2021 Jeep Wrangler 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 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 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 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, smaller displays, and a new touchpad on the console. The steering wheel had more buttons and felt thicker and softer, with an optional 12.3-inch display replacing analog gauges. The removal of shiny buttons for various functions streamlined the interior design.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler maintained its iconic styling, with circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, exposed bolts and hinges, and protruding bumpers and fenders. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could have painted or exposed fenders, a soft top or hardtop, and other individual styling touches, but it always retained its unmistakable look. The Wrangler's design made it look like a toy truck for adults, appealing to those who valued its rugged charm.

Inside, the Wrangler was not as comfortable as car-based SUVs, with an upright seating position, limited legroom, and somewhat awkward seat adjustments. However, for the right type of driver, these quirks added to its charm. The Wrangler Unlimited offered various trims, from the bare-bones Sport to the luxurious High Altitude, each with its own set of features and options. The Rubicon trim was ideal for off-road enthusiasts, with beefed-up suspension and running gear, front-and-rear locking differentials, and a front sway bar that could disconnect with the push of a button. The Rubicon 392, with its Hemi V8 engine, added even more power and off-road capability.

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, available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or Mercedes' 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 a thrilling performance, while the AMG GLC 63 and 63 S models, with their twin-turbo V8 engines, provided even more power. 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. Fuel economy for the GLC 300 4Matic was EPA-rated at 21 mpg city, 28 highway, and 24 combined.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a variety of powertrains, including the standard 3.6-liter V6 with 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, available with a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other powertrains included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant of the 3.6-liter V6, a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 producing 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Wrangler also introduced a plug-in hybrid, the Wrangler 4xe, with 275 hp and up to 22 miles of electric range. The Rubicon 392, with its 6.4-liter V8 engine producing 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turned the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. The Rubicon 392 featured beefed-up frame-rails, a 2-inch lift with Fox shock absorbers, upgraded brakes, and a dual-mode performance exhaust.

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 new Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) system offered a touchscreen, thumb pad, and touchpad to control various functions, with a simplified layout and customizable home screen. The GLC had enough room for four adults, but the back seat was uncomfortably upright and difficult 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 Jeep Wrangler offered multiple options for cloth tops and hardtops, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, a premium black cloth soft top, and a classic-looking tan soft top. The Freedom top was a three-piece hardtop with removable panels, available in black or body color, with optional insulated panels. The Sky one-touch power top, available on the Rubicon 392, featured a power-retractable canvas panel. The Wrangler's cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets, as well as drain plugs for hosing out the interior. The Wrangler Unlimited provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC's MBUX system offered advanced features like augmented reality for navigation, a cloud-based voice assistant, and AI-based tasks. The system could track behavior, suggest destinations, and show Yelp reviews. The GLC also featured a touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, USB-C ports, and optional wireless device charging. The Off-Road Engineering Package included hill-descent control, additional driving modes, and underbody shields.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler's Sport trim came with a basic 5-inch screen, while higher trims offered a 7-inch or 8.4-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screens had crisp graphics and intuitive layouts, with radio toggles on the back of the steering wheel. The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled between the front grille slats, providing a clear view of the trail ahead.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC was named a 2019 Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS and received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA. It featured Exit Warning Assist, Pre-Safe Sound, and Predictive Brake Priming, among other advanced safety features.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered optional driver-assistance features like forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. However, lane-departure warning was not available. The Wrangler also featured a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system.