2021 Chrysler Pacifica vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a new front fascia with a trapezoidal grille and angled LED headlights, echoing the aggressive design cues of the A-Class and CLS-Class. The taillights had square LEDs within the same housing, making the differences subtle unless compared side-by-side with older models. While the GLC wasn't unattractive, it lacked visual excitement from most angles, especially in the mass-market GLC 300 model. The AMG versions, with their wide tires, vertical-bar grille, and lower stance, added some visual drama, and the GLC Coupe’s fastback roof brought a touch of entertainment to the design. However, the beige paint and 18-inch wheels of the test car made it blend into parking lots, despite its over $60,000 price tag.

What truly set the GLC apart was its interior, which was among the best in the business. The all-black interior with stained gray ash wood was rich and luxurious, featuring a continuous sweep of wood from the three circular air vents, padded and stitched leather on the seats and doors, and cold metal covers on the stereo speakers. The fit, finish, and overall quality were impeccable. The 2020 model also introduced a standard 10.3-inch touchscreen, replacing the older 7- and 8.4-inch displays, and a new touchpad on the console. The steering wheel, identical to the one in the E-Class, had more buttons and felt thicker and softer. A 12.3-inch display could replace the analog gauges, and the previously aligned shiny buttons for various functions were replaced by a blank plate.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh, featuring new standard LED headlights and a hexagonal grille, giving it a more muscular aesthetic. The rear had a new all-LED taillamp running the width of the model, with the Chrysler wing badge at its center. The design retained some of its original sophistication, especially as the eye moved from the front to the sides and rear. Chrysler offered six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which included darkened features and black accents.

Inside, the Pacifica was designed with family life in mind. The seating up front was spacious, with a padded center console lid replacing the armrests. Storage space was ample, including an under-stack area with a rubberized bin. Standard features included power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, power first- and second-row windows, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, Stow ’n Go bucket seats with in-floor storage bins, and a Stow ’n Go third-row bench seat. The second- and third-row seats provided plenty of legroom, and the Stow ’n Go seats tumbled into the floor for easy loading. The Pacifica Pinnacle offered best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 came with a new turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The 9-speed automatic transmission routed power to either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or Mercedes' 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD), with the GLC 300 Coupe coming standard with 4Matic. The reprogrammed transmission and new engine improved the driving experience, holding gears longer and downshifting earlier. However, the engine still fell short compared to competitors like the BMW X3. The AMG GLC 43, with its twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 385 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque, offered phenomenal performance. The AMG GLC 63 4Matic Coupe's 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 delivered 469 hp and 479 lb-ft, while the AMG GLC 63 S 4Matic Coupe topped at 503 hp and 516 lb-ft. Despite the impressive performance of the AMG models, the GLC 300's steering and handling were disappointing, with body roll, vague steering, and sloppy suspension control. The GLC 300 4Matic had an EPA rating of 21 mpg city, 28 highway, and 24 combined, while the AMG models had lower fuel economy.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a traditional 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and a V6 hybrid engine paired with a dual-motor electrically variable transmission and 16-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 260 horsepower from the engine and 198 horsepower from its motors. The base Pacifica Touring and Touring L came standard with the V6 engine, with the hybrid powertrain and AWD as options. The upmarket Pacifica Limited and Pinnacle were available with either AWD or the hybrid powertrain. The AWD system, available for the first time in 16 years, activated on-demand based on various conditions and deactivated automatically to improve fuel efficiency. The Pacifica Hybrid had an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range of over 500 miles, delivering 82 MPGe and 30 mpg combined. The traditional V6 Pacifica had an EPA rating of 19 mpg city, 28 highway, and 22 combined, with AWD models having slightly lower fuel economy.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a mix of digital and physical controls, with a steep learning curve for those unfamiliar with modern Mercedes vehicles. The column shifter required an upward tap for Reverse and a downward tap for Drive, while the seat controls were on the doors. The MBUX system, with its touchscreen, thumb pad, and touchpad, became second nature with practice. The GLC had enough room for four adults, but the back seat's reclining mechanism was perplexing, requiring multiple steps to adjust. Cargo space was 19 cubic feet behind the seats and 57 cubic feet with them folded, less than competitors like the BMW X3.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and ample storage. The front seats were comfortable, with a padded center console lid replacing the armrests. Standard features included power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, power first- and second-row windows, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, Stow ’n Go bucket seats with in-floor storage bins, and a Stow ’n Go third-row bench seat. The second- and third-row seats provided plenty of legroom, and the Stow ’n Go seats tumbled into the floor for easy loading. The Pacifica Pinnacle offered best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC's MBUX system featured augmented reality for navigation, using a windshield-mounted camera to show a live feed of the road with directional overlays. The system also used a cloud-based voice assistant and could track behavior to suggest destinations and contacts. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with optional wireless device charging. The Off-Road Engineering Package included hill-descent control, additional driving modes, and underbody shields.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica's Uconnect 5 infotainment system was modern and customizable, with a clean design and responsive interface. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the navigation system was easy to use. The second-row in-seat entertainment system remained an option, with additional games available. The Pinnacle model featured FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with rear-facing child seat view, split-view display, and zoom-to-seat feature. A six-speaker sound system was standard, with 13-, 19-, and 20-speaker Harman Kardon options available.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC was named a 2019 Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS and received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA. New for 2020 was Exit Warning Assist, which used blind-spot-monitoring radar sensors to detect approaching cyclists or cars. Other safety features included Pre-Safe Sound, which played “pink noise” to protect eardrums in a crash, and Predictive Brake Priming, which moved the brake pads closer to the discs in anticipation of sudden braking.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica came standard with 97 safety features, increasing to 100 in the Pinnacle trim. Key safety technologies included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, advanced brake assist, third-row lock out, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.