2021 Ford Bronco 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 from previous models subtle unless compared side-by-side. 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, as did the GLC Coupe’s fastback roof. 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 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 Ford Bronco drew inspiration from the original 1966 model, embodying a "Retrofuturism" design philosophy. The Bronco featured a single-piece grille with bold B-R-O-N-C-O lettering, round headlights, and a modestly bulging hood with removable off-road sights. The body sides were flat and simple, accented with applied fender flares, and the standard 32-inch tires could be upgraded to 35-inch tires with the Sasquatch package. The rear showcased a full-size spare tire on a rack that swung away for access to the side-hinged half tailgate and flip-up back glass.

The Bronco came in two-door and four-door configurations, with the two-door models having a 100.4-inch wheelbase and the four-door models stretching to 116.1 inches. The height ranged from 71.9 to 75.3 inches, and the width from 75.9 to 79.3 inches, depending on the trim level. The Bronco offered a black soft-top or a modular removable hardtop, and eleven paint colors, including eye-catching options like Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat and Antimatter Blue. Inside, the Bronco combined retro styling with modern technology, featuring a color touchscreen (8-inch standard, 12-inch available) and a digitized cluster. The interior used rugged plastic and metal-reinforced heavy-use points, with stretchy mesh door pockets and sturdy overhead grab handles.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 came with a new turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine producing 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The GLC 300 offered 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 fell short in sound quality, vibration, and response compared to competitors like the BMW X3.

The AMG GLC 43, arriving in late 2019, featured a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 with 385 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque, delivering linear and strong power. The AMG GLC 63 4Matic Coupe and AMG GLC 63 S 4Matic Coupe offered even more power with their 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engines, producing 469 hp and 479 lb-ft, and 503 hp and 516 lb-ft, respectively. The 2020 models included an electronic locking rear differential, AMG-tuned adaptive dampers, and an air suspension. Despite these features, the GLC 300's steering and handling were disappointing, with body roll, vague steering, and sloppy suspension control. The GLC 300's fuel economy was EPA-rated at 21 mpg city, 28 highway, and 24 combined, while the AMG models had lower ratings.

The 2021 Ford Bronco offered two engine options: a standard turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four with 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, and an optional twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 with 310 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. The 2.3-liter engine came with a seven-speed manual transmission, while the 2.7-liter engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, which was also optional for the 2.3-liter. All Bronco models featured standard four-wheel drive (4WD).

During test drives in Holly, Michigan, the Bronco demonstrated its off-road prowess in challenging conditions, including mud, slick rock, and treacherous trails. On pavement, the Bronco drove like an off-road truck, with the 35-inch tires from the Sasquatch package producing a noisy and wiggly ride. The 2.7-liter engine and 10-speed automatic transmission provided smooth power delivery, making the Bronco well-suited for both on-road and off-road driving. The Bronco's off-road capabilities were impressive, with excellent traction, balance, and articulation, making it a great choice for both novice and experienced off-roaders.

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 located on the doors. The Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) system offered a touchscreen, thumb pad, and touchpad for controlling various functions, with customizable home screen designs. The GLC had enough room for four adults, but the back seat's reclining mechanism was cumbersome, requiring multiple steps to adjust. Cargo space was 19 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 57 cubic feet with them folded, less than competitors like the BMW X3.

The 2021 Ford Bronco excelled in modularity, with removable doors that could be stored in dedicated protective bags in the cargo hold. The doors had integrated grip handles and a simple electrical connection, making removal and replacement easy. The Bronco also featured removable fenders, bumpers, and a one-piece front grille for easy repair and replacement. The hood's trail sights doubled as tie-down points for roof-mounted cargo. Inside, the Bronco had a row of buttons for suspension settings and beefy toggle switches for auxiliary equipment, with onboard wiring for easy installation.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC's MBUX system included augmented reality for navigation, using a windshield-mounted camera to overlay directional arrows and street names on a live feed of the road. The system also featured a cloud-based voice assistant, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and optional wireless device charging. The Off-Road Engineering Package added hill-descent control, additional driving modes, and underbody shields, though the GLC was not designed for serious off-roading.

The 2021 Ford Bronco used the latest SYNC 4 infotainment interface with enhanced voice recognition. The standard 8-inch touchscreen could be upgraded to a 12-inch touchscreen with the High Package, which also included a 10-speaker B&O sound system, voice-activated navigation, and wireless device charging. The G.O.A.T. system offered up to seven drive modes for various terrains, and the Sasquatch Package included position-sensitive Bilstein shock absorbers for increased off-road capability.

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 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 Ford Bronco's safety features were packaged by trim level. The Base model included airbags, while the Big Bend and Black Diamond trims could add the Mid Package, which included a reverse sensing system, Ford Co-Pilot 360, blind-spot information system, lane-keeping system, auto high-beam headlamps, and rear-view camera. The High Package, available on higher trims, added a 360-degree camera, forward-sensing system, and side-view mirror LED approach lamps. The Bronco's side curtain airbags were designed to deploy appropriately in off-roading situations, measuring lean angle and roll speed.