2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2024 Hyundai Venue

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class presented a blend of new and familiar elements. While the GLC 300 was redesigned, the Coupe models remained unchanged from the previous year, with new Coupes anticipated for the 2024 model year. The standard GLC 300, although all-new, required a discerning eye to notice the differences, the most notable being the narrower taillights. Despite its subtle updates, the GLC maintained its classy and timeless design, which had led the small luxury SUV class for much of its production run. The interior received a significant makeover, aligning with newer Mercedes models, featuring a large vertical infotainment touchscreen and a tablet-like instrument panel. The materials quality and construction remained excellent, offering a simpler and cleaner cockpit design compared to rivals like the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Lexus RX.

The returning GLC Coupe models retained their exterior similarity, with the coupe-like roofline distinguishing them from the traditional GLC 300. The first-generation interior of the Coupe aged well, offering some usability advantages over its newer sibling. Overall, the GLC-Class continued to exude traditional luxury, focusing on elegance rather than sportiness or technology, which its competitors leaned towards.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue was available in SE, SEL, and Limited trim levels, with prices ranging from $21,275 to $24,525, including the destination charge. The Venue SEL, priced at $23,275, was recommended for its improved exterior appearance and added convenience and safety features. The Limited trim test vehicle, with Ecotronic Gray paint and carpeted floor mats, had an MSRP of $24,735. The Venue's design was appealing, offering genuine style for an affordable car. Inside, the Venue featured hard plastic materials, but they didn't appear cheap. The interior included stylish elements like seat stripes and piping, and white trim around the dashboard air vents and transmission shifter. The digital instrumentation and 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display were highlights, with controls exhibiting typical Hyundai quality. The Venue was thoughtfully designed, stylishly detailed, and offered high quality for a small SUV.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class was limited to the GLC 300 trim in its first year, 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. It featured a nine-speed automatic transmission with standard rear-wheel-drive and optional 4Matic all-wheel-drive. Acceleration was smooth, with Mercedes estimating a 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds, average for the class. The GLC 300 provided ample power for highway merging and passing, though it wasn't as lively as the BMW X3's powertrain. The brake pedal was slightly soft, but effective, and the suspension favored comfort over sporty handling, delivering a smooth ride with a nearly silent cabin.

The returning GLC 4Matic Coupe continued with its older four-cylinder turbo engine, producing 255 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, with a similar 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds. The AMG GLC 43 Coupe featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6, increasing output to 385 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.7 seconds. It offered a sportier experience with a firmer ride and louder engine, appealing to sport-minded drivers.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue was equipped with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 113 pound-feet of torque. Despite its modest power, the Venue's lightweight design, weighing 2,612 pounds in base SE trim, allowed it to perform adequately. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) maximized available power, making it suitable for city and suburban driving. The Venue excelled in urban environments with its small size, nimble handling, and excellent visibility. However, on rough pavement, the suspension exhibited unsophisticated behavior, resulting in a busy ride quality and structural shudders. On highways, the Venue could maintain freeway speeds, but the CVT and engine noise were noticeable under hard acceleration. The Venue lacked all-wheel-drive, with power directed to the front wheels, but offered 6.7 inches of ground clearance for better snow clearance. It achieved an EPA gas mileage rating of 31 mpg in combined driving, averaging 30.3 mpg during testing.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC offered front seats with ample adjustment for long-distance comfort, featuring synthetic leather upholstery that convincingly resembled genuine hides. Real leather was available for smoother surfaces. The interior provided sufficient storage, including 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 added to the storage options. The front seats accommodated taller passengers, while the rear seats offered adequate space for average adults, with slightly limited headroom for taller occupants. The standard GLC provided 21.9 cubic feet of cargo space, smaller than rivals, but sufficient for most shoppers. The rear seats folded flat for larger items, and a panoramic sunroof was optional. The GLC Coupe's sloping roofline reduced cargo capacity to 17.6 cubic feet and lowered rear headroom by 1.3 inches.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue's increased ground clearance made entry and exit easier. Despite its small dimensions, comfort was decent, with a manual height adjuster for the driver's seat and tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel adjustment. The front seats featured fabric inserts, artificial leather bolsters, and heated cushions. The back seat technically accommodated three people, but two would be more comfortable. Taller passengers might find the hard plastic front seatbacks uncomfortable. Rear-seat riders had USB ports but limited storage and no air conditioning vents. The Venue lacked dark-tinted rear privacy glass, requiring window shades for infants. In front, there was decent storage space, including a dashboard shelf. The trunk held 18.7 cubic feet of cargo, expandable to 31.9 cubic feet with the back seat folded.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a new interior layout with an 11.9-inch touchscreen, offering 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 on top of the dash with a trackpad for easier control. The new GLC retained a tiny capacitive-touch trackpad on the steering wheel, but its sensitivity made it frustrating to use. The MBUX infotainment system offered excellent voice recognition, though it 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 2024 Hyundai Venue featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display with modern graphics, logical menu structures, and simple operation. Below the screen were stereo volume and radio tuning knobs, along with buttons for quick access to functions. Standard features included Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, Bluelink connected services, and a six-speaker sound system. The Venue Limited added a navigation system, SiriusXM satellite radio, a wireless smartphone charger, and Bluelink+ for connected services. However, the Limited trim switched to wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making the wireless charger less useful. Despite this quirk, the Venue Limited's infotainment system was sophisticated, with impressive voice recognition. Music streaming through Apple Music and Pandora was effortless, though the stereo speakers could be improved for youthful consumers.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC's crash-test results were not yet available from NHTSA or IIHS, but strong scores were expected based on Mercedes' reputation. The previous GLC received a five-star rating from NHTSA and top scores from IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick. 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. Other options included a surround-view camera system and upgraded headlights. The Coupe came standard with cross-traffic alerts and the surround-view camera, with a similar Driver Assistance package.

The 2024 Hyundai Venue came with Hyundai SmartSense, offering forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, a driver monitoring system, and a rear-seat reminder system. The Venue SEL added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and the Limited trim included cyclist detection. Adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist were not available. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems produced a few inaccurate alerts, and the forward-collision warning issued one incorrect warning. The Venue offered decent occupant protection, but crash test results were valid only for similarly sized vehicles. The IIHS rated the Venue Good in three crash tests, with an Acceptable rating for the Limited trim's LED headlights. NHTSA gave the Venue an overall rating of four stars.