2021 Jeep Wrangler vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler retained its iconic styling, characterized by circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, exposed bolts and hinges, and protruding bumpers and fenders. Depending on the trim level, the Wrangler could take on different looks, with options for painted or exposed fenders, soft top or hardtop, and other individual styling touches. Despite these variations, the core elements that made the Wrangler unmistakable on the road remained consistent. Inside, the Wrangler was not designed for comfort but rather for rugged charm. The upright seating position, limited legroom, and somewhat awkward seat adjustments were all part of its appeal to the right type of driver.

In contrast, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC embraced a more timeless aesthetic with soft curves and rounded edges, while still embodying modern aggression through 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, featuring flowing dash lines and a floating center touchscreen with rounded edges. Mercedes-Benz’s move towards larger screens and a minimalist approach was evident, making the GLC’s interior the benchmark for compact luxury SUV cabins.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered a diverse powertrain lineup, including gas, diesel, mild-hybrid, and a Hemi V8. The standard 3.6-liter V6 produced 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, available with either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. Other powertrains included a mild-hybrid eTorque variant of the 3.6-liter V6, a 270-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. The Rubicon 392, with its 6.4-liter V8 engine, delivered 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, turning the Wrangler into an off-road supercar. The Rubicon 392 also featured beefed-up frame-rails, a 2-inch lift with Fox shock absorbers, and upgraded brakes, making it a formidable off-road vehicle.

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 steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes. For those seeking more power, the AMG GLA 45 featured a twin-turbocharged V6 with 385 horsepower, while the AMG GLA 63 offered a twin-turbo V8 with 469 hp, and the 63 S variant delivered 503 hp. These AMG models provided sports car-like acceleration and cornering capabilities.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered multiple top options, including the zipper-less Sunrider soft-top, a premium black cloth soft top, and a classic-looking tan soft top. The Freedom top was a three-piece hardtop with removable panels, available in black or body color, and could be equipped with insulated panels to reduce road noise. The Rubicon 392 featured the Sky one-touch power top, a power-retractable canvas panel that operated at speeds up to 60 mph. The Wrangler Unlimited provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The cabin was functional, with a small center console bin, glovebox, and in-door cargo nets, and featured drain plugs for easy cleaning.

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 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 center cupholders. Rear-seat space was adequate, with plenty of legroom and headroom in the SUV, though the Coupe’s low roofline cut into headroom. Overall, the GLC made excellent use of its interior space.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Sport came with a basic 5-inch screen for radio and vehicle settings. The 7-inch Uconnect screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was optional on the Sport S and standard on other trims. The 8.4-inch Uconnect screen was also available, offering crisp graphics and easy-to-read layouts. The Rubicon 392 featured a color TFT screen in the instrument panel and an off-road camera nestled between the front grille slats, providing a clear view of the trail ahead.

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 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. Overall, the MBUX system was intuitive and user-friendly.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler offered optional modern driver-assistance features, including forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring. However, lane-departure warning was not available. The Wrangler came with a backup camera with dynamic guidelines and a live tire-pressure monitoring system, useful for off-roading.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came standard with 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 safety 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.