2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen had completely overhauled the Tiguan for the 2018 model year, introducing an all-new second generation of its compact crossover SUV. This redesign addressed the original Tiguan’s biggest shortcoming—its diminutive size—and aimed to make it more competitively priced against rivals like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The result was a vehicle that maintained a stylish and conservatively German exterior, but showed some evidence of cost-cutting upon closer inspection.

The Tiguan’s exterior styling was contemporary Volkswagen, featuring clean and simple lines with the automaker's new flat logo adorning a horizontal grille that connected the headlights. Inside, however, the Tiguan’s interior was plain, with dull surfaces and hard black plastic. The cockpit was simple, bordering on boring, though the optional digital dashboard and glass-covered touchscreen infotainment system were highlights.

Mercedes-Benz took a different approach with the GLC, opting for a timeless aesthetic defined by soft curves and rounded edges. The GLC’s exterior featured a long hood and wide grille, giving it a dramatic stance reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan. This design underscored the notion of an SUV with car-like characteristics, blending modern aggression with a more classic look.

Inside, the GLC’s cabin was an automotive work of art, with flowing lines and curves carried into the dash. The floating center touchscreen had rounded edges, and the overall design was moving towards a more minimalist approach. The GLC’s interior aesthetic set the bar for other compact luxury SUV cabins, proving that automotive packaging could elevate to an art form.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. This engine drove either the front or all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Tiguan’s powertrain offered a snappy throttle response with minimal turbo lag, but it was only moderately fleet of foot. The automatic transmission downshifted quickly and smoothly, but passing on the highway in a fully loaded Tiguan required patience.

The Tiguan’s handling was impacted by its larger size, with a longer wheelbase making it less nimble than some competitors. The suspension was soft, ensuring a comfortable driving experience even on rough roads. However, the steering was too light in normal mode, and while it firmed up in sport mode, it wasn’t enough to make a significant difference.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 came standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through a nine-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels or available 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLC featured steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes. Even in Comfort mode, the GLC’s four-cylinder turbo made plenty of power, with only occasional lag when pulling away from a stop.

For those seeking more power, the AMG GLC43 offered a twin-turbocharged V6 with 385 horsepower, while the AMG GLC63 featured a twin-turbo V8 with 469 horsepower, and the GLC63 S had the same engine tuned to 503 horsepower. These AMG models provided performance on par with sports cars from only a few years ago.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan’s practicality was a strong point, starting with the second row of seats, which could slide up to seven inches fore and aft, making the third row actually useful. Although the third row was far from spacious, it had enough legroom for shorter adults and was cozy for kids. Front-drive Tiguans had the third row as standard, while AWD models were standard five-seaters with the third row available as a $595 option.

The split second-row rear seats folded flat, giving the cargo hold a 65.7 cubic-foot capacity when the third row was collapsed. In two-row Tiguans, the cargo space increased to 73.5 cubic feet. The Tiguan’s wide beam offered the front seats plenty of hip and shoulder room, and the abundant glass in its greenhouse made it feel roomier than its numbers suggested.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 provided 56.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 19.4 cubic feet with the seats up. The GLC Coupe’s fastback profile reduced these figures to 17.6 and 49.4 cubic feet, respectively. The GLC’s interior made good use of its space, with a decently sized center console, deep door pockets, and retractable center cupholders. The rear seats offered adequate legroom without needing to slide forward, though the Coupe’s low roofline cut into headroom.

The 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan featured the MIB II infotainment system, which was set to be replaced by MIB3 the following year. The current system was already one of the best on the market, with a 6.5-inch touchscreen display in the base S trim and an 8-inch capacitive touchscreen in SE and higher trims. The Tiguan S had a single USB-C port in the front, while higher trims had two USB-A ports in the front and a third in the second row. A wireless charging pad was available on trims above S.

VW’s Digital Cockpit, a fully digital instrument panel, was available on top SEL trims. This customizable display included a setting to show a panoramic map and helped VW stay ahead of the competition. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, and a WiFi hotspot.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came equipped with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, featuring a 10.25-inch center touchscreen, center console touch controller, and an advanced voice-control system. The steering wheel had two small touch-sensitive pads for customizing the digital instrument panel and navigating the main infotainment screen. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though switching between the GLC’s radio and smartphone music apps required navigating through menus.

For the 2020 model year, Volkswagen improved the Tiguan’s standard safety package, adding forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert to all models. However, adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance and LED headlights with automatic high beams were reserved for the top SEL trim. VW equipped all 2020 Tiguan models with Car-Net, a telematics package that connected the vehicle to an owner’s smartphone or watch through an app. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Tiguan a Top Safety Pick for top-of-the-line SEL Premium models with LED headlights.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came loaded with standard safety tech, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other standard features included front- and rear parking sensors, hands-free parking assist, and a driver drowsiness monitor. Optional safety features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning.