2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a refreshed front fascia with a trapezoidal grille and angled LED headlights, echoing the aggressive designs 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 variant. The AMG versions, with their wide tires and vertical-bar grille, added some flair, 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 air vents, padded and stitched leather seats and doors, and cold metal speaker covers. The fit, finish, and overall quality were impeccable. The 2020 model introduced a standard 10.3-inch touchscreen, replacing the older, smaller 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 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with its timeless design, continued to impress more than a decade after its debut. Combining rugged utility with upscale sophistication, the Grand Cherokee's design was a balanced work of automotive art. The 2021 model lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, and the performance-oriented SRT and Trackhawk. The Trailhawk trim catered to serious off-roading enthusiasts. For 2021, minor updates were made to the Laredo and Limited trims, and new Laredo X and 80th Anniversary Edition versions were introduced, with prices ranging from about $35,000 to nearly $90,000.

The test vehicle, a Summit trim, came equipped with a 5.7-liter V8 engine, four-wheel drive, extra-cost paint, the Platinum Series Group, and the Signature Leather-Wrapped Interior Package, totaling $68,185. The Platinum Series Group enhanced the Summit's appearance with body-color mirror caps, door handles, side sills, and lower bumpers, giving it a more premium look. Inside, the Summit's interior featured premium leather, genuine wood, real aluminum, and simulated suede, with a striking Indigo and Ski Gray color scheme. Quilted seat bolsters, a thick-rimmed wood-and-leather steering wheel, and partially digital instrumentation added to the luxury feel. However, the interior showed signs of aging, with old-school switchgear and non-flush panel fits indicating a need for a redesign.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 came with a new turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, a 14-horsepower increase from the previous model. The 9-speed automatic transmission, available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD), featured major reprogramming, making the GLC 300 feel more responsive. 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, while the AMG GLC 63 4Matic Coupe's 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 delivered 469 hp and 479 lb-ft, and 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 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It could tow up to 6,200 pounds. An optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, provided a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8 featured cylinder deactivation technology for better fuel efficiency, though it still had an EPA rating of 17 mpg combined. The Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, with a two-speed transfer case, hill-descent control, and Selec-Terrain traction management, made the Grand Cherokee capable off-road. The Quadra-Lift air suspension offered 4.1 inches of variability, improving efficiency on the highway and increasing ground clearance off-road. The Grand Cherokee Summit was speedy and responsive, though the V8 consumed a lot of gas in the city, and the air suspension could feel bouncy on uneven surfaces. The Grand Cherokee's tight turning radius and effective brakes were useful in various driving situations.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a mix of digital and physical controls, with a steep learning curve for new Mercedes drivers. 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 intuitive with practice. The GLC had enough room for four adults, but the back seat's reclining mechanism was cumbersome. 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 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit had flat, firm, and supportive seats with a heated steering wheel. The Signature Leather-Wrapped Interior Package added luxurious touches, though it was an expensive option. Both front seats had eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, with controls embedded in the Uconnect infotainment system. The rear seat was comfortable but had limited legroom for taller adults. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to the sense of claustrophobia. The Grand Cherokee offered 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The power liftgate and one-handed seat folding mechanism were convenient features.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC's MBUX system included advanced features like augmented reality for navigation, a cloud-based voice assistant, and AI-based suggestions. The system could display Yelp reviews, steer and brake on the highway, and integrate with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Off-Road Engineering Package added hill-descent control and underbody shields, though the GLC wasn't designed for serious off-roading.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee's Uconnect 4C with Nav system offered a nearly flawless user experience, with fast response, pleasing graphics, and separate stereo controls. Features included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. SiriusXM provided satellite radio, Traffic Plus, Travel Link services, and Guardian remote access. The voice recognition technology worked well, and the Summit trim had a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Grand Cherokee's tech offerings were essential but limited compared to newer models.

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 features included Pre-Safe Sound and Predictive Brake Priming.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had mixed safety ratings. The NHTSA gave the 4WD model a 5-star overall rating, while the 2WD model received 4 stars due to a 3-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS rated the Grand Cherokee "Marginal" for driver and "Poor" for front passenger in small-overlap frontal-impact collisions. The Summit trim included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Grand Cherokee also had a backup camera, parking sensors, and ParkSense parking assistance.