2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC showcased a timeless aesthetic with its soft curves and rounded edges, a design language that Mercedes-Benz consistently applied across its vehicle portfolio. The GLC's exterior, with its long hood and wide grille, presented a dramatic stance reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan. This design choice emphasized the SUV's car-like characteristics, while the menacing LED headlights added a touch of modern aggression without the overly sharp elements seen in some competitors. Inside, the GLC's cabin was an automotive masterpiece, featuring flowing lines and a minimalist approach that elevated the interior to an art form. The floating center touchscreen with rounded edges and the overall design set a high bar for compact luxury SUV interiors.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Forester's design felt older despite a redesign in 2019, largely because it carried over much of the previous generation's styling. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru's decision to maintain the boxy, upright shape appealed to SUV shoppers looking for a clean and unpretentious look. The Forester Sport model added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact, especially with complementary paint colors. The Forester's interior was practical, with a no-nonsense mix of materials designed to withstand years of use. The Sport trim added orange accents, while higher trims offered leather upholstery and additional comfort features.

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. This powertrain provided ample power, even in the default Comfort mode, and the vehicle's steering and handling struck a balance between refined and responsive. 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 available in two versions: 469 hp and 503 hp. These AMG models delivered performance on par with sports cars from a few years ago.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, on the other hand, was equipped with a single powertrain option: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). While the engine provided adequate power for most situations, it lacked the thrust needed for confident highway merging and overtaking. The Forester's suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in a soft ride that absorbed bumps well but led to significant body roll in corners and a bouncy ride on uneven pavement. Standard all-wheel drive and X-Mode enhanced the Forester's off-road capabilities, but it wasn't designed for sporty handling.

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 cupholders, making good use of its space. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed adequate legroom and headroom, although the Coupe's low roofline compromised headroom.

The 2021 Subaru Forester provided above-average headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. This design also allowed for excellent outward visibility and a roomy feeling inside. The Forester offered 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 76.1 cubic feet with the seats folded, surpassing some competitors. However, it lacked a sliding second-row bench. The Forester's interior featured decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, but the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average-size phone, and wireless charging was not available.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, which included a 10.25-inch center touchscreen, a center console touch controller, and an 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 main infotainment screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, but switching between the GLC's radio and smartphone apps required navigating through menus.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came standard with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and front-row USB ports. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring models included navigation and rear USB ports. The system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls, but the screen was slow to boot up. Additional screens in the dashboard and instrument cluster displayed secondary information, but the setup felt overly complex.

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. However, the parking and proximity sensors were overly sensitive, leading to false positives. Optional safety features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included the EyeSight suite, which offered adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. The Forester also featured a driver-monitoring system called DriverFocus, which checked for signs of distraction. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking.