2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh that included a revised exterior. New standard LED headlights flanked the Pacifica’s new hexagonal grille, giving the front end a more muscular look compared to the previous three years. The rear featured a new all-LED taillamp running the width of the model, with the Chrysler wing badge at its center. Six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which added darkened features and black accents, were also available.

Inside, the Pacifica stood out from other minivans like the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona. While the Sienna emphasized spaciousness and the Sedona leaned towards a utility-vehicle-like design, the Pacifica balanced practicality with premium touches, especially in the Pinnacle trim. The Pinnacle offered a flat dashboard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, Piano Black plastic trim with wood accents, and quilted leather seats, making it the poshest new minivan on the market. The doors felt well-weighted, and sound deadening technology kept road noise at bay.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a timeless aesthetic with soft curves and rounded edges, contrasting with the aggressive styling of many contemporary SUVs. The long hood and wide grille gave the GLC a dramatic stance, reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan. The cabin was an automotive work of art, with flowing lines and a floating center touchscreen. Mercedes was moving towards larger screens and a minimalist approach, but the GLC’s interior remained a benchmark for compact luxury SUVs.

The GLC was available in both conventional SUV and crossover “coupe” body styles. The coupe’s sharp look came at the cost of usable space. Standard equipment on the GLC 300 included 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and a power liftgate. Inside, it featured synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable and heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, and the MBUX infotainment system with a 10.2-inch touchscreen. The AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 offered more potent powertrains and additional performance upgrades.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a traditional 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and a V6 hybrid engine paired with a dual-motor electrically variable transmission and a 16-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 260 horsepower from the engine and 198 horsepower from its motors. The base Pacifica Touring and Touring L came standard with the V6 engine, while the Limited and Pinnacle trims offered either all-wheel drive (AWD) or the hybrid powertrain.

AWD was a new addition to the Pacifica lineup, automatically activating on-demand based on various driving conditions. The hybrid powertrain provided an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range of more than 500 miles, delivering 82 MPGe and 30 mpg combined. The traditional V6 Pacifica achieved 19 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined, with AWD models seeing a slight decrease in fuel efficiency.

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, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The GLC offered rear-wheel drive or available 4MATIC all-wheel drive. It featured steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes. The GLC struck a balance between refined and responsive, with precise turn-in and confident high-speed turns.

For those seeking more power, the AMG GLA 45 offered a twin-turbocharged V6 with 385 horsepower, while the AMG GLA 63 featured a twin-turbo V8 with 469 horsepower, and the 63 S variant delivered 503 horsepower. These AMG models provided performance on par with sports cars from a few years ago.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, offering spacious seating and practical storage solutions. The front seats provided ample space and a feeling of togetherness, with a padded center console lid replacing armrests. Storage options included an under-stack area with a rubberized bin, power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, and Stow ’n Go seats that tumbled into the floor for easy loading.

The Pacifica’s second- and third-row seats offered plenty of legroom, with Stow ’n Go seats available even on AWD models. The rear cargo area was spacious, with the Pinnacle trim offering best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 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 interior featured a decently sized center console, deep door pockets, and retractable cupholders. Rear-seat space was adequate, with plenty of legroom in the SUV, though the Coupe’s low roofline cut into headroom.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering a modern and customizable interface with a 10.1-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the second row’s in-seat entertainment system included four new games. The Pinnacle model added FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with rear-facing child seat view, split-view display, and zoom-to-seat feature. Audio options included a six-speaker system, a 13-speaker Alpine system, and 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon systems.

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

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica came standard with 97 safety features, increasing to 100 in the Pinnacle trim. Key safety technologies included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, advanced brake assist, third-row lock out, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC included standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, 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 overly sensitive, but could be deactivated if desired.