essential functions. The central rotary shifter was intuitive, and there was ample storage, including a wireless phone charging bin and a large central cubby.

The Laredo and Altitude trims came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel. Higher trims, including the Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve, featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Some legibility issues were noted with small graphics and text, particularly for speed limit signs and air suspension modes. The system occasionally lagged when switching menus. The Grand Cherokee L offered generous space in all rows, with the third row accommodating average adults comfortably. Second-row captain's chairs were standard, with a 60/40 split bench seat available as an option. A panoramic roof, large windows, and ample USB ports enhanced long journeys. However, the air vents were too small, requiring the fan to be kept on high, which was noisy.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC's front seats offered ample adjustment for finding a preferred position. The seats were firmly cushioned and well-shaped for long-distance comfort. Mercedes' synthetic leather upholstery was convincingly grained to resemble genuine hides, with real leather available for a smoother surface. Storage options included a large center console bin with a wireless charging pad and cupholders, though the piano black lid attracted dust and fingerprints. Door pockets and a bin under the center armrest provided additional storage.

The GLC offered plenty of space for taller passengers in the front, while the rear seats accommodated average adults comfortably. Headroom was slightly limited for taller occupants, but legroom was abundant. A panoramic sunroof was optional on all GLC 300 trims. The standard GLC had 21.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, smaller than some rivals but adequate for most shoppers. 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 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered a range of high-end features on upper trims, including multiple massage modes for the 16-way power-adjustable front seats, a head-up display, night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, a 360-degree camera system, and an Active Driving Assist system. The navigation system could take over the instrument panel, providing a zoomed-in view of the next corner. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and two phones could be connected simultaneously. New for 2022, Jeep added an optional 10.3-inch touchscreen for the front passenger and dual 10.1-inch touchscreens with Amazon Fire TV for rear-seat passengers.

Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors. The Summit trims offered additional features like automatic parking, front cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitor, and traffic sign recognition. Four-zone climate control and manual second-row window shades were also available. The Summit Reserve trim came with a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, while lower trims had nine-speaker or six-speaker systems.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a new interior layout with a large 11.9-inch touchscreen. The graphics were sharp, and responses were immediate, but the screen's lower placement on the dash made it more distracting to use. The previous generation had a smaller screen mounted on top of the dash, within the driver's sightline, and a trackpad on the center console for easier control. The new GLC retained a tiny capacitive-touch trackpad on the steering wheel, but its sensitivity made it difficult to use consistently. The MBUX infotainment system had excellent voice recognition, though voice controls interrupted music or podcasts.

The new infotainment system performed well but was more distracting due to the layout and lack of physical buttons for audio and climate controls. The older layout and system were still available with the Coupe body style. Standard connectivity included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an available Burmester 3D Surround Sound system catered to audio enthusiasts.

The 2022 Grand Cherokee L had not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety features included driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert for possible unattended passengers, trailer sway control, and various driver aids.

Crash-test results for the 2023 GLC 300 were not yet available from NHTSA or IIHS. However, the previous GLC received a five-star rating from NHTSA and top scores from IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick designation. Standard safety features for 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. The optional Driver Assistance package added adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, and emergency stop assist. The Coupe came standard with cross-traffic alerts and a surround-view camera, with the Driver Assistance package identical to the new GLC.