Compare the2026 Honda PassportVS 2025 Mercedes GLC

The Honda Passport has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GLC doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Passport deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Passport’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The GLC’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Honda Passport achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Mercedes GLC has not been tested.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Passport. But it costs extra on the GLC.

The Passport’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLC.

The Honda Passport’s Multi-View Camera System offers available integrated front and rear camera washers, ensuring clear, all-weather visibility without the need for manual cleaning. In contrast, the Mercedes GLC lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

Both the Passport and the GLC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the Passport 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLC. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the GLC ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 3 times as many Honda dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Passport’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Passport’s reliability 67 points higher than the GLC.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 31 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in long-term dependability. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

The Passport’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 30 more horsepower (285 vs. 255) than the GLC 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Passport’s fuel efficiency. The GLC doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Passport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The GLC requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Passport has 5.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC 350e’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 12.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Passport has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 16.4 gallons).

The Passport has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The GLC doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Passport higher (7 out of 10) than the Mercedes GLC (6). This means the Passport produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GLC every 15,000 miles.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Passport, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the GLC.

For better stopping power the Passport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLC:

For better traction, the Passport has larger standard tires than the GLC (265/60R18 vs. 235/60R18). The Passport TrailSport’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLC (275/60R18 vs. 255/45R20).

The Passport has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The GLC doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Passport offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the GLC; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Passport is 3.9 inches wider in the front and 3.6 inches wider in the rear than on the GLC.

For greater off-road capability the Passport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GLC (8.3 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Passport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Passport has an electronically controlled liquid-filled main engine mount. A computer-controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The GLC uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The front grille of the Passport uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The GLC doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Passport has .4 inches more front legroom, 4.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 3.5 inches more rear legroom and 5.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLC.

The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLC with its rear seat up (44 vs. 21.9 cubic feet). The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLC with its rear seat folded (83.8 vs. 56.3 cubic feet).

The Passport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the GLC’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

A Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the Passport, using the Vehicle Stability Assist sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the GLC.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Honda service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 7% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 14th.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Passport has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLC only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Passport to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The GLC doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda Passport, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes GLC isn't recommended.