2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid aimed to redefine the minivan aesthetic, traditionally not known for its style. Toyota's designers infused the Sienna with SUV-like styling, featuring a wide grille and sleek LED headlamp arrays that integrated seamlessly with the Toyota logo. The side profile boasted an assertive stance, with re-engineered sliding doors that added a sculpted look, complemented by alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 20 inches. The rear design maintained a wide and low appearance, with Toyota's renowned fit and finish. Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines, offering a higher seating position than a sedan. The dashboard was simple, with controls clustered below the infotainment screen. The centre console featured a gear selector, cupholders, and a large storage compartment, while the leather-wrapped steering wheel and quality materials enhanced the interior feel. The second and third-row seats provided comfort and flexibility, with the second row sliding to optimize space.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC embraced a timeless aesthetic with soft curves and rounded edges, maintaining a modern aggression through its LED headlights. The long hood and wide grille gave it a dramatic stance, reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan. Inside, the GLC's cabin was a masterpiece, with flowing lines and a minimalist approach. The interior set a benchmark for compact luxury SUVs, with a focus on artful design. The GLC was available in both conventional SUV and crossover "coupe" body styles, with the latter sacrificing some cargo space for a sharper look. Standard features on the GLC 300 included 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and a power liftgate, while the interior boasted synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable and heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and the MBUX infotainment system. Higher trims offered more potent powertrains and additional luxury features.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid marked Toyota's first hybrid minivan, featuring a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, producing a combined 243 horsepower. It offered front-wheel drive as standard, with an all-wheel-drive option available across all trims. The AWD system utilized a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, delivering 54 hp and 89 lb-ft of torque. The Sienna employed an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which, while efficient, slightly dulled throttle response. The Sienna's handling improved with new TNGA front suspension and independent rear trailing arm suspension, minimizing body roll. Fuel efficiency was a highlight, with FWD models rated at 6.6 L/100 km city, 6.5 highway, and 6.5 combined, while AWD models achieved 6.8 city, 6.6 highway, and 6.7 combined.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 came equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. Power was transmitted through a nine-speed automatic transmission to the 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLC featured steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes. The powertrain was responsive, with occasional lag from the inline-4, but overall, it provided ample power. The steering was precise, and the GLC balanced 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 hp, delivering sports car-like performance.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna excelled in convenience and functionality, with a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that folded into the floor. The second row slid up to 63.5 cm, enhancing legroom and third-row access. The cabin featured ample storage, with 16 cupholders and bottle holders in all four side doors. The Sienna could accommodate a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed, offering flexible cargo options. Cargo capacity measured 949 litres behind the third row, 2,129 litres behind the second row, and 2,860 litres behind the first row. The Sienna's hybrid battery was cleverly positioned under the front seats, preserving cargo space. Power-operated sliding doors and a rear liftgate responded to kick motions, adding family-friendly convenience.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 provided 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 offered practical storage solutions, including a centre console with a "barn-door" opening and deep door pockets. The rear seats provided adequate legroom without needing adjustment, though the Coupe's low roofline impacted headroom. Overall, the GLC made efficient use of its interior space, with the SUV variant offering more practicality than the Coupe.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna featured a nine-inch touchscreen with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, available SiriusXM, and multiple USB ports. Connectivity included a year's trial of Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Service Connect. Higher trims offered Qi-compatible charging and a 1500-watt inverter. Audio systems ranged from a six-speaker stereo to a Premium Audio + JBL package with 12 speakers. A rear-seat entertainment system was available, featuring an 11.6-inch display, remote, and wireless headphones. The driver enjoyed a multi-information display, digital rearview mirror, and remote keyless entry, with Smart Key System on higher trims.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC's Premium Package included the MBUX infotainment system with a 10.25-inch touchscreen, touch controller, and advanced voice control. The system was intuitive, offering both touch and controller options. The steering wheel featured touch-sensitive pads for customizing the digital instrument panel and navigating the infotainment screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, though switching between radio and smartphone apps required navigating menus. Overall, the system was user-friendly once acclimated.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, featuring adaptive cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision system, lane-departure alert, and automatic high beams. The Star Safety System included enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, and more. The Sienna had 10 airbags and LATCH connectors for child seats. A tire pressure monitoring system and inflator kit were standard, with a spare tire available on the LE grade. The 2020 Sienna received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from IIHS and a Five-Star Overall Rating from NHTSA.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC offered advanced safety features through the $2,700 Intelligent Drive Package, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Parking sensors and hands-free parking assist were part of the Premium Plus Package. However, the parking sensors were overly sensitive, triggering false positives at intersections, which could be distracting but were deactivatable.