2021 Subaru Forester 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, 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 shiny buttons for various functions were replaced by a blank plate.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite being redesigned for the 2019 model year, retained a styling that looked older due to its carryover design from the previous generation. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru likely chose not to fix what wasn’t broken, maintaining the boxy, upright shape that many SUV shoppers preferred. The Base trim level looked plain with its 17-inch steel wheels, but the Forester had a clean and unpretentious look compared to many other compact crossovers.

The Forester Sport model added orange striping around the lower edges of the body and roof rails, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual difference, especially with a complementary paint color like Dark Blue Pearl. Underneath, the Forester rode on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with other models like the Impreza, Crosstrek, Legacy, and Outback. The interior was a no-nonsense mix of materials designed to withstand years of use, with the Sport trim adding orange trim and cross-stitching. Cloth upholstery was standard on Base, Premium, and Sport models, while Limited and Touring models featured leather upholstery. The All-Weather Package, standard on Premium and higher trims, included heated front seats, heated exterior mirrors, and a windshield de-icer.

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 year. 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, arriving in late 2019, boasted a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 with 385 horsepower and 384 pound-feet 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 twin-turbo V8 engines.

Despite the impressive AMG models, 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. A plug-in hybrid GLC 350e was expected in early 2020.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine had a boxer configuration, providing a lower center of gravity. The Forester had a 1,500-pound towing capacity and standard Trailer Stability Assist. While adequate in most situations, the engine lacked the desired thrust for highway merging and overtaking, and wind noise was noticeable at highway speeds.

The Forester's suspension tuning prioritized comfort over handling, resulting in poor body control and significant body roll in corners. The AWD system, a Subaru hallmark, was standard, with X-Mode and Dual X-Mode available on Sport models. The Forester had 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it capable of handling mud and dirt better than many competitors, though not as well as the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk or Ford Bronco Sport.

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 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 cumbersome. Cargo space was 19 cubic feet behind the seats and 57 cubic feet with them folded, less than the BMW X3.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roof. The roofline also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feeling. Cargo space was 35.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded, more than the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson but less than the Ford Escape and Nissan Rogue. The Forester had decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, though the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average-size phone, and wireless charging was not available. A power-adjustable driver’s seat was standard on the Premium trim and higher.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC's MBUX system included 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. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with optional wireless device charging. The Off-Road Engineering Package added hill-descent control and additional driving modes for rocky or snowy roads.

The 2021 Subaru Forester's Starlink infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and front-row USB ports. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring models included navigation and rear USB ports. The system was easy to use, though the screen was slow to boot up. Additional screens in the dashboard and instrument cluster displayed secondary information, though the setup felt overly complex.

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 features included Pre-Safe Sound and Predictive Brake Priming.

The 2021 Subaru Forester received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The Forester came standard with EyeSight, a suite of driver-assist features, and DriverFocus, a driver-monitoring system. EyeSight included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking.