2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a throwback in design, relying heavily on styling details to differentiate its trim levels. Its exterior was a generic SUV with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. However, it lacked the personality of competitors like the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. The Traverse's restrained styling emphasized cosmetic elements keyed to different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The interior mirrored the exterior's restrained styling, with an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof as a standout feature. Materials in the higher-level RS model were fairly good but not quite worthy of its $50,000 MSRP.

In contrast, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC embraced a timeless aesthetic with soft curves and rounded edges, while still embodying modern aggression with its menacing LED headlights. The long hood and wide grille gave the GLC a dramatic stance, reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan. Inside, the GLC's cabin was an automotive work of art, with flowing dash lines and a floating center touchscreen with rounded edges. Mercedes-Benz's move towards larger screens and a minimalist approach was evident, but the GLC's interior aesthetic set the bar for compact luxury SUV cabins. The GLC was available in both conventional SUV and crossover "coupe" body styles, with the latter sacrificing some cargo space for a sharper look.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Despite the impressive specs, the Traverse didn't feel as powerful as expected, though it provided sufficient power for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well overall, with occasional rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and bump-absorbing suspension. However, it lacked agility on twistier roads, partly due to its somewhat puzzling AWD system, which required manual activation and could send torque to individual wheels. The Traverse had off-road and tow/haul drive modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

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, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The GLC featured steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with multiple drive modes. Even in Comfort mode, the four-cylinder turbo provided ample power, though there was occasional lag when pulling away from a stop. The steering was soft but precise, and the GLC struck a balance between refined and responsive. For those seeking more power, the AMG GLC 43 offered a twin-turbocharged V6 with 385 horsepower, while the AMG GLC 63 featured a twin-turbo V8 with up to 503 horsepower, delivering sports car-like performance.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. Heated front seats were standard on the RS model, with ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, providing 23.0 cubic feet with all three rows in place, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims, with a gesture-activated liftgate on the Premier and High Country models. Despite its size, the Traverse was stingy on interior storage options, typical of midsize three-row crossovers.

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 49.4 and 17.6 cubic feet, respectively. The GLC's cargo space was mid-pack for compact luxury SUVs, with the BMW X3 offering more. The GLC had a decently sized center console, deep door pockets, and retractable center cupholders, making good use of its interior space. Rear-seat space was adequate, with no need to slide the seats forward for legroom. The SUV offered plenty of headroom, while the Coupe's low roofline cut into headroom.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The 8-inch screen in the Traverse RS test car was user-friendly, with large smartphone-like icons and analog controls for audio volume and climate control. The Traverse's analog instruments, supplemented by a small LCD screen, were functional but might seem dated to tech-savvy buyers. The rearview camera mirror and optional HD surround-view camera system enhanced visibility and maneuverability. Chevy provided two USB ports for each row, with wireless phone charging standard on the Premier and High Country models.

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 was intuitive, offering both touch controller and touchscreen options. The steering wheel had two 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. Overall, the MBUX system was highly regarded, despite minor inconveniences.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it received "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests and five stars in side-impact crash tests. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist available only on higher trims.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional standard features included front- and rear parking sensors, hands-free parking assist, and a driver drowsiness monitor. The parking and proximity sensors were overly sensitive, triggering false positives at intersections. Optional safety features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning, some of which were standard on rival models.