2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2020 Lincoln Aviator

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator slotted below the Navigator and above the compact MKC and its replacement, the Lincoln Corsair, in the Lincoln lineup. The Aviator showcased Lincoln's return to using real vehicle names, a departure from the old alphabet-soup naming convention. Its design featured handsome headlights and an upright chrome grille, with a tapering roofline and low, wide beltline that gave it an elongated, boat-like appearance. Inside, the Aviator's cabin boasted a flowing design with soft-touch materials and selective use of brightwork. The seats were both elegant and sturdy, with shifter buttons resembling piano keys. The Aviator's interior was plush, with soft-touch materials throughout, including the dash, door panels, and center console sides. Unique touches like a massive panoramic moonroof and warning jingles recorded by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra highlighted Lincoln's commitment to luxury.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC, in contrast, embraced a timeless aesthetic with soft curves and rounded edges, while still embodying modern aggression with menacing LED headlights. The long hood and wide grille gave the GLC a dramatic stance, reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan. Inside, the GLC's cabin was an automotive work of art, with soft lines and curves carried into the flowing dash and a floating center touchscreen with rounded edges. Mercedes-Benz was moving towards larger screens and a more minimalist approach, but the GLC's interior aesthetic set a high bar for compact luxury SUV cabins. The GLC was offered in both conventional SUV and crossover "coupe" body styles, with the latter sacrificing some cargo space for a sharper look.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Touring trim combined this V6 with a 100-hp electric motor, resulting in a net 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains used a 10-speed automatic transmission, with the base V6 available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), while the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) was AWD only. Both versions could accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 4 seconds. The Grand Touring's hybrid setup provided smooth, confident acceleration and improved fuel efficiency, with a combined 23 mpg and a 21-mile electric-only range. The Aviator's steering was light, and its brakes were cushioned yet effective, offering a refined driving experience.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through a nine-speed automatic transmission to either the rear wheels or available 4MATIC AWD. The GLC included steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes. The four-cylinder turbo provided ample power, with occasional lag when pulling away from a stop. The steering was soft but precise, and the GLC handled higher-speed turns with confidence. For those seeking more power, the AMG GLC 43 offered a twin-turbocharged V6 with 385 hp, while the AMG GLC 63 featured a twin-turbo V8 with up to 503 hp.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator, with its three rows, competed with the Audi Q7, Infiniti QX60, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Land Rover Discovery, and Cadillac XT6. The optional second-row captain's chairs were fantastic, while the power-closing third row was adequate for adults but best suited for kids on longer trips. Dropping the second and third rows provided 77 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to the Cadillac XT6. The Aviator's interior featured some confusing controls, such as the door-release function and seat controls, which required navigating a touchscreen menu. Despite these quirks, the 30-way seats with a massage function were a highlight.

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 the seats up. The GLC Coupe's fastback profile reduced these figures to 49.4 and 17.6 cubic feet, respectively. The GLC's cargo space was mid-pack for compact luxury SUVs, with the BMW X3 offering more. The GLC's interior featured a decently sized center console, deep door pockets, and retractable cupholders. Rear-seat space was adequate, with plenty of legroom and headroom in the SUV, though the Coupe's low roofline cut into headroom. Overall, the GLC made good use of its interior space.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came standard with the Sync 3 infotainment system, operated via a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The landscape layout of the screen provided a better interface for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compared to the Ford Explorer's portrait layout. The Aviator also featured a fully digital instrument panel and a massive head-up display, which presented information in a minimalist and unobtrusive manner.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was equipped with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, featuring a 10.25-inch center touchscreen, center console touch controller, and advanced voice-control system. The MBUX system was intuitive, with both the touch controller and touchscreen offering a similar flow-through of menus. 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 music apps required navigating the home screen.

The 2020 Lincoln Aviator came with standard safety features, including front and side-impact airbags, traction control, and a tire pressure monitoring system. The Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite included forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and a head-up display.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was loaded with standard safety tech, such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other standard features included front- and rear parking sensors, hands-free parking assist, and a driver drowsiness monitor. Optional safety features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning. The parking and proximity sensors were overly sensitive, but could be deactivated if desired.