2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC showcased a timeless aesthetic with its soft curves and rounded edges, embodying a modern aggression through its menacing LED headlights. 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 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 Volkswagen Taos had a vibrant personality, especially with its Cornflower Blue paint and 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels. The Taos fit right into the existing VW lineup with its roof rails, dark gray plastic cladding, and simulated skid plates. However, the interior was dominated by hard, somewhat shiny plastics, which detracted from its overall appeal. Despite this, the SEL trim level offered two-tone perforated leather with contrast stitching, adding a touch of upscale feel to the cabin.

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 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLC featured steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with multiple drive modes. Even in Comfort mode, the turbocharged engine provided ample power, though there was occasional lag from a stop. The AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 variants offered significantly more power, with the latter’s twin-turbo V8 producing up to 503 horsepower.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine making 158 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The engine’s robust torque figure allowed the Taos to feel powerful, but the turbocharger’s delayed response and the seven-speed dual-clutch transmission’s erratic shifting could be irritating. The standard eight-speed automatic transmission offered smoother driving but was only available with front-wheel drive. The Taos SEL 4Motion in Sport mode provided a more engaging driving experience, but its 6.6 inches of ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities. The Taos SEL 4Motion achieved an average of 27.1 mpg during testing.

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 provided ample storage options, including a decently sized center console and deep door pockets. Rear-seat space was adequate, with the SUV offering more headroom than the Coupe.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos boasted an impressively roomy cabin, with the SEL’s deeply bolstered seats offering plenty of adjustment options. The rear seat was spacious, with generous legroom and a comfortable cushion. Cargo space varied depending on the drive system, with the front-wheel-drive model offering 27.9 cubic feet behind the back seat and 65.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The 4Motion model had slightly less cargo space, at 24.9 and 60.2 cubic feet, respectively. The Taos also featured a center pass-through, making it ideal for ski trips.

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 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. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, though switching between the GLC’s radio and smartphone apps could be cumbersome.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos came with Digital Cockpit instrumentation and a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the S trim, while the SE and SEL had 8-inch touchscreens with MIB3 software. All trims included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Car-Net connected services. The SE trim added wireless smartphone integration and SiriusXM satellite radio, while the SEL included navigation and an eight-speaker BeatsAudio system. However, the voice-recognition technology and user experience of the MIB3 system were less than satisfactory, with complex menu navigation and slow response times.

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 sensors were overly sensitive, causing distractions.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered IQ Drive safety technologies as standard or optional across all trims. The IQ Drive package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Travel Assist and Emergency Assist were also available, providing advanced driving assistance and emergency response features. The Taos SEL included additional safety features such as rain-sensing wipers, road sign recognition, and rear parking sensors with automatic braking. However, the reverse automatic braking system could be overly sensitive, but it could be turned off.