2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was a testament to the brand's commitment to a timeless aesthetic, characterized by soft curves and rounded edges. It managed to balance modern aggression with its menacing LED headlights, yet maintained a more refined look compared to some of its competitors. The GLC's 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 artful blend of soft lines and curves, with a flowing dash and a floating center touchscreen. Mercedes-Benz was known for its minimalist approach, and the GLC's interior set a high standard for compact luxury SUV cabins. The vehicle was available in both conventional SUV and crossover "coupe" body styles, with the latter offering a sharp look at the expense of cargo space. Standard features on the GLC 300 included 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and a power liftgate, while the interior boasted synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and the MBUX infotainment system with a 10.2-inch touchscreen.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar exuded class and elegance, with a design that announced wealth and taste. Its exterior was a sporty adaptation of the big Range Rover's profile, featuring a long wheelbase, short overhangs, and a distinctive Land Rover grille. The Velar's design was both blocky and streamlined, with subtle adjustments like a sloping roof and flush door handles. The interior was equally impressive, with high-quality materials and a polished black center stack. The Velar's cabin featured three screens, including two touchscreens and a reconfigurable instrument panel, offering sharp graphics and sophisticated layouts. Despite its stylish design, the Velar's interior space was tighter than midsize SUVs, with limited headroom and visibility. Cargo space was also limited, with 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 49 cubic feet when folded. The Velar's infotainment system, Pivi Pro, offered a simplified layout and useful features, including a voice assistant and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 was equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. It featured a nine-speed automatic transmission with rear-wheel drive or optional 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLC offered a balanced driving experience, with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select drive modes. The AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 variants provided more power, with the latter's twin-turbo V8 delivering up to 503 horsepower.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar shared its chassis with the Jaguar F-Pace, offering improved handling and steering compared to previous Land Rover models. The base engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four with 247 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The Velar's optional air suspension provided a plush ride, while the 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system offered up to 395 horsepower. The Velar's Terrain Response system included six driving modes, but its off-road capabilities were limited compared to larger Range Rover models.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 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 17.6 and 49.4 cubic feet, respectively. The GLC provided decent rear-seat space, with ample legroom and headroom in the SUV variant. The interior featured a center console with a "barn-door" opening, deep door pockets, and retractable cupholders.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's interior was tighter than midsize SUVs, with limited headroom and visibility due to its stylish design. Cargo space was 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 49 cubic feet when folded. The Velar's design included a controversial parking brake control, integrated with the transmission button, which was criticized for being illogical and potentially dangerous. The Pivi Pro infotainment system offered a cleaner interface, while the steering wheel lost touch-sensitive controls for improved usability.

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, with customizable digital instrument panels and seamless integration of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The GLC's infotainment system was praised for its logic and ease of use, despite minor issues when switching between radio and smartphone apps.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's Pivi Pro infotainment system offered a simplified layout with fewer icons and more logical arrangements. It included features like a voice assistant, PM2.5 air filter, heated windshield, and advanced navigation capabilities. The Velar's instrument panel could display full-width maps and reconfigure gauges, while the optional adaptive cruise control offered steering assist. Standard features included LED headlights, automatic high beams, and a 12-speaker Meridian stereo.

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. Optional features included a 360-degree parking camera and dynamic cruise control. The parking sensors were noted for being overly sensitive, but could be deactivated if desired.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar scored well in the European NCAP, with a five-star rating and a 93-percent score for front and side impact tests. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition. Optional features included 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control with steering assist.