2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive exterior styling, with a boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood that visually tied it to the original version and classic Series Land Rovers. Despite these retro callbacks, the design was thoroughly modern, featuring rounded corners for better aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that gave the Defender a unique personality. The modern Defender was also much larger than the original, offering improved interior space and ergonomics. The interior design emphasized rugged character with bare metal and exposed screws, mixed with leather and suede upholstery, making it both stylish and practical for off-road adventures.

In contrast, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class was split between new and old. The GLC 300 was redesigned, featuring new, narrower taillights, but retained much of the first-generation GLC's styling. The interior received a significant makeover with a large vertical infotainment touchscreen and a tablet-like instrument panel, offering a high-tech and modern feel. The returning GLC Coupe models maintained their older design, with a coupe-like roofline that set them apart. Overall, the GLC-Class exuded traditional luxury, focusing on a clean and simple cockpit design with excellent materials quality and solid construction.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, and a new-for-2022 V8 engine producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The V8 could accelerate the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 149 mph. All models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The Defender was impressively comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimized noise from the massive 22-inch tires. Off-road, the Defender lived up to Land Rover's reputation, with a 4WD system, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class was limited to the GLC 300 trim level, 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 optional 4Matic all-wheel drive. The GLC 300 could accelerate to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, offering smooth and linear acceleration. The brake pedal effort was soft but effective, and the suspension favored comfort over sporty handling. The returning GLC 4Matic Coupe had a similar four-cylinder turbo engine, while the AMG GLC 43 Coupe featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with 385 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. The AMG model offered sportier handling and a firmer ride.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were comfortable but challenging to access in the two-door Defender 90. The four-door Defender 110 offered more versatility, with two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. Three-row models had 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, 35.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 70.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. Two-row versions had 18.1 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 51.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a spacious center-console storage bin that could be equipped with refrigeration.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC offered front seats with ample adjustment and firm cushioning for long-distance comfort. The synthetic leather upholstery was convincingly grained, with optional real leather for smoother surfaces. The GLC had a large center console bin with a wireless charging pad, cupholders, well-sized door pockets, and another bin under the center armrest. The front seats provided plenty of space for taller passengers, while the rear seats accommodated average adults with limited headroom for taller occupants. The standard GLC had 21.9 cubic feet of cargo space, which was smaller than rivals but still adequate. The rear seats folded flat for larger items. The GLC Coupe's sloping roofline reduced cargo capacity to 17.6 cubic feet and rear headroom by 1.3 inches.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with a standard Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on all trims except the base model, with an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen. The graphics and menu layouts were well-designed, but the screen required a strong touch to respond. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system, which was useful for off-roading.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a new interior layout with an 11.9-inch touchscreen, offering sharp graphics and immediate responses. However, the screen's lower placement on the dash made it more distracting to use. The MBUX infotainment system had excellent voice recognition but could interrupt music or podcasts. The new system performed better but was more distracting due to the lack of physical buttons. Standard connectivity included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with an available Burmester 3D Surround Sound system.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist features such as lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition with speed-limit adapter. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. The Defender had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, which was common for luxury vehicles.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS, but the previous GLC received top scores and was named a Top Safety Pick. Standard safety features included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, 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, and emergency stop assist. The GLC Coupe had additional standard features like cross-traffic alerts and a surround-view camera.