2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2022 Cadillac XT5

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC showcased a timeless aesthetic with its soft curves and rounded edges, a design language that Mercedes-Benz consistently applied across its portfolio. Despite embodying modern aggression with its menacing LED headlights, the GLC avoided the overly sharp and angular look of some competitors. The long hood and wide grille gave it a dramatic stance, reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan, emphasizing its car-like characteristics. Inside, the GLC’s cabin was an automotive work of art, featuring flowing dash lines and a floating center touchscreen with rounded edges. Mercedes-Benz was moving towards larger screens and a minimalist approach, but the GLC’s interior design set a high bar for compact luxury SUV cabins.

In contrast, the 2022 Cadillac XT5 mixed Cadillac’s trademark design cues with a compact footprint and tall profile, resulting in an unmistakably Cadillac look that some found ungainly. The Premium Luxury and Sport models had distinct exterior styling cues, with the former featuring bright chrome and the latter darker trim and a mesh grille. The XT5’s interior, especially with the optional Platinum Package, felt luxurious with semi-aniline leather upholstery and a microfiber sueded headliner. However, without this package, the interior didn’t strongly convey a luxury-car standard. The design lacked a cohesive theme, unlike the distinct styles seen in competitors like the Volvo XC60 or Lincoln Corsair.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 came standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered rear-wheel drive or optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLC featured steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with multiple drive modes, but even in Comfort mode, the turbocharged engine provided ample power. The AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 variants offered significantly more power, with the latter’s twin-turbo V8 producing up to 503 horsepower, delivering sports car-like performance.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 offered a base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 235 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, standard on the Luxury and Premium Luxury trims. The XT5 Sport and optional on the Premium Luxury trim featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of torque, both paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 provided a smooth and quick driving experience, with linear power delivery and responsive shifts. The optional Platinum Package included a performance suspension with adaptive dampers, offering a comfortable and controlled ride. The steering was well-suited for a luxury vehicle, providing nimbleness without being overly sensitive.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 offered 56.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 19.4 cubic feet with them up. The GLC Coupe’s fastback profile reduced these figures to 49.4 and 17.6 cubic feet, respectively. The GLC’s interior provided ample storage options, including a decently sized center console and deep door pockets. Rear-seat space was adequate, with good legroom and headroom in the SUV, though the Coupe’s low roofline compromised headroom.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 provided more front headroom than the Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, but less than the BMW X3. It also trailed the German competitors in rear headroom but offered more legroom in both rows. The XT5’s seats were comfortable but could have used more padding, especially in the rear. Cadillac quoted 30 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 63 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing the Q5, X3, and GLC. The XT5 included a small cubbyhole below the touchscreen for additional storage, compensating for the limited space on the center console.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, center console touch controller, and advanced voice-control system. The system was intuitive, offering both touch controller and touchscreen options. The steering wheel had touch-sensitive pads for customizing the digital instrument panel and navigating the main infotainment screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, though switching between the GLC’s radio and smartphone apps required navigating through menus.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The optional Technology Package added an 8-inch digital instrument cluster display and a head-up display. While the touchscreen was easy to navigate, the array of secondary controls, including a rotary controller and capacitive touchpads, were not user-friendly. The standard eight-speaker Bose audio system could be upgraded to a 14-speaker Bose Performance Series system, which delivered excellent sound quality.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC included standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It also had front and rear parking sensors, hands-free parking assist, and a driver drowsiness monitor. Optional features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning. However, the parking and proximity sensors were overly sensitive, often triggering false positives.

The 2022 Cadillac XT5 came standard with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear park assist, automatic high-beam headlamps, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. The Safety Alert Seat vibrated when a warning system was triggered. The optional Driver Assist Package added adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking. The Technology Package included rear pedestrian alert, a surround-vision camera system, night vision, and automatic parking assist. The XT5 received top scores in IIHS crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.