2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator stood out with its distinctive design, avoiding the common trend of emulating rivals' styles. It carried forward the sharp and elegant design language of the Navigator, characterized by crisp lines and tasteful chrome accents. Inside, the Aviator offered a luxurious cabin that was hard to associate with its Ford Explorer platform. The interior was defined by comfort and warmth, featuring soft-touch materials and a 10.1-inch touchscreen that seamlessly integrated into the dash. Unique elements like the piano button shifter and soothing chimes added to the Aviator's luxurious feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC embraced a timeless aesthetic with its soft curves and rounded edges, maintaining a modern yet classic look. The exterior design, with its long hood and wide grille, gave the GLC a dramatic stance reminiscent of a raised sedan. Inside, the GLC's cabin was an artful blend of soft lines and curves, with a flowing dash and a floating center touchscreen. Mercedes-Benz's move towards larger screens and a minimalist approach was evident, setting a high standard for compact luxury SUV interiors.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator offered a robust performance with its 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque across the Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims. The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims enhanced this with a plug-in hybrid configuration, boosting output to 494 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque. This hybrid setup allowed for up to 21 miles of electric-only driving. The Aviator's drive mode selector offered unique modes like "Excite" and "Conserve," though it was more suited for highway cruising than city driving due to its size and body roll in corners.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It featured a nine-speed automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive or optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLC's Dynamic Select offered Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ modes, though the default Comfort mode provided ample power. For those seeking more performance, the AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 variants offered significantly more power, with the latter's twin-turbo V8 delivering up to 503 hp in the 63 S model.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided ample cargo space, with 18.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a total of 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The second row, especially in the Grand Touring model, offered luxurious features like captain's chairs and a digital control panel. However, the power-button door releases raised concerns about functionality if the battery failed.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC offered 56.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded in the conventional SUV format, while the Coupe's fastback design reduced this to 49.4 cubic feet. The GLC's interior was well-utilized, with a spacious center console and deep door pockets. Rear-seat space was adequate, though the Coupe's low roofline compromised headroom. The SUV version was generally recommended for better practicality.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with the Sync 3 infotainment system, offering a user-friendly interface and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The digital instrument panel and optional head-up display provided clear and easy-to-read information, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was equipped with the MBUX infotainment system, utilizing a 10.25-inch touchscreen, touch controller, and advanced voice control. The system was intuitive, with customizable digital instrument panels and seamless integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, switching between the GLC's radio and smartphone apps required navigating through menus, which could be cumbersome.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came with the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, including features like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added reverse automatic braking and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator received top safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC included standard safety features like automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. However, the parking sensors were overly sensitive, causing distractions. Optional features included a 360-degree camera and dynamic cruise control, though some were standard on competitors.