2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with its timeless design, continued to impress more than a decade after its debut. It balanced rugged utility and upscale sophistication, featuring big wheels under flared fenders. This design contributed significantly to its success, making it a versatile SUV that could be categorized as mainstream, luxury, or performance-oriented. The lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, with performance models like the SRT and Trackhawk, and the off-road-ready Trailhawk. For 2021, minor updates were made to the Laredo and Limited trims, and new versions like the Laredo X and 80th Anniversary Edition were introduced. Pricing spanned from about $35,000 to nearly $90,000. The Summit trim, with a 5.7-liter V8 engine and 4WD, was priced at $68,185, including destination charges. The Platinum Series Group added a premium look with body-color accents and platinum chrome finishes. Inside, the Summit featured premium materials and a striking Indigo and Ski Gray color scheme, though the interior design showed signs of aging.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC, in contrast, embraced a more timeless aesthetic with soft curves and rounded edges, while still exuding modern aggression with its LED headlights. The long hood and wide grille gave it a dramatic stance, resembling a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan, emphasizing its car-like characteristics. The GLC's cabin was an automotive work of art, with flowing lines and a minimalist approach. The interior design set a high standard for compact luxury SUVs. The GLC was available in both conventional SUV and crossover "coupe" body styles, with the coupe sacrificing some cargo space for a sharper look. Standard features on the GLC 300 included 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a power liftgate, synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable and heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, dual USB ports, a fully digital instrument panel, and the MBUX infotainment system with a 10.2-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The test GLC 300 featured the Multimedia Package with navigation and live traffic updates, and the Premium Package with SiriusXM satellite radio, illuminated door sills, and ambient lighting. Additional options included wireless device charging, genuine leather upholstery, a Burmester premium sound system, heated rear seats, ventilated front seats, a panoramic moonroof, a head-up display, and three-zone climate control. The AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 offered more powerful engines and performance upgrades.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It could tow up to 6,200 pounds and offered rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. For those seeking more power, the optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 delivered 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8 featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved fuel efficiency, though it still achieved only 17 mpg in combined driving. The Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, with a two-speed transfer case, hill-descent control, and Selec-Terrain traction management, enhanced off-road capability. The Quadra-Lift air suspension provided 4.1 inches of variability, improving efficiency on highways and increasing ground clearance off-road. The Grand Cherokee Summit offered a smooth and responsive driving experience, though the V8 consumed more fuel in city driving, and the air suspension could feel bouncy on uneven surfaces. The tight turning radius and effective brakes added to its practicality, but the lack of surround-view and forward-view camera systems was a drawback.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered rear-wheel or 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLC came with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes. The four-cylinder turbo provided ample power, though there was occasional lag when pulling away from a stop. The steering was precise, and the GLC handled higher-speed turns with confidence, striking a balance between refinement and responsiveness. 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 AMG GLA 63 S delivered 503 horsepower. These AMG models provided sports car-like performance.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured flat, firm, and supportive seats with heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Signature Leather-Wrapped Interior Package added premium materials, though it was an expensive option. The rear seat offered comfort but limited legroom for taller adults, and the optional rear-seat entertainment system could feel claustrophobic. Interior storage was adequate, but the rear-seat entertainment system took up space in the center console bin. The Grand Cherokee provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, with a maximum of 68.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Practical features included a power liftgate, grocery bag hooks, and storage bins around the spare tire.

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 rear seats up. The GLC Coupe's cargo space was reduced to 49.4 cubic feet and 17.6 cubic feet, respectively. The GLC's interior featured a decently sized center console, deep door pockets, and retractable cupholders. The rear seat provided adequate legroom and headroom in the SUV, though the Coupe's low roofline reduced headroom. The GLC made efficient use of its interior space, offering practical storage solutions.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering a user-friendly experience with fast response times, pleasing graphics, and separate stereo controls. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. SiriusXM provided satellite radio, Traffic Plus, and Travel Link services, while SiriusXM Guardian offered remote access to locks and engine starting, vehicle finder, SOS emergency calling, and more. The voice recognition technology worked well, and the Summit trim featured a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. However, the Grand Cherokee was considered "tech lite" compared to newer models.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured the MBUX infotainment system with a 10.25-inch 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 touch-sensitive pads for customizing the digital instrument panel and navigating the infotainment screen. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though switching between the GLC's radio and smartphone apps could be cumbersome. Overall, the MBUX system was highly regarded for its functionality and ease of use.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had mixed safety ratings. It received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 4WD models, but only four stars for 2WD models due to a three-star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated it "Marginal" for driver-side small-overlap frontal impacts and "Poor" for passenger-side impacts. The Grand Cherokee's headlights also rated "Poor" unless upgraded. The Summit trim included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. It also featured a backup camera, parking sensors, and ParkSense parking assistance.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came with 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. The parking and proximity sensors were overly sensitive, but could be deactivated. Optional safety features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning. The GLC's safety features were comprehensive and effective.