2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2022 Jeep Compass

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was a testament to the brand's commitment to a timeless aesthetic, characterized by soft curves and rounded edges. While it maintained a modern edge with its menacing LED headlights, it avoided the aggressive styling seen in some competitors. The GLC's 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 artful blend of soft lines and curves, with a flowing dash and a floating centre touchscreen. Mercedes-Benz was known for its minimalist approach, and the GLC's interior set a high standard for compact luxury SUV cabins.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Compass retained much of its familiar design since its 2017 redesign, resembling a smaller Grand Cherokee. The exterior updates and new wheel designs gave it an upscale appearance, especially in the Trailhawk Elite specification. Inside, the Compass impressed with a new dashboard design, updated digital instrumentation, and luxury-grade leather seats. The Trailhawk Elite model, in particular, elevated the Compass's sophistication with features like a dual-pane panoramic sunroof and a redesigned centre console offering increased storage. These enhancements made the Compass more convincing as a premium-brand SUV.

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. This power was delivered through a nine-speed automatic transmission to the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. The GLC offered various drive modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor their driving experience. Despite its performance features, the GLC was more about refined power delivery than outright sportiness. For those seeking more power, the AMG GLC 43 and AMG GLC 63 S offered twin-turbocharged V6 and V8 engines, respectively, with the latter producing a formidable 503 horsepower.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, on the other hand, came with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, known as the "Tigershark," delivering 177 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque. While it lacked the punch of a turbocharger, it was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission for 4WD models. The Compass's drivetrain was more focused on fuel efficiency, with a transmission that was reluctant to downshift. The Jeep Selec-Terrain system offered Auto, Snow, and Sand/Mud driving modes, and the Compass Trailhawk was particularly capable off-road with its Active Drive Low AWD system. However, the overall driving dynamics of the Compass left room for improvement, with a busy powertrain character and a less refined ride.

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 design reduced these figures to 1,400 and 500 litres, respectively. The GLC's interior was well-utilized, with a decently sized centre console and deep door pockets for storage. Rear-seat space was adequate, with ample legroom and headroom, although the Coupe's low roofline compromised headroom.

The 2022 Jeep Compass, positioned on the smaller end of the compact SUV spectrum, provided 770 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats and 1,693 litres with the seats folded. The Compass Trailhawk Elite offered a premium feel with features like 12-way power-adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof. The redesigned dashboard and centre console improved perceived quality and storage capacity, making the Compass a more convincing premium SUV.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured the MBUX infotainment system with a 10.25-inch centre touchscreen and a touch controller. The system was intuitive, offering both touchscreen and touch controller options. The steering wheel had touch-sensitive pads for navigating the digital instrument panel and infotainment screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, although switching between the GLC's radio and smartphone apps required navigating through menus.

The 2022 Jeep Compass introduced the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which was five times faster than its predecessor. It featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen, with a 10.1-inch option on higher trims. Uconnect 5 supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth pairing for two devices. The system also offered a navigation system, WiFi hotspot, and a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. While the voice recognition system was fast and accurate, it occasionally struggled with specific requests.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC required the $2,700 Intelligent Drive Package for advanced safety features like 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 sensors were overly sensitive, leading to false positives.

The 2022 Jeep Compass improved its safety features, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assistance included from the Trailhawk grade. The Compass was set to receive Highway Assist, combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assistance. However, the lane-keep assist was overly insistent at lower speeds, and the forward-collision warning system occasionally gave false positives. As of the review, crash test results for the updated Compass were not available.