2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Buick Enclave harkened back to the brand's glory days with its big, shiny, and impressive design. After a period of decline, Buick found its footing by offering globally-sourced and rebadged GM vehicles. The Enclave, the largest of Buick's four SUVs, stood out with its American-made build and premium looks, especially in the Avenir trim, which featured a unique grille, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave Avenir boasted a minimalist design with organic forms, polished accents, and soft leather, although the wood trim was not genuine. The electronic transmission shifter was a bit fussy, but users quickly adapted.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC, on the other hand, embraced a timeless aesthetic with soft curves and rounded edges, complemented by menacing LED headlights. Its long hood and wide grille gave it a dramatic stance, reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan. Inside, the GLC's cabin was an automotive work of art, with flowing lines and a floating center touchscreen. Mercedes' move towards larger screens and a minimalist approach was evident, and the GLC's interior set the bar for compact luxury SUV cabins. The GLC was available in both conventional SUV and crossover "coupe" body styles, with the latter sacrificing some cargo space for a sharper look.

Under the hood, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Enclave offered a choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6's low torque peak provided strong acceleration, and the Enclave drove like a smaller SUV despite its size. The nine-speed automatic was smooth and responsive, and the optional Avenir Technology Package added a premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping and highway-speed automatic emergency braking. The Enclave's fuel economy was rated at 21 mpg combined, with a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 came standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through a nine-speed automatic transmission to either the rear wheels or available 4MATIC AWD. The GLC featured steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes. The four-cylinder turbo provided ample power, and the GLC struck a balance between refined and responsive driving. For those seeking more performance, the AMG GLC43 offered a twin-turbo V6 with 385 horsepower, while the AMG GLC63 featured a twin-turbo V8 with up to 503 horsepower.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering spacious and comfortable seating for six or seven passengers. The Avenir trim featured 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support and massage, 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, and heated and ventilated leather seats. The Enclave's third-row seat was roomy and easy to access, and the SUV provided 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 97.6 cubic feet with the second row down.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC offered 19.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 56.5 cubic feet with them folded. The GLC Coupe's fastback profile reduced these figures to 17.6 and 49.4 cubic feet, respectively. The GLC's interior featured a decently sized center console, deep door pockets, and retractable cupholders. Rear-seat space was adequate, with good legroom and headroom in the SUV, though the Coupe's low roofline cut into headroom. Overall, the GLC made efficient use of its interior space.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations with quick response times, good voice recognition, and a simple user interface. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and USB charging ports in all three rows. Upgrades included a premium sound system, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a surround-view camera system. However, the 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and the Enclave lacked smart home digital assistant integration and high-end audio components.

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, with both touch controller and touchscreen options. The steering wheel had touch-sensitive pads for customizing the digital instrument panel and navigating the main infotainment screen. The GLC also included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though switching between the GLC's radio and smartphone music apps required navigating through menus.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety systems were effective but limited in availability. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available from the Essence trim, while the Driver Confidence Plus Package, including forward-collision warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more, was standard on Premium and Avenir trims. Adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking was only available on the Avenir with the optional Technology Package. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though its frontal-impact protection rated four stars.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came standard with automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other standard features included front- and rear parking sensors, hands-free parking assist, and a driver drowsiness monitor. Optional safety features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning. The parking and proximity sensors were overly sensitive, but they could be deactivated if desired.