2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2022 Volvo XC60

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC showcased a timeless aesthetic with its soft curves and rounded edges, a design language that Mercedes-Benz had consistently applied across its portfolio. The GLC's long hood and wide grille gave it a dramatic stance, reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan, which emphasized its car-like characteristics. The menacing LED headlights added a touch of modern aggression, but it was less intimidating compared to competitors like the Lexus NX. Inside, the GLC's cabin was an automotive work of art, featuring 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 Volvo XC60 received subtle styling updates, including a new front fascia with "air blades" and a reworked grille that housed sensors for driver-assist systems. The rear bumper was redesigned to hide the tailpipes, and new wheel designs were introduced. The interior remained largely unchanged, maintaining its clean design with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design model featured aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats, adding some flair, but overall, the interior felt subdued compared to other Volvo models. The Inscription trim level offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

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. Despite these performance features, the GLC 300's turbocharged engine provided ample power in Comfort mode, with occasional lag when pulling away from a stop. The steering was soft but precise, and the GLC struck a balance between refinement and responsiveness. For those seeking more power, the AMG GLC43 offered a twin-turbocharged V6 with 385 horsepower, while the AMG GLC63 featured a twin-turbo V8 with up to 503 horsepower in the 63 S variant.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 engines. Both powertrains combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system and integrated starter generator, adding 13 horsepower in short bursts. The B6 also included an electric supercharger. The B5 produced 258 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque, while the B6 delivered 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Both used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 offering front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive, and the B6 exclusively all-wheel drive. The B6 XC60 R-Design felt smooth and quick, with impressive body control in corners. The XC60 emphasized a quiet cabin and comfortable ride, enhanced by optional air suspension. The XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid offered 400 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of 5 seconds. The Polestar Engineered variant increased output to 415 horsepower and 494 pound-feet, with a 0-60 mph time of 4.9 seconds.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 provided 56.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 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 Coupe's cargo space was comparable to the BMW X4, both among the smallest in the class. The non-Coupe GLC ranked mid-pack for compact luxury SUVs, with the BMW X3 offering more cargo space at 62.7 cubic feet. The GLC featured a decently sized center console, deep door pockets, and retractable center cupholders, making good use of interior space. Rear-seat space was adequate, with plenty of headroom in the SUV, though the Coupe's low roofline reduced headroom.

The 2022 Volvo XC60's interior space remained competitive, with above-average front-seat headroom but tied with the Audi Q5 for worst rear-seat headroom. Legroom in both rows was about average for the segment. Mild-hybrid models offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 49.8 cubic feet with the seats down. Plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo capacity at 21.1 and 49.3 cubic feet, respectively. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good forward visibility, and despite the pinched roofline, rear visibility was also good. Large exterior mirrors made driving easier without relying on driver aids.

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 was intuitive, offering both touch controller and touchscreen options. The steering wheel had two touch-sensitive pads for customizing the digital instrument panel and navigating the main infotainment screen. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though switching between the GLC's radio and smartphone apps required navigating through menus. Overall, the MBUX system was user-friendly and seamless once acclimated.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul with a 9-inch touchscreen running the Android Automotive operating system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The new system included Google Assistant for voice control, Google Maps for navigation, and access to third-party apps via the Google Play Store. Over-the-air software updates were also enabled. The system promised full iPhone compatibility, though Android users could sync their profiles with the car for added functionality. The digital instrument cluster could display a map or a "Calm" setting to minimize distraction. The new layout with sideways swiping made efficient use of screen space.

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. However, the parking and proximity sensors were overly sensitive, triggering false positives at multi-lane intersections. Optional safety features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA for the 2022 model year, but the 2021 model received the IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" rating and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic post-collision braking, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. New features for 2022 included Ready to Drive Notification and Emergency Stop Assist. The optional Pilot Assist system combined adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering for highway driving.