2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was a testament to timeless design, eschewing the aggressive styling trends of its contemporaries for a more classic aesthetic. Its exterior featured soft curves and rounded edges, complemented by menacing LED headlights that added a touch of modern aggression. The long hood and wide grille gave the GLC a dramatic stance, reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan, underscoring 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 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 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe presented a more athletic and modern appearance, with its Selenite Gray paint, 22-inch forged aluminum wheels, and polished brightwork. The GLE Coupe's design was likened to an athletic sneaker, with a front three-quarter perspective that was both stylish and proportioned. Inside, the GLE Coupe offered a high-tech appearance with dual-screen instrumentation and infotainment design. The cabin featured high-end materials, including Nappa premium leather and brushed aluminum trim, creating a luxurious environment. Ambient lighting enhanced the driving experience at night, while the interior design masked the vehicle's complexity with a facade of simplicity.

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+, but even in Comfort mode, the engine provided ample power. The steering was soft yet precise, and the GLC struck a balance between refinement and responsiveness. For those seeking more power, the AMG GLC 43 offered a twin-turbocharged V6 with 385 horsepower, while the AMG GLC 63 S boasted a twin-turbo V8 with 503 horsepower, delivering sports car-like performance.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 Coupe featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-6 engine with 429 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque, enhanced by an EQ Boost 48-volt mild-hybrid system. This setup provided robust acceleration and improved fuel efficiency, with a consumption rate of 12.7 L/100 km. The GLE 53 Coupe came with a SpeedShift nine-speed automatic transmission and an AMG Performance 4Matic+ AWD system. It offered multiple driving modes, including Sport+ for high-performance driving. The adaptive damping control air suspension and AMG Active Ride Control suspension ensured a comfortable and composed ride, while the performance brakes and tires provided excellent grip and stopping power.

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 provided decent rear-seat space, with ample legroom and headroom in the SUV variant. The interior featured a well-designed centre console and deep door pockets for storage, making efficient use of space.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe accommodated up to five people, though it was more comfortable for four. The front seats offered numerous adjustments, heating, ventilation, and massage functions, while the back seat provided ample legroom. The cargo hold measured 655 litres, expanding to 1,790 litres with the rear seats folded. The GLE Coupe included comfort upgrades like a four-zone climate control system and an Air Balance in-cabin fragrance system, enhancing the luxury experience.

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 touch and controller options for navigation. 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 radio and smartphone apps required navigating through menus.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe came standard with the MBUX infotainment system, featuring dual 12.3-inch screens. It included navigation, satellite radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with natural voice recognition technology activated by saying "Hey Mercedes." Optional features included a head-up display, surround-view camera system, and an upgraded Burmester 3D surround-sound system.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC offered advanced safety features through the Intelligent Drive Package, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and lane departure warning. Parking sensors and hands-free parking assist were part of the Premium Plus Package, though the sensors were overly sensitive and could be distracting.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe was equipped with numerous safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The Intelligent Drive Package added 13 additional driver assistance systems, such as Active Lane Change Assist and Active Emergency Stop Assist. The lane-keeping assistance technology was finely tuned, operating transparently until needed. Crash-test results for the GLE Coupe were unavailable, but the standard GLE received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.