Volvo XC60 vs Mercedes-Benz GLC

The Volvo is launched in a single Inscription variant of the Volvo XC60 with a diesel powertrain in India. Here is how it fares against the Mercedes equivalent, the GLC 220 d Sport.

Exterior and styling:

The XC60 now looks a lot like the scaled down XC90 with its clean, simple lines, classic proportions and striking details. The signature Thor Hammer headlamps design as seen on the S90 and the XC90 extend right to the edge of the front grille. The XC60 comes with something that Volvo calls the 'under-wrap' doors. The doors extend all the way down to the lowest part of the car's body, overlapping the sills thus keeping the sills clean and easier, ingress and egress. The rear is similar to the older car with large LED taillights extending up to D-pillar and onto the tailgate.

The GLC, on the other hand, carries Mercedes' latest design theme and as a result, the front end is reminiscent of quite a few models from the German carmaker’s existing range. Up front, the GLC looks similar to the entry-level GLA as it shares many of the external lines, curves and the avant-garde grille. The side profile gets a curvy profile and flared wheel arches. The rear profile brings a few new design elements to the table in the form of the wider taillights and a stylish tailgate.

Interior and equipment:

Being a Volvo and available in a single trim, the XC60 comes filled to the brim with all the creature comforts and safety features you’d expect in this segment. There are ventilated front seats with Nappa leather upholstery, four-zone climate control and air suspension. Additionally, the vehicle also gets a 15-speaker Bowers and Wilkins audio system, nine-inch vertically-stacked touchscreen, a soft-touch dashboard and a panoramic sunroof. As for safety, the SUV gets adaptive cruise control, pilot assist, lane keeping aid, park pilot assist, 360-degree camera, hill start assist and a HUD mode.

The interior looks thoroughly modern and stylish and is complete with a lot of bits taken off the C-Class and a few other Mercedes models. The AMG GT-like centre console is finished in gloss wood and is loaded with in-car entertainment functions. In terms of features, Mercedes offers climate control, sunroof, smartphone connectivity, airbags, cruise control, reversing camera, powered front seats and the latest version of Merc’s COMAND infotainment system. The boot space is more than the Volvo at 550 litres.

Engine and transmission:

Under the hood of the new Volvo XC60 is a 2.0-litre D5 diesel engine that generates an impressive 235bhp of power (highest in its segment) and 480Nm of torque. The powerful engine comes mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters that channels all the power to the four-wheel-drive system. The SUV gets five driving modes - Eco, Comfort, Off-Road, Dynamic and Individual. The GLA 220d is powered by a 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine that puts out 168bhp of power and 400Nm of torque. Power is sent to Merc’s 4Matic all-wheel-drive system via a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Conclusion:

Volvo XC60 comes as a direct rival to the German triad of X3, Q5 and the GLC apart from the Discovery Sport and the Evoque. You can read about its competition check over here. The XC60 promises an exclusivity in the segment of luxury mid-size SUVs. And the Scandinavian is unmatched in terms of safety equipment. With the GLC you get the established brand assurance of the Three-Pointed star in the country. Whatever be your choice, both these cars are capable, spacious, and feature-laden.