2021 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a new front fascia with a trapezoidal grille and angled LED headlights, echoing the aggressive design cues of the A-Class and CLS-Class. The taillights had square LEDs within the same housing, making the differences from previous models subtle unless compared side-by-side. While the GLC wasn't unattractive, it lacked visual excitement from most angles, especially in the mass-market GLC 300 model. The AMG versions, with their wide tires, vertical-bar grille, and lower stance, added some visual drama, and the GLC Coupe’s fastback roof brought a touch of flair. However, the beige paint and 18-inch wheels of the test car made it blend into parking lots, despite its over $60,000 price tag.

What truly set the GLC apart was its interior, which was among the best in the business. The all-black interior with stained gray ash wood was luxurious, featuring a continuous sweep of wood from the air vents, padded and stitched leather on the seats and doors, and cold metal speaker covers. The fit, finish, and overall quality were impeccable. The 2020 model introduced a standard 10.3-inch touchscreen, replacing the older, smaller displays, and a new touchpad on the console. The steering wheel, identical to the one in the E-Class, had more buttons and felt thicker and softer. A 12.3-inch display could replace the analog gauges, and the previously aligned shiny buttons for various functions were replaced by a blank plate.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 was designed as an EV from the ground up, featuring a distinctive look that set it apart from Volkswagen’s gasoline models. It had a streamlined profile with wheels pushed out to the corners, avoiding the fake toughness of the Tiguan and Atlas crossovers. The ID.4 was based on VW’s EV-specific MEB platform, following the European-market ID.3 hatchback. While it shared some design elements with the ID.3, the ID.4’s SUV-like styling was less pronounced, making it look more like a hatchback than a traditional SUV.

The interior of the ID.4 blended Volkswagen’s minimalism with a smartphone aesthetic, featuring piano black and matte plastic. The base ID.4 Pro came with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and cloth seats, while the Pro S and 1St Edition models had leatherette upholstery. The cabin felt spacious, with good forward visibility despite the steeply-raked windshield. However, rearward visibility was compromised by thick rear pillars and a small back window. The ID.4 lacked a “frunk” for extra cargo storage, but VW claimed this decision allowed for more cabin space. The console was narrow and close to the floor, providing limited storage space for larger items.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 came with a new turbocharged inline 4-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The 9-speed automatic transmission, available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD), was reprogrammed for better performance. The GLC 300 felt more responsive than previous models, holding gears longer and downshifting earlier. However, the engine still fell short compared to competitors like the BMW X3. The AMG GLC 43, with its twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 385 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, offered phenomenal performance. The AMG GLC 63 4Matic Coupe and AMG GLC 63 S 4Matic Coupe, with their twin-turbo V8 engines, provided even more power, but the GLC 43 was fast enough for most drivers.

The GLC 300’s steering and handling were disappointing, with body roll, vague steering, and sloppy suspension control. The AMG models, with their electronic locking rear differential, AMG-tuned adaptive dampers, and air suspension, offered better handling. The GLC 300’s fuel economy was EPA-rated at 21 mpg city, 28 highway, and 24 combined, while the AMG models had lower ratings. A plug-in hybrid GLC 350e was expected to arrive in 2020.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 launched with a single rear-mounted electric motor, producing 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, powered by an 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack. It was the first RWD Volkswagen passenger car sold in the U.S. since the Beetle. An AWD version, with a second electric motor, arrived later in 2021, increasing power to 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. The RWD setup provided balanced handling, while the AWD version offered more power and traction.

The ID.4 was tuned for comfort rather than sporty handling, with a smooth ride over bumps but noticeable body roll in corners. The electric motor provided instantaneous torque, making acceleration fun, but the car wasn’t designed for aggressive driving. Volkswagen chose not to implement aggressive regenerative braking, opting for a more familiar driving experience with friction brakes. The ID.4’s fuel efficiency and range were competitive with other EVs in its class.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured a mix of digital and physical controls, with a steep learning curve for new Mercedes drivers. The column shifter required an upward tap for Reverse and a downward tap for Drive, while seat controls were located on the doors. The Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) system, with its touchscreen, thumb pad, and touchpad, became intuitive with practice. The GLC had enough room for four adults, but the back seat’s reclining mechanism was cumbersome. Cargo space was 19 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 57 cubic feet with them folded, less than competitors like the BMW X3.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 offered more front and rear headroom than competitor EVs, but legroom was average for the segment. The Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 provided more rear headroom and legroom. The ID.4 had 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 64.2 cubic feet with them folded, more than other EVs but less than the CR-V and RAV4. The ID.4 lacked a “frunk,” but the cabin felt spacious, with good forward visibility. The console was narrow, providing limited storage space for larger items. The ID.4’s seats were comfortable, but the driver’s seat lacked thigh support.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC’s MBUX system included advanced features like augmented reality for navigation, a cloud-based voice assistant, and AI-based suggestions. The system could steer and brake itself on the highway for short periods, but these features were limited in functionality. The touchscreen was well-positioned, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. An Off-Road Engineering Package added hill-descent control and underbody shields, but the GLC wasn’t designed for serious off-roading.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4’s standard infotainment system included a 10-inch touchscreen (with a 12-inch screen optional), wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 5.3-inch display screen for the instrument cluster. Haptic touchpads replaced most switchgear, but they were difficult to use without looking. The natural-language voice-control system responded to the prompt “Hello ID” and allowed for easy adjustments, but it was slow to respond. The ID.Light feature communicated information to the driver through a light strip at the base of the windshield. The touchscreen was well-positioned, with smart-looking graphics and easy-to-navigate menus.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC was named a 2019 Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS and received a 5-star rating from the NHTSA. New for 2020 was Exit Warning Assist, which used blind-spot-monitoring radar sensors to detect approaching cyclists or cars. Other features included Pre-Safe Sound, which played “pink noise” to protect eardrums in a crash, and Predictive Brake Priming, which moved the brake pads closer to the discs in anticipation of hard braking.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 received the highest-level Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS and a 5-star rating from the NHTSA for the RWD model. Standard driver aids included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, park distance control, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. New features for 2021 included Travel Assist, which added automated lane centering to adaptive cruise control, and Emergency Assist, which brought the car to a stop if the driver was incapacitated.