2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC had a design that stood out for its timeless aesthetic, characterized by soft curves and rounded edges. While it still embodied modern aggression with its menacing LED headlights, it avoided the overly sharp and aggressive look of some competitors. The long hood and wide grille gave the GLC 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 floating center touchscreen and the overall design set a high bar for compact luxury SUV cabins.

The GLC was available in both a conventional SUV format and a crossover “coupe” body style. The coupe version, while sharp-looking, sacrificed some cargo space for its aesthetic. Standard equipment on the entry-level GLC 300 included 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and a power liftgate. Inside, it featured synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and heated front seats. The MBUX infotainment system with a 10.2-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto was also standard. Optional packages added features like navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, ambient lighting, and more. The AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 models offered more potent powertrains and additional performance upgrades.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna, carrying over from its 2021 redesign, aimed to blend SUV style with minivan practicality. It featured a macho front end and re-engineered door hinges and slides to conceal the slider channel, giving it a more assertive profile. The interior was designed to avoid the typical minivan feel, with an uncluttered front cabin and clever storage solutions throughout. The second and third rows offered comfortable, roomy seating, with available second-row captain’s chairs and a spacious third-row bench that could quickly store away into the floor. The Sienna’s design focused on practicality and comfort for families, with ample storage and seating flexibility.

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 powertrain was generally responsive, with occasional lag from a stop, and the steering provided a precise and confident feel. For those seeking more power, the AMG GLC43 offered a twin-turbocharged V6 with 385 horsepower, while the AMG GLC63 models featured a twin-turbo V8 with up to 503 horsepower.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna came exclusively with a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trim levels. The AWD system used a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, simplifying the mechanical setup. The Sienna used an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), offering smooth and efficient power delivery. It featured four selectable drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport. The Sienna’s handling was better than expected for a minivan, with minimal body roll and a comfortable ride. The big news was its impressive fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 36 mpg city/highway/combined and AWD models getting 35 mpg.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 offered 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 made good use of space, with a decently sized center console, deep door pockets, and retractable cupholders. 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 Toyota Sienna was designed to be a family workhorse, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. It offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. The Sienna also had a 3,500-pound towing capacity. The standard 60/40-split third-row bench stored away easily, and each row had ample storage cubbies and cupholders. Power-operated sliding doors and tailgate with foot-motion triggers added convenience for loading and unloading.

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

The 2022 Toyota Sienna came with a 9-inch touchscreen standard on all grades, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and multiple USB ports. However, it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sienna offered a one-year trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect telematics services, a 10-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Higher trim levels featured a 12-speaker JBL audio system and an available rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display. A head-up display was available on Platinum models, and a digital rearview mirror was offered on Limited and Platinum trims.

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 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, causing distractions.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. It came with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, including adaptive cruise control, Lane Tracing Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and traffic sign recognition. The Sienna also had 10 airbags, multiple LATCH child-seat connectors, a rear-seat reminder system, tire-pressure monitoring, and an inflator kit. A spare tire was available, mounted in the cargo space wall for safety and convenience.