Edmunds: 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class vs. 2022 Genesis GV70

The small luxury SUV market is seemingly packed with as many automotive all-stars as there are athletes in the Winter Olympics. Yet among the field there’s been one model that’s consistently won more Edmunds gold than any other: the Mercedes-Benz GLC. Since the current-generation GLC debuted for the 2016 model year, it’s been Edmunds’ top-rated small luxury SUV. But that streak could finally end with the arrival of the all-new Genesis GV70.

The GV70 is the South Korean luxury automaker’s first small SUV, and it boasts impressive levels of comfort, technology and value. Is it enough to knock the GLC off the podium? Edmunds’ car experts compare them to find out.

POWER AND FUEL ECONOMY

Luxury SUVs are expected to balance power with fuel efficiency, and both rivals do a good job of that. The GLC lineup starts with a 255-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine that gets an EPA-estimated 24 mpg in combined city and highway driving. The snazzier AMG GLC 43 packs a turbocharged V6 that makes 385 horsepower. It’s rated at 21 mpg combined.

The Genesis GV70 has two similar engine options. The base 2.5T model comes with a turbocharged four-cylinder making 300 horsepower, while the 3.5T Sport comes with a 375-horsepower turbocharged V6. Interestingly, the GV70 gets the same estimated fuel economy as the GLC: 24 mpg for the four-cylinder and 21 mpg for the V6.

In real-world driving, both SUVs are suitably quick when accelerating up to a highway entrance ramp or passing a slow-moving vehicle. But the GLC pulled slightly ahead in Edmunds’ instrumented testing, with the AMG GLC 43 accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds compared to the GV70 3.5T’s 5.3 seconds. Mercedes also offers the high-performance AMG GLC 63 that has a V8 engine good for up to 503 horsepower. For now,...