2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC had a timeless aesthetic, characterized by soft curves and rounded edges, which contrasted with the aggressive styling trends of its contemporaries. Its long hood and wide grille gave it a dramatic stance, reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan, underscoring its car-like characteristics. The cabin was an automotive work of art, with flowing lines and a minimalist approach that elevated the interior to an art form. The GLC was available in both conventional SUV and crossover “coupe” body styles, with the latter sacrificing some cargo space for a sharper look.

In contrast, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 had a more subtle and less flashy look compared to its competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. The AMG GLS 63 and Maybach versions offered more visual drama with features like flared wheel arches, chrome accents, and larger wheels. The interior of the GLS 450, while basic by GLS standards, still felt luxurious with leather upholstery, a panoramic roof, and ambient lighting. The digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen were well-integrated into the upright dashboard, providing a high-quality feel without being overly fragile.

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 drive modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+. The AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 variants offered more potent powertrains, with the GLC43’s twin-turbo V6 producing 385 horsepower and the GLC63’s twin-turbo V8 delivering up to 503 horsepower.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 was powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine, producing 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, assisted by Mercedes’ EQ Boost mild-hybrid system. This system added 21 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque in short bursts. The GLS 450 featured a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLS 580 4MATIC, AMG GLS 63, and Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC variants offered a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, with the AMG version producing up to 603 horsepower. The GLS 450 had a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, slightly less than some 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 them 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, though the Coupe’s low roofline cut into headroom. The interior featured a decently sized center console, deep door pockets, and retractable cupholders, making good use of its space.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS came standard with a seven-seat configuration, with an optional six-seat version featuring individual captain’s chairs. The second-row seats could slide forward and fold for third-row access, with the bench seat sliding fore and aft as one piece. The GLS offered 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 84.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The air suspension could lower the vehicle for easier loading and unloading. However, the touchscreen was too far away to reach easily, and the center console had grab handles with no obvious purpose.

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

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS also featured the MBUX infotainment system, but with a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and natural-language voice recognition. The 13-speaker Burmester audio system was standard, with a head-up display optional. The voice recognition system was the easiest to use, while the touchpad controller was too sensitive. The GLS lacked the augmented-reality navigation feature available in the latest S-Class sedan.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came with standard safety features like 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. The parking and proximity sensors were overly sensitive, often triggering false positives.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS included standard safety features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, a surround-view camera system, Crosswind Assist, parking assist, and Pre Safe. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, second-row side airbags, and advanced driver-assistance features like Active Steering Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.