2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS carried over from its third generation, introduced in 2020. Originally launched as the GL-Class in 2006, it was meant to replace the G-Class, but the latter's popularity kept it around. The GLS appealed to pragmatic, affluent customers with its three rows and comfortable interior, making it a family-friendly alternative to the Navigator and Escalade. The name change from "GL" to "GLS" occurred midway through its second generation. Despite being a large SUV, the 2021 GLS appeared less bulky than its predecessors, thanks to softened angles and lines. Inside, it featured a futuristic cabin with a massive digital screen spanning nearly two-thirds of the dash, emphasizing its tech-reliant controls.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a more traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch. It fit well within the Volvo lineup, featuring "Thor’s Hammer" LED headlights and a simple oval grille. Gasoline models offered a white contrasting roof for a retro look. The XC40 Recharge, the electric variant, had a blanked-off grille, subtle "Recharge" badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. It also featured a gloss black roof and mirror caps, a different rear bumper, and a model-exclusive color—Sage Green Metallic. The interior was minimalist yet premium, with real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery. The design was coherent, with elements like the portrait-oriented touchscreen and air vents blending seamlessly.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS offered three powertrain options. The entry-level GLS 450 had a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine producing 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The GLS 580 featured a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with 483 hp and 516 lb-ft. Both models used a nine-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes' 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. The AMG GLS 63, with a hand-crafted 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, delivered 603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed AMG twin-clutch automatic transmission. All engines included Mercedes’ EQ Boost 48-volt mild-hybrid system, adding 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque when needed. The AMG GLS 63 could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, with a top speed of 174 mph. It featured an adaptive air suspension system, adjustable ground clearance, and multiple drive-mode settings, enhancing its performance and handling.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 had a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge at the top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base FWD T4 had 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 had 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring one electric motor per axle, providing AWD and a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. It had a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with 75 kWh of usable capacity. The Recharge could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, while the T5 and T4 took 6.1 and 8.1 seconds, respectively. All versions were electronically limited to 112 mph. The Recharge emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality and one-pedal driving capability. It also had a towing capacity of 2,000 pounds.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS offered three rows of spacious seating, with ample headroom and legroom for first- and second-row occupants. Seven-passenger seating was standard, but optional second-row captains’ chairs reduced capacity to six. The third row was less spacious but still suitable for adults. The GLS had 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 42.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. The driver and front passenger enjoyed numerous storage compartments, including spacious in-door bins and a combination cup-holder/wireless-charging pad.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had no difference in passenger or cargo space compared to gasoline models. However, it had less legroom and headroom than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The cargo area was also smaller, and the frunk was limited due to powertrain hardware. The gasoline XC40 was more competitive in interior space compared to rivals like the Audi Q3 and BMW X1. Volvo compensated with clever storage solutions, such as a removable trash bin in the center console, a bag hook in the glovebox door, and extra-large door bins. The storage cubby ahead of the shifter was well-shaped for a phone, with an optional wireless charging pad and a standard USB-C port. However, second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS featured the new MBUX infotainment system, with a central trackpad and a massive touch screen. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, requiring a USB-C cable for connection. The MBUX system had a voice-control feature activated by saying "Mercedes" or "Hey Mercedes," similar to Apple's Siri or Amazon Alexa. The digital dash extended to the fully-digital instrument panel, both controlled by touch-sensitive pads on the steering wheel. The right pad controlled the infotainment screen, while the left pad controlled the instrument panel, offering various display options.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge had the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, featuring Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. The standard setup had a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge also had OTA update capability, allowing updates for any vehicle function controlled by software. It lacked a start button, requiring only the key fob to shift out of park. The Polestar 2's Digital Key feature, allowing smartphone use in place of the key fob, was expected in an OTA update, but not confirmed for the XC40.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLS came standard with numerous driver-assistance features, including Active Brake Assist, forward-collision avoidance, rain-sensing wipers, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high beams. It also had automatic parking assist, a surround-view camera system, a driver-drowsiness monitor, and crosswind assist. Available safety tech included lane-keep assist, lane-change assist, adaptive cruise control, and a following-distance indicator. The GLS also offered stop-and-go cruise control and a full array of airbags, traction control, self-tensioning seatbelts, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

The gasoline 2021 Volvo XC40 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA. These ratings did not apply to the electric XC40 Recharge, but Volvo expected it to perform well in crash tests due to a safety cage around the battery and a redesigned front crash structure. The XC40 came with standard safety features like lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, hill-start assist, and hill-descent control. Optional features included traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, a driver-alertness monitor, run-off road mitigation, oncoming lane mitigation, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver-assistance system. The Recharge model had Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future advanced driver aids.