2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was a testament to timeless design, characterized by soft curves and rounded edges. While it maintained a modern aggression with its menacing LED headlights, it avoided the overly sharp and "angry" look of some competitors. 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 work of art, with flowing lines and a minimalist approach that elevated the interior to an art form. The GLC Coupe, though stylish, sacrificed some cargo space for its sharp look.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT's exterior treatment was less impressive. The XRT trim, priced higher than the SE and SEL trims but lower than the turbocharged Limited and Calligraphy trims, included side steps that impeded entry and exit and reduced the breakover angle for off-roading. The test vehicle, dressed in Portofino Gray paint with a black cloth interior, offered little visual contrast. However, the interior patterns and brightwork made the cabin a pleasant place to spend time, demonstrating thoughtful design and high quality for the price point.

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 available 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLC featured steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes. The AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 variants provided even more power, with the latter's twin-turbo V8 producing up to 503 horsepower.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT, on the other hand, was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, was adequate for everyday driving but lacked the power for more demanding situations. The Santa Fe Limited and Calligraphy trims offered a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The XRT's ride and handling were composed and refined, with excellent suspension isolation and a quiet cabin. However, the standard engine struggled on hills and during rapid acceleration.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 provided 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's interior offered ample storage options, including a decently sized center console and deep door pockets. Rear-seat space was adequate, with the SUV variant providing more headroom than the Coupe.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT featured a dual-zone automatic climate control system with a Clean Air ionizer and rear air conditioning vents. The eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and heated front seats ensured comfort, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The rear seats offered generous legroom and foot room, making it suitable for families. The Santa Fe's cargo space was 36.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The hands-free power-opening "Smart Tailgate" was convenient but sometimes opened unintentionally.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came with the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, featuring a 10.25-inch touchscreen, center console touch controller, and advanced voice-control system. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though switching between the radio and smartphone apps required navigating through menus. The steering wheel had touch-sensitive pads for customizing the digital instrument panel and navigating the infotainment screen.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT had a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel paired with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and Bluelink connected services. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with large knobs for power/volume and tuning, clean graphics, and logical menu structures. The Santa Fe also featured digital key technology and Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, though the digital key was not compatible with Apple iPhones.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was equipped 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 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 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features under the Hyundai SmartSense collection. These included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Santa Fe also featured Junction Turning Detection, Safe Exit Assist, and an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system. The SUV earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance score.