Clash of the Titans
Compact luxury crossovers have similar powertrains, but couldn’t be more different in execution
The Discovery Sport and GLC 300 are both new, yet familiar.
Introduced this year, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 and Land Rover Discovery Sport may not be household names yet, but the concept behind both compact luxury crossovers is familiar. That’s because they aren’t really all new models, but rather new-generation replacements for each brands’ existing compact crossovers.
Taking over for the long-in-the-tooth LR2 is a familiar name with a new twist. The Discovery Sport is a smaller vehicle than the Discovery, but still promises to deliver impressive off-road capabilities. With 21 centimetres of ground clearance, it can crawl over taller objects than pretty much every compact luxury crossover on the market, including the GLC. And, yes, the GLC is the new moniker given to C-Class based, compact Mercedes-Benz crossover, replacing the GLK. Similar powertrains, different executions Power for both vehicles comes from a 2.0-L turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired up to a nine-speed automatic transmission that can send power to all four wheels. The Discovery Sport pumps out 240 horsepower and 250 lb-ft. of torque, while the GLC 300 raises the stakes, offering 241 hp and 273 lb-ft. of torque.
As similar as these set-ups may sound, the Land Rover is front-wheel-drive based, with a transversely mounted engine setup while the Mercedes-Benz utilizes a rear-wheel-drive longitudinal engine layout. This may not mean much to a lot of people, but in execution, it makes all the difference.
As I’ve found in a lot of transversely mounted engines paired to nine-speed automatics, the transmission in the Discovery Sport isn’t great. It jerks hard into gear, transitions between gears, can be less than smooth and sometimes, it takes a few moments to find the proper gear.
In contrast, the nine-speed in the GLC is one of the best nine-speeds on the market. It’s well suited for the vehicle and transitions between gears smoothly and near seamlessly. Power and efficiency And it’s more than just being a smooth operator where the GLC’s transmission pays dividends. Despite the Mercedes weighing about 22.6 kilograms more, it’s still quicker to 100 km/h, needing just 6.4 seconds, compared with the Discovery Sport’s 7.8 second acceleration time.
Mercedes-Benz also delivers better real world fuel economy. During our testing, the GLC 300 averaged 10.3 L/100 km while the Discovery Sport could only muster 12.3 L/100 km. As a final tour de force, the GLC offers the quieter, more isolated cabin of the two. Two different approaches to ride and handling The two approaches to how the Discovery Sport and GLC 300 behave on and off-the-road directly reflect each manufacturer’s legacy and reputation. The Land Rover handles, rides and drives more like a traditional SUV even if it is a modern crossover. It’s set up to handle moderate off-road duties and features the usual multiple-drive modes.
The downside to this go-anywhere ability is that the Discovery Sport’s ride is a bit choppy and missing some of the smooth refinement found in the GLC 300. The Mercedes-Benz’s ride is more comfortable and all the controls operate in a fluid, refined way. Handling is decent for a compact luxury crossover as well. The GLC may be missing the Discovery Sport’s selectable off-road modes, but it does offer customizable drive modes to balance sport and comfort to the driver’s liking.
The cargo and passenger edge Despite the GLC 300 being more than 6.3 centimetres longer in overall length, the Discovery Sport trumps it by offering a third row of seats. The two seats in the back are very tight and only meant for children, but they’re nice to have in an emergency.
Passengers in the traditional rear seats will probably prefer the Discovery Sport as well. Legroom may be identical, but the headroom in the Discovery is more ample and the one-piece panoramic sunroof makes it feel more airy. The arm rests are also better placed in the Land Rover.
Cargo capacity with the third-row seat folded favours the Discovery Sport once more, but the advantage isn’t as big as the numbers suggest.
Land Rover Discovery Sport vs. Mercedes-Benz GLC 300: the Verdict As tested, both of these vehicles become a bit pricey. The Discovery Sport HSE Lux clocks in at $69,533 as tested, while the GLC 300 4Matic came in at $75,669.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 is a more substantial, higher-quality, better-bolted together vehicle as a whole. But is it worth its $6,500 premium? In the world of compact luxury crossovers, the answer is yes.