2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class presented a blend of the familiar and the new. While the GLC 300 was redesigned, the Coupe models carried over from the previous year, with new versions expected in the 2024 model year. The changes in the GLC 300 were subtle, with the most noticeable being the narrower taillights. Despite being an all-new car, it retained much of the first-generation GLC's design, which had been a leader in the small luxury SUV class since 2016. The GLC's styling was classy and timeless, though some might have wished for a bit more personality to distinguish it from its predecessor. Inside, the GLC received a significant update with a modern, high-tech interior featuring a large vertical infotainment touchscreen and a tablet-like instrument panel. The materials and construction quality remained excellent, offering a simpler and cleaner cockpit design compared to rivals like the BMW X3 and Audi Q5.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a true crossover built on the TNGA-K platform, sharing its underpinnings with the regular Highlander and other Toyota models. It was notably larger than its competitors, with a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase, providing a spacious interior. The Grand Highlander's design was more conservative and blockier, drawing inspiration from rugged vehicles like the 4Runner. It was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with varying interior materials and features. The Grand Highlander excelled as a comfortable and well-built road-trip vehicle, offering ample cargo space and a reputation for mechanical reliability. Its interior was spacious and comfortable, with good visibility and plenty of room in every row of seats.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 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. It featured a nine-speed automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive as standard, and 4Matic all-wheel drive was available. The GLC 300 offered smooth acceleration, reaching 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, which was average for its class. While it wasn't as lively as the BMW X3's powertrain, it provided ample power for highway merging and passing. The brake pedal was a bit soft, but effective, and the suspension favored comfort over sporty handling. The GLC 4Matic Coupe continued with its older engine, delivering similar performance, while the AMG GLC 43 Coupe offered a sportier option with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 producing 385 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, reaching 60 mph in 4.7 seconds.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options. The base 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain combined a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a hybrid system, producing 362 combined net horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Highlander was available with front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive, except for the Hybrid Max, which was AWD only. The Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration, reaching 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander was larger and less maneuverable than the smaller Highlander, with a bit of body roll and numb steering feel. However, its brakes were solid, and the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine provided adequate power. Toyota offered three drive modes, with additional off-road modes for AWD models.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC offered comfortable front seats with ample adjustment options and firm cushioning. The synthetic leather upholstery was convincingly grained, and real leather was available for a smoother feel. The GLC provided sufficient storage space with a large center console bin, cupholders, and well-sized door pockets. However, the piano black lid of the console attracted dust and fingerprints. The GLC's interior was spacious, with plenty of room for taller passengers in the front and average adults in the rear. Cargo capacity was 21.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats, smaller than some rivals, but adequate for most needs. The GLC Coupe's sloping roofline reduced cargo capacity to 17.6 cubic feet and slightly limited rear headroom.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its primary rivals, offering a spacious interior with a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet. It provided 57.9 cubic feet of space behind the second-row seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all three rows up. The Grand Highlander was a comfortable vehicle with good visibility and ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row. It offered a reasonable alternative to minivans for those seeking a spacious and comfortable vehicle.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured an 11.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with sharp graphics and immediate responses. However, its lower placement on the dash made it more distracting to use. The MBUX infotainment system offered excellent voice recognition, though it interrupted audio playback. The system lacked physical buttons for audio and climate controls, making it more distracting to use. Standard connectivity included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with an available Burmester 3D Surround Sound system.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous Toyota interfaces. An intelligent assistant was available via a connected-services subscription, allowing voice commands for various tasks. The subscription also included cloud-based navigation and live agent assistance. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an 11-speaker JBL stereo on higher trims. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were available, with additional subscription options for enhanced functionality.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC had not yet been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to perform well based on Mercedes' reputation. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive headlights, and a driver attention monitor. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, and a surround-view camera system. The Coupe model came with additional standard features like cross-traffic alerts.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it came with an impressive list of standard advanced driver assistance systems. Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control was also standard, with four following-distance settings.