2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2022 Porsche Macan

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC had a timeless aesthetic, characterized by soft curves and rounded edges, which contrasted with the aggressive styling trends of other contemporary SUVs. Its 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 GLC’s cabin was an automotive work of art, 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 Porsche Macan maintained a sporty and athletic look, with a sloping clamshell hood, swollen haunches, and a rakish roofline. The Macan’s interior drew inspiration from other Porsche models, featuring an ignition switch to the left of the steering wheel, a large tachometer centered within the gauge cluster, and a flat, wide dashboard. The redesigned center console with haptic touch controls added a modern touch, though it required the driver to look away from the road to use it. The Macan’s cabin, with its red leather, gloss black interior trim, and silver metallic accents, exuded an upscale, sporty, and purposeful appearance.

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. The AMG GLC43 added a twin-turbocharged V6 with 385 horsepower, while the AMG GLC63 offered a twin-turbo V8 with 469 hp or 503 hp in the 63 S variant.

The 2022 Porsche Macan base model had a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 261 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The Macan S featured a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 with 375 hp and 383 lb-ft, accelerating to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package. The Macan GTS inherited the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 from the old Macan Turbo, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft. All Macans had a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and a fully variable all-wheel-drive system. The Macan S also included Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and optional Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) and Porsche Surface Coated Brakes (PSCB).

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 had a decently sized center console, deep door pockets, and retractable center cupholders. Rear-seat space was adequate, with plenty of headroom in the SUV, though the Coupe’s low roofline cut into headroom.

The 2022 Porsche Macan provided 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Macan S test vehicle had the optional Premium Package with 14-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. The rear seats were cramped, especially for taller passengers, but the cushion and backrest were comfortable. The new steering wheels modeled after the 911 sports car felt a bit thin, and the redesigned center console with haptic touch controls offered more storage space but required looking away from the road to use.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with a 10.25-inch center touchscreen, center console touch controller, and advanced voice-control system. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual USB ports, and a fully digital instrument panel. The steering wheel had touch-sensitive pads for customizing the digital instrument panel and navigating the main infotainment screen.

The 2022 Porsche Macan came with a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system called Porsche Communication Management (PCM). It included wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and connected services. The voice recognition system was less responsive than those in BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, or Volvo. The Macan also had stereo volume and tuning controls below the screen and a separate climate control system, reducing the need to interact with the touchscreen while driving.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came 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 safety features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning.

The 2022 Porsche Macan had adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a reversing camera. Blind-spot monitoring was optional, as was lane-keeping assist. The Macan also offered a surround-view camera and an optional Park Assist system, which could steer the vehicle into a parking space.