2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee was a testament to timeless design, maintaining its appeal over a decade after its debut. It combined rugged utility with upscale sophistication, featuring big wheels under flared fenders, creating a balanced automotive art piece. The Grand Cherokee's design contributed significantly to its success, as it defied easy categorization, being a mainstream, luxury, and performance SUV all at once. The model lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, with high-performance SRT and Trackhawk models. The Summit trim, with its 5.7-litre V8 engine and luxurious interior, showcased premium features, though the interior design was beginning to show its age with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits.

In contrast, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC embraced a more timeless aesthetic with soft curves and rounded edges, while still embodying modern aggression through its menacing LED headlights. The GLC's design language was consistent with Mercedes-Benz's portfolio, offering a dramatic stance reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan. The GLC's cabin was an automotive work of art, with flowing lines and a minimalist approach, setting the standard for compact luxury SUV interiors. The GLC was available in both conventional SUV and crossover "coupe" body styles, with the latter sacrificing cargo space for a sharper look. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and a power liftgate, with the interior boasting synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and a fully digital instrument panel.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered a towing capacity of up to 2,818 kg (6,200 pounds). For those seeking more power, the optional 5.7-litre Hemi V8 provided 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 3,300 kg (7,200 pounds). The V8 featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved efficiency, though it still consumed 14.1 L/100 km in combined driving. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, along with its Quadra-Lift air suspension, provided excellent off-road capabilities, while its tight turning radius and responsive brakes made it suitable for daily driving.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 was equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission with 4MATIC AWD. The GLC offered Dynamic Select drive modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+, providing a balance of refinement and responsiveness. For those desiring more power, the AMG GLC 43 featured a twin-turbocharged V6 with 385 horsepower, while the AMG GLC 63 S boasted a twin-turbo V8 with 503 hp, delivering sports car-like performance.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured a luxurious interior with quilted and perforated leather seats, though the rear seat offered somewhat snug legroom for taller adults. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to a sense of claustrophobia, but large side windows and a panoramic sunroof helped alleviate this. The Grand Cherokee provided 1,028 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat, expandable to 1,934 litres with the seats folded. However, interior storage was limited, and the rear-seat entertainment system further reduced space.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC offered 1,600 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded, dropping to 550 litres with the seats up. The GLC Coupe's fastback profile reduced these figures to 1,400 and 500 litres, respectively. The GLC's interior featured a decently sized centre console and deep door pockets for storage. Rear-seat space was adequate, with ample legroom and headroom in the SUV, though the Coupe's low roofline compromised headroom.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering a user-friendly experience with fast response times and pleasing graphics. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system's voice recognition technology worked well, and the Summit trim came with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. However, the Grand Cherokee was considered "tech lite," offering essential features without much digital advancement.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was equipped with the MBUX infotainment system, featuring a 10.25-inch centre touchscreen and an advanced voice-control system. The system was intuitive, with both touch controller and touchscreen options. The steering wheel had touch-sensitive pads for customizing the digital instrument panel and navigating the infotainment screen. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though switching between the GLC's radio and smartphone music apps required navigating through menus.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA with 4WD, but its performance in IIHS testing was less impressive, with "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings in small-overlap frontal-impact collisions. The Grand Cherokee offered numerous safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring, among others. The ParkSense parking assistance system was also available.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC required the $2,700 Intelligent Drive Package for its best safety tech, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Parking sensors and hands-free parking assist were part of the Premium Plus Package. However, the parking and proximity sensors were overly sensitive, causing distractions.