2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2021 Audi Q3

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured a massive corporate grille that paired well with its stout, chunky styling, presenting an idea of utility and dynamic handling. The cabin echoed a mechanical, modern aesthetic with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen, making it a standout feature. Despite the Q3's modern and refined feel, it was noted that Volkswagen's newer interiors were catching up, making the Q3's interior feel less special over time.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC, on the other hand, embraced a timeless aesthetic with soft curves and rounded edges, complemented by menacing LED headlights. The GLC's cabin was considered an automotive work of art, with flowing lines and a floating center touchscreen. Mercedes-Benz was moving towards larger screens and a minimalist approach, but the GLC's interior was still seen as the benchmark for compact luxury SUV cabins.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. The S-Line trim offered a more potent version of the same engine, delivering 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Q3's handling was nimble and engaging, with a comfortable ride quality. The base engine had some turbo lag, but the S-Line's powertrain provided a lively and responsive driving experience.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered rear-wheel drive or optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLC's powertrain was generally responsive, with a balance of refined and responsive handling. For those seeking more power, the AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 variants offered significantly higher horsepower, with the latter's twin-turbo V8 producing up to 503 horsepower.

The 2021 Audi Q3 provided 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. While the space behind the seats was decent for a subcompact luxury SUV, the overall cargo capacity was subpar for the class. However, the Q3 made up for it with comfortable front seats and impressive rear-seat headroom and legroom, making it suitable for four passengers on a road trip.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 offered 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 cargo space was reduced to 49.4 and 17.6 cubic feet, respectively. The GLC's interior featured a decently sized center console and deep door pockets, making good use of its space. The rear seats provided adequate legroom and headroom, although the Coupe's low roofline compromised headroom.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi's MMI system, featuring standard Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. An upgraded 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation was available, along with wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit was also available, replacing the conventional instrument cluster with a customizable digital display.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with a 10.25-inch center touchscreen, center console touch controller, and advanced voice-control system. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with the option to customize the digital instrument panel using touch-sensitive pads on the steering wheel. While there was a learning curve, the system was intuitive and seamless once acclimated.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was equipped with standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It also included front-and-rear parking sensors, hands-free parking assist, and a driver drowsiness monitor. Optional features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning. The parking and proximity sensors were noted to be overly sensitive but could be deactivated.