2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC had a design that leaned towards a timeless aesthetic, characterized by soft curves and rounded edges. This approach contrasted with the aggressive styling trends of many contemporary SUVs. The GLC's long hood and wide grille gave it a dramatic stance, reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan, emphasizing its car-like characteristics. The interior of the GLC was equally impressive, featuring flowing lines and a minimalist design that elevated the cabin to an art form. The GLC Coupe, while stylish, sacrificed some cargo space for its sharp look.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe maintained the iconic Wrangler look with minimal changes, such as a "4xe" badge and blue accents. The most notable difference was the power port at the left base of the windshield. The Wrangler 4xe's interior retained the rugged, hose-me-out feel typical of Wranglers, with some added soft-touch materials and blue stitching. The layout was functional, with controls for the 4WD system and auxiliary switches easily accessible. Despite its utilitarian design, the Wrangler 4xe offered more comfort and better outfitting than previous models.

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, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered rear-wheel drive or optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLC featured steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with multiple drive modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+. The GLC 300 provided a balanced driving experience, with responsive handling and adequate power. For those seeking more performance, the AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 variants offered significantly more horsepower, with the GLC63 S boasting a twin-turbo V8 engine producing 503 hp.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe combined a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with two electric motors and a 17-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. This setup delivered a total of 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, allowing the Wrangler 4xe to accelerate to 60 mph in six seconds. The battery provided an estimated 21 miles of pure electric driving, with a combined efficiency rating of 49 MPGe. The Wrangler 4xe featured three powertrain modes: Hybrid, Electric, and e-Save, allowing drivers to optimize power or efficiency based on their needs. The Rubicon trim added an upgraded 4WD system with electronic front and rear lockers, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 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 ample storage options, including a decently sized center console, deep door pockets, and retractable cupholders. Rear-seat space was adequate, with good legroom and headroom in the SUV variant, though the Coupe's low roofline compromised headroom.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe had a high step-in height, making entry and exit easier for taller individuals. The driving position was classic Wrangler, with a high seating position and clear visibility. The center console offered limited storage due to the hand-brake and transfer case lever. Rear-seat space was adequate, with air conditioning vents, USB charging ports, and a 115-volt power outlet available. Cargo volume measured 27.7 cubic feet behind the back seat, expanding to 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. The swing-out tailgate and flip-up rear glass window could make loading cargo challenging in tight spaces.

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 and controller options for navigating menus. The steering wheel had touch-sensitive pads for customizing the digital instrument panel and navigating the infotainment screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, though switching between the GLC's radio and smartphone apps could be cumbersome.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon's Uconnect infotainment system featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, navigation, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. The system was intuitive but showed signs of aging in terms of load time, responsiveness, and graphics. The Trip Summary data panel provided charging time estimates, and the blue charging indicator lights on the dashboard allowed for easy monitoring of charging status.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came with standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional features 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, leading to frequent false positives.

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe offered advanced driving assistance systems through the Safety Group and Advanced Safety Group packages. These included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Wrangler's LED headlights received a Marginal rating from the IIHS, while the standard headlights were rated Poor. The Wrangler earned a Marginal rating for small-overlap, frontal-impact protection for the driver, with the vehicle tipping over during testing. The NHTSA gave the Wrangler Unlimited a four-star frontal-impact crash-test rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.