2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors were a standout, making it easy to load children into car seats even in tight parking spaces. The Odyssey offered a comfortable third-row seat, accommodating additional passengers like grandparents or carpool groups without hassle. Its cargo space was impressive, rivaling that of larger SUVs when the seats were folded or removed. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Odyssey managed to maintain a sense of style, with its kinked sliding doors and dark gray 19-inch alloy wheels adding a touch of flair.

In contrast, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC presented a blend of new and old design elements. The GLC 300 was redesigned, sharing a platform with the C-Class sedan, while the GLC Coupe models carried over from the previous year. The GLC's exterior changes were subtle, with narrower taillights being the most noticeable update. Its design remained classy and timeless, though some might have wished for more personality. Inside, the GLC received a significant makeover, featuring a large vertical infotainment touchscreen and high-quality materials. The GLC Coupe retained its first-generation interior, which had aged well and offered some usability advantages over the newer model.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a front-wheel-drive system and a 10-speed automatic transmission. While it lacked all-wheel drive and hybrid options, the Odyssey offered a Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption estimate of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. Despite its family-oriented mission, the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with responsive handling and quick acceleration. However, its brakes tended to heat up on downhill grades, leading to pedal vibration and audible grumbling.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 was powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It came with a 9-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Matic all-wheel drive in Canada. The GLC's acceleration was smooth, reaching 100 km/h in approximately 6.2 seconds. While not as lively as some competitors, it offered a comfortable ride with effective brakes and confident cornering. The GLC Coupe continued with its older engine, while the AMG GLC 43 Coupe provided a sportier option with a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6, delivering 385 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. Inside, it featured quality leather upholstery, supportive front seats, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. Storage space was abundant, with various compartments and a handy floor tray. The second-row seats were comfortable and versatile, with the Magic Slide feature allowing for easy adjustments. The third-row seat provided ample comfort for adults, and the Odyssey boasted 929 litres of cargo space behind it. Folding the third-row seat increased cargo capacity to 2,452 litres, while removing the second-row seats created a massive 3,984 litres of space.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC offered comfortable front seats with ample adjustment options and synthetic leather upholstery. The interior featured a large centre console bin, cupholders, and well-sized door pockets. While headroom was slightly limited for taller passengers, legroom was abundant. The GLC provided 620 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats, which was smaller than some rivals but still adequate. The GLC Coupe's sloping roofline reduced cargo capacity to 500 litres and impacted rear headroom.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, Bluetooth, and smartphone connectivity. It featured CabinWatch and CabinTalk technologies, along with a rear entertainment system with a 10.2-inch display. However, the infotainment system was considered outdated, with a small screen and limited voice command capabilities. The Odyssey's technology package needed a significant upgrade in future redesigns.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC boasted a new interior layout with an 11.9-inch touchscreen. While the graphics were sharp and responses immediate, the screen's lower placement made it more distracting to use. The MBUX infotainment system offered excellent voice recognition, but the lack of physical buttons made adjustments more challenging. Standard connectivity included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with an available Burmester 3D Surround Sound system for audio enthusiasts.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came with Honda Sensing, a suite of safety features including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC's crash-test results were not yet available, but it was expected to perform well based on Mercedes' reputation. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive headlights. The optional Intelligent Drive package added advanced driver assistance technologies. The GLC Coupe shared similar safety features, with additional cross-traffic alerts and a surround-view camera.