2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2022 GMC Terrain

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC showcased a timeless aesthetic with its soft curves and rounded edges, a design language that Mercedes-Benz had consistently applied across its portfolio. Despite its modern aggression, highlighted by menacing LED headlights, the GLC maintained a more refined look compared to competitors like the Lexus NX. The 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. Inside, the GLC’s cabin was an automotive masterpiece, 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.

In contrast, the 2022 GMC Terrain received updates to its front styling, wheel designs, taillights, and interior trim. The new AT4 trim level featured a bolder grille design, black 17-inch alloy wheels with sport-terrain tires, and AT4 badges. The Terrain’s interior was roomy for a compact crossover, offering numerous comfort-enhancing features and storage solutions. The AT4 trim included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control with rear air-conditioning vents. The back seat was spacious, with proper support and plenty of legroom, making it a comfortable ride for passengers.

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. It offered rear-wheel drive or optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLC featured steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes. Even in Comfort mode, the turbocharged engine provided ample power, though there was occasional lag when pulling away from a stop. The AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 variants offered more potent powertrains, with the GLC43’s twin-turbo V6 delivering 385 horsepower and the GLC63’s twin-turbo V8 producing up to 503 horsepower in the 63 S model.

The 2022 GMC Terrain, on the other hand, was equipped with a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. The previously available turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, which offered better acceleration and a higher towing capacity, was no longer available. The 1.5-liter engine could tow up to 1,500 pounds. The Terrain’s nine-speed automatic transmission did a decent job of keeping the SUV in the torque band, but there was a noticeable delay off the line. The Terrain AT4 featured FWD mode for fuel conservation, AWD mode for better traction, and Off-Road mode with Hill Descent Control. However, the AT4’s ground clearance and off-road capabilities were limited compared to competitors.

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 space was adequate, with plenty of legroom and headroom in the SUV, though the Coupe’s low roofline cut into headroom.

The 2022 GMC Terrain provided 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, expanding to 63.3 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The Terrain’s interior included power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The back seat was spacious and comfortable, with plenty of legroom and foot room. The Terrain also featured numerous storage solutions, including a large storage bin under the trunk floor and various storage slots throughout the cabin.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, featuring a 10.25-inch center touchscreen, center console touch controller, and advanced voice-control system. The system was intuitive, with both touch controller and touchscreen options. The steering wheel had 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 2022 GMC Terrain offered two infotainment systems: a 7-inch touchscreen for SLE trim and an 8-inch high-definition touchscreen for SLT, AT4, and Denali trims. Both systems included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and GMC Connected Services through OnStar. The larger screen came with connected navigation, improved voice recognition, and a Bose premium sound system. The voice recognition system was highly accurate, responding well to various prompts. The Terrain also featured a head-up display, front and rear park assist sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a Tire Fill Alert system.

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. However, the parking and proximity sensors were overly sensitive, often triggering false positives.

The 2022 GMC Terrain included the GMC Pro Safety Package as standard, featuring forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following distance indicator. The optional GMC Pro Safety Plus Package added adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, rear parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat. The Terrain received mostly “Good” crash-test scores from the IIHS, though it earned a “Marginal” rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not evaluated the 2022 Terrain’s crashworthiness at the time of the review.