2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was characterized by its timeless aesthetic, marked by soft curves and rounded edges. While it still embodied modern aggression with its menacing LED headlights, it avoided the overly sharp and aggressive styling seen in some competitors. The long hood and wide grille gave the GLC a dramatic stance, reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan, emphasizing its car-like characteristics. 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 was moving towards larger screens and a minimalist approach, but the GLC’s interior design set a high bar for compact luxury SUV cabins.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, on the other hand, was a new seven-passenger model distinct from the existing Grand Cherokee. It featured an extended-length version of the upcoming redesigned 2022 Grand Cherokee, equipped with a third-row seat and more cargo volume. The Grand Cherokee L’s styling was a strong selling point, resembling a smaller version of the more expensive Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models. Instantly recognizable as a Jeep with its signature seven-slot grille and trapezoidal wheel arches, the Grand Cherokee L looked terrific across all trim levels. The Summit trim, in particular, featured quilted and perforated leather, real wood trim, and a host of technology, representing a substantial improvement over the old model.

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. This power was routed through a nine-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels or available 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLC featured steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes. Despite these performance-enhancing features, the GLC 300 was generally responsive and balanced, with precise turn-in and confident high-speed turns. For those seeking more power, the AMG GLC43 offered a twin-turbocharged V6 with 385 horsepower, while the AMG GLC63 featured a twin-turbo V8 with up to 503 horsepower.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine making 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive or one of three 4WD systems. The V6 offered brisk acceleration but was loud when revved. An optional 5.7-liter V8 engine, available only with 4WD on higher trims, generated 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, increasing towing capacity to 7,200 pounds. The Grand Cherokee L featured a Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension with various off-road modes, providing up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance and 24 inches of water fording capability. The Summit trim’s Quadra-Drive II 4WD system included an electronic locking differential and a low-range transfer case setting, making it capable of tackling challenging terrain.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 offered 56.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, dropping to 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 provided decent rear-seat space, with adequate legroom and headroom in the SUV variant. The driver had ample storage options, including a decently sized center console, deep door pockets, and retractable center cupholders.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit trim featured heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustment, a heated steering wheel, and a four-zone automatic climate control system. The second-row captain’s chairs provided plenty of legroom and comfort, with manual side window sunshades. The third row was comfortable for all but the tallest adults, with large side windows ensuring a great view. Cargo space measured 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.6 cubic feet with both rear rows down. However, the front-seat occupants found the storage space lacking.

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 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.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L employed the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, available with 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreens. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and connected services, including a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The natural voice-recognition system worked well, though it had some quirks. The optional 19-speaker McIntosh audio system provided excellent sound quality. Additional features included a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, digital rearview mirror, thermal-imaging night vision system, and Fam Cam rear-seat monitoring system.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came with standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It also included 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. However, the parking and proximity sensors were overly sensitive, causing distractions.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L introduced Active Driving Assist, a hands-on driving-assistance system combining adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance. The system worked well but felt artificial in the driver’s hands. Intersection Collision Assist, standard on Summit models, could detect threats at intersections and apply brakes if necessary. The Grand Cherokee L also offered Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist. As of the review, crash-test ratings were unavailable, but the new model was expected to improve upon the old Grand Cherokee’s safety performance.