2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was a standout in the luxury SUV segment, thanks to its distinctive design elements that set it apart from its Ford Expedition roots. Designers went the extra mile to give the Navigator a unique identity, featuring completely different front and rear styling, along with the Lincoln Embrace lighting system that welcomed owners with a sequential illumination. The Navigator's lattice-type grille, illuminated Lincoln star, and full-width taillights were signature design hallmarks, while the black roof pillars created a wraparound glass appearance. The introduction of the Reserve Monochromatic Package in 2020 added a custom touch with body-color enhancements and 22-inch black-painted wheels, available in select paint colors. Inside, the Navigator boasted a luxurious cabin with mid-century modern styling cues, a panoramic glass roof, and high-quality materials, making it a convincingly luxurious flagship SUV.

In contrast, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC embraced a more timeless aesthetic, characterized by soft curves and rounded edges, while still maintaining a modern aggression with its menacing LED headlights. 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 automotive work of art, with flowing lines and a minimalist approach. The interior was the benchmark for compact luxury SUV cabins, offering a harmonious blend of style and functionality. The GLC was available in both conventional SUV and crossover coupe body styles, with the latter sacrificing some cargo space for a sharper look. Standard features included 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and a power liftgate, while the interior boasted synthetic leather upholstery, power-adjustable front seats, and a fully digital instrument panel.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a robust twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering an impressive 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. This engine outperformed the most powerful version of the Ford Expedition by 50 horsepower and 30 lb-ft of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission transferred power to the rear wheels, with an option for four-wheel drive. The Navigator offered multiple drive modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions, with an additional Slow Climb mode available with the towing package. The SUV's maximum towing capacity was 8,700 pounds with rear-wheel drive and 8,300 pounds with four-wheel drive, aided by the Pro Trailer Backup Assist system. Despite its size, the Navigator's acceleration was strong, though it lacked the resonant sound of a V8 engine. Fuel economy was a concern, with an average of 16.4 mpg during testing, compared to the EPA's 18 mpg estimate. The Navigator's adaptive damping suspension struggled with impact harshness on imperfect roads, but its body motion control was excellent, lending a hint of athleticism to the large SUV.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 came standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. Power was routed through a nine-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels, with an available 4MATIC all-wheel drive option. The GLC featured steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select drive modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+. Despite these performance features, the GLC's powertrain was generally responsive, with occasional lag when pulling away from a stop. The steering was soft yet precise, and the GLC handled higher-speed turns with confidence, striking a balance between refinement and responsiveness. For those seeking more power, the AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 variants offered twin-turbocharged V6 and V8 engines, respectively, with the latter delivering up to 503 horsepower.

Entering the 2020 Lincoln Navigator required a climb, akin to ascending a short flight of stairs, though available power running boards eased the process. Once inside, passengers enjoyed ample room to stretch out in comfort. The test vehicle's 30-way Perfect Position front seats, part of the optional Luxury Package, provided exceptional comfort, though finding the ideal settings took time. The Navigator offered a choice between a three-person bench or two-passenger captain's chairs in the second row, with the latter option featuring a large center console. Triple-zone climate control ensured comfort across all three rows, and the third-row seat provided class-leading legroom and thigh support. Cargo volumes were also class-leading, with the standard-length model offering 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 103.3 cubic feet. The longer Navigator L increased these measurements to 34.3, 73.3, and 120.2 cubic feet, respectively.

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 17.6 and 49.4 cubic feet, respectively, placing it 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. The GLC's interior made efficient use of space, with a decently sized center console and deep door pockets for storage. The center cupholders could be concealed with a retractable wood panel. Rear-seat space was adequate, with no need to slide the seats forward for legroom, though the Coupe's low roofline compromised headroom. Overall, the SUV version was recommended over the Coupe for most scenarios.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was its least impressive technology feature, with slow content loading times. However, it offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and wireless device charging. "Phone As A Key" technology allowed smartphone-based vehicle access. The voice recognition system worked reasonably well but lacked the natural feel of some competitors. The Reserve's Luxury Package included a 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system, providing a compelling audio experience. Additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display, though the test vehicle lacked the optional Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, utilizing 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 infotainment screen. The system included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though switching between the GLC's radio and smartphone apps required navigating through menus. Despite this minor inconvenience, the MBUX system was highly regarded for its functionality and ease of use.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came equipped with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning with trailer coverage, rear cross-traffic warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Reserve trim added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Navigator's adaptive cruise control operated with refinement, and the lane-keeping assistance system was subtle yet effective. The SUV received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though the rollover resistance rating for RWD models was three stars. The IIHS had not tested the 2020 model.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was equipped with standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional features included front- and rear parking sensors, hands-free parking assist, and a driver drowsiness monitor. The parking and proximity sensors were overly sensitive, triggering false positives at intersections. Optional safety features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning, some of which were standard on rival models.