The Acura SUV That Out-Packages The Mercedes GLC For Thousands Less

Even if you buy the AMG version of the Mercedes-Benz GLC, you’re probably at some point going to have a car seat in the back taking it to Costco. If you have actually tracked a Mercedes-AMG GLC, please let us know in the comments. The point being, the Mercedes-Benz GLC has probably seen more golf bags in the trunk than it has racing helmets. Additionally, compact luxury SUV buyers might not always be concerned about cargo capacity, but it is worth considering.

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Don’t get us wrong, it’s really difficult to argue against the GLC. Especially because it just received a redesign that might look questionable on other MB badges, but looks great on the GLC. However, this is capitalism after all, and with innovation, there is imitation. With that in mind, shoppers are able to look elsewhere and, because they do, there are alternatives that can match what the GLC does for less money, with a similar sense of prestige on the badge (not the same, of course, but still luxury).

The Cargo Gap You Only Notice With A Full Trunk

If you have a car seat in the back, then you will know that the space behind the seats in the second row is what you’re actually using on a daily basis. The GLC 300, for all of its pluses, does have one of the lowest cargo capacities in the segment, with 21.9 cubic feet of cargo space. The Acura rival we’re pitting it against does offer roughly 30 cubic feet. The GLC does max out around 56.3 cubic feet with the seats folded, but again, our arrival offers 79.8. That’s a big difference, especially when you have more than three people on a road trip.

When Eight Cubic Feet Decides Whether The Week Fits

Mercedes-Benz

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Eight cubic feet might not sound like that much of a difference, but it does make a big difference when you try to pack a stroller, buy a thing of 24 paper towels, or go on a getaway with your friends. Eight cubic feet is the difference between struggling to shut the tailgate on the first try and closing it cleanly with a massive haul of groceries. Unfortunately, the one struggling to close on the first try is the GLC in this scenario.

The Badge Tax Nobody Itemizes On The Window Sticker

Mercedes-Benz

Then, of course, you have to consider how much it’s actually going to cost to purchase a Mercedes-Benz GLC. The base-model GLC 300 starts just under $50,000s, with the challenger starting in the mid-$40,000 range. That’s a stark difference of between $4,000 and $6,000, and we can guarantee that the latter is going to offer more than the Mercedes-Benz in terms of features. So, if you remove the three-pointed star from the equation, you’re paying more for less space — a tax you shouldn’t have to pay.

Why The German Benchmark Was Built To Lose This Particular Fight

Mercedes-Benz

If we’re being totally honest, the engineers at Mercedes-Benz were probably not concerned with the packaging battle. At the end of the day, it’s a luxury performance SUV that is built like one. Mercedes-Benz uses a longitudinal, rear-drive-based architecture with the engine mounted north to south and the transmission running rearward. The driveshaft also threads along the length of the floor. This design choice is characteristic of classic luxury cars, and it does not always prioritize cargo space.

The Longitudinal Engine Eats The Floor Plan

Mercedes-Benz

With this kind of design embedded in the chassis of the Mercedes-Benz GLC, it doesn’t leave much room for cargo space. You would be surprised by the passenger space, however. Because the driveshaft tunnels through the floorboard, it ends up leaving the rear-wheel-drive-based SUV’s cargo space wanting. The drivetrain has to live somewhere and, unfortunately, that somewhere is in the trunk.

But That Same Layout Buys Back Something Real

Mercedes-Benz

Everything in life has a trade-off, and the longitudinal layout is one of them. German cars, especially the GLC, are known for having set-back cabins and long hood lines, giving them a more premium and planted feel. It essentially turns geometry into genuine, width-based comfort.​​​​​​​ The GLC does carry more front and rear hip room by four inches up front, plus some extra front headroom over its Japanese rivals. For all of this talk of lack of cargo space, the GLC does leave a good bit of room for the passengers.

The Acura RDX Is The SUV Doing The Quiet Out-Packaging

Acura

Obviously, the challenger here is an Acura. What we haven’t mentioned is that it is the Acura RDX. As you can probably guess, this compact luxury SUV offers more cargo space for one solid reason: a front-wheel-drive drivetrain. The RDX employs a transverse mounted engine on a unibody front-wheel drive platform. It also features Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive. The sideways-mounted engine tucks the transmission alongside it, collapsing the overall length of the powertrain and pushing the cabin forward. As you can probably guess, this leaves plenty of space for people and cargo.

Base Trim Engine

2L I4 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

10-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

All-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

272 HP @6500 RPM

Base Trim Torque

280 lb.-ft. @ 1600 RPM

Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)

21/27/23 MPG

Make

Acura

Model

RDX

Segment

Compact Luxury SUV

The Numbers That Quietly Embarrass The Benchmark

Acura

Let’s take a look at the numbers that beat out the Mercedes-Benz GLC in not only cargo capacity, but also other key measurements:​​​​​​​

The one thing the GLC has over the Acura RDX is the fact that it comes with a plug-in hybrid variant. Additionally, it offers one of the highest electric ranges of any PHEV. However, the GLC 300 itself doesn’t look all that competitive next to the Acura’s offering.

272 Horses And SH-AWD, For Thousands Less

Acura

For all intents and purposes, Japanese automakers have historically made incredibly impressive, four-cylinder powertrains. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the Acura RDX’s base engine outpaces that of the GLC. Powering the RDX is a turbocharged 2.0-liter VTEC engine that makes 272 horsepower, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and Acura’s patented SH-AWD drivetrain. This drivetrain also helps the RDX garner a reputation as one of the best handling luxury SUVs in the segment.

So Which One Is Actually Built For You?

Mercedes-Benz

This is a fair question, because buyers who typically want a Mercedes-Benz are not often considering Acura. This comparison also doesn’t make the GLC necessarily the wrong car. It just means that it’s a different car for somebody that wants a compact Mercedes-Benz SUV. Unfortunately, the RDX wins on practicality every time. However, the GLC beats out the RDX in a lot of other spaces.

Where The GLC Legitimately Fights Back

Mercedes-Benz

There is no denying that the Mercedes-Benz GLC has a much more luxurious cabin. Acura sometimes borders on a more premium stance than outright luxury. Mercedes-Benz offers a bespoke experience that gives you so many different choices of materials in the cabin as well as high-tech features that the RDX just can’t compete with. We’ve already mentioned the PHEV variant, but there is also an AMG variant that the RDX can’t compete with. It genuinely offers a more premium feel, and a distinction that you cannot find elsewhere.

The Honest Call

Acura

Not to go around in circles, but again, it really depends on what your needs are as a buyer. If you are making weekly trips to Costco with three strollers in tow (hypothetically), then the Acura RDX is most certainly for you. If you want the more lavish of the two, with supple interior materials, virtual 3D navigation, and seat positioning calibrated to your height for a truly bespoke experience, then go for the Mercedes-Benz. The truth is that the Acura gives you more cargo capacity, and that is by design. If the cargo space in the Mercedes-Benz ends up being too small for you, but you still want luxury, then the RDX is still a great choice.

Sources: Acura, Mercedes-Benz, CarEdge