2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2024 Nissan Rogue

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC maintained a familiar aesthetic, with designers opting for a conservative approach to its redesign. The GLC SUV featured new taillights and a revised rear end, but overall, it closely resembled its predecessor. The GLC Coupe followed suit with subtle changes, such as repositioned door handles and more aggressive headlights. The interior of the GLC was luxurious, with a focus on gadgetry and high-end materials. The AMG GLC 43 SUV test car boasted two-tone leather upholstery and an optional wood-and-metal dash treatment, creating a sumptuous atmosphere. The GLC's interior was packed with screens, buttons, and ambient lighting, offering a class-leading experience for those who appreciated a tech-heavy environment.

In contrast, the 2024 Nissan Rogue received its first major styling update since its 2021 launch. The Rogue featured a larger grille, redesigned taillight elements, and new wheel designs across its trim levels. The interior of the Rogue was upgraded with a new 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, giving it a more premium feel. The Rogue Platinum test car impressed with its upscale design, featuring leather seats with quilted stitching and a new Chestnut brown color option. The Rogue's interior was well-appointed, offering a comfortable and stylish cabin for a vehicle in its segment.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC 43 was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine from AMG, producing an impressive 416 horsepower. This exceeded the previous generation's 385 horsepower from a twin-turbocharged V6. The GLC 43's engine was complemented by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, enhancing its performance. The base GLC 300, on the other hand, delivered 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, which was respectable but paled in comparison to the AMG variant. The GLC 300 offered rear-wheel drive as standard, with an optional all-wheel-drive system. The GLC 43 featured a nine-speed automatic transmission with a multi-clutch system, providing faster shifts and improved torque handling. However, the performance suspension and rougher shifts made it less suitable for daily commuting.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue's powertrain was a standout feature, with a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque. This engine outperformed many of its competitors, including the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. The Rogue's engine was a VC-Turbo, capable of varying its compression ratio for optimal power or fuel economy. Despite the impressive engine, the Rogue's continuously variable transmission (CVT) was slow to transfer power to the wheels, affecting overall performance. The Rogue offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available. The suspension in the Rogue Platinum test car was firmer than expected, impacting ride quality without enhancing handling.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC's cabin was designed with a driver-focused layout, featuring a center touchscreen and climate controls angled toward the driver. The interior was filled with buttons, particularly in AMG models, where the steering wheel had an extra spoke for additional controls. The GLC offered 21.9 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 59.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The GLC Coupe provided 17.6 cubic feet of cargo volume, increasing to 52.6 cubic feet with the seats down. The power-folding rear seats and flat-folding capability added convenience to the GLC's cargo space.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue offered competitive passenger space, with differences mainly in legroom compared to rivals. The Rogue provided 36.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, expanding to 74.1 cubic feet when folded. The optional Divide-N-Hide system allowed for flexible cargo configurations, and the Rogue featured a molded-in space for grocery bags. The Rogue's center console had a pass-through space for added flexibility, though accessing the storage tray at floor level was somewhat awkward.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a prominent 11.9-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen running the third-generation MBUX infotainment system. It included a responsive voice command system, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Exclusive trim added navigation, a 15-speaker Burmester 3D surround sound system, and an off-road dash display. The Pinnacle trim offered a head-up display and augmented reality navigation. The GLC also had an optional Advanced USB package, increasing the number of USB-C ports.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue came with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, while SL and Platinum models received a larger 12.3-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Rogue was the first Nissan to feature Google built-in software, integrating Google Maps, Google Assistant, and the Google Play app store. The dual 12.3-inch screen setup improved the Rogue's infotainment system, though the touchscreen was occasionally slow to boot up. The Rogue offered multiple USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad on higher trims. Nissan extended the free trial period for its Nissan Connect Services to three years, providing features like remote door lock/unlock and vehicle health reports.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, with an "Acceptable" rating for the standard front crash-prevention system. Standard safety features included active brake assist, attention assist, blind-spot and exit warning assist, and active parking assist. The GLC also featured the Pre-Safe system, which prepared the vehicle for an imminent crash. Optional safety features were available through the Driver Assistance Package, adding adaptive cruise control and active lane-keeping assist.

The 2024 Nissan Rogue received top "Good" ratings in several IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Standard driver assist features included automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and lane departure warning. ProPilot Assist, Nissan's advanced driver assistance system, was available on higher trims, offering automated lane centering for highway driving.