2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC vs 2021 Lincoln Nautilus

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC was a testament to the brand's commitment to a timeless aesthetic, characterized by soft curves and rounded edges. While it maintained a modern aggression with its menacing LED headlights, it avoided the overly sharp grille designs seen in some 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 moving towards larger screens and a minimalist approach, but the GLC's interior design set a high standard for compact luxury SUV cabins.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, originally the second-generation Lincoln MKX, embraced a more attractive styling after its facelift in 2019. The 2021 model retained its exterior design but featured an updated cabin with a sharp new dash design, clean lines, and a large touchscreen. The "Piano Key" shifter-button layout was unconventional but easy to use. The standard 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen system was user-friendly, with high-definition graphics and a sensible menu layout. Lincoln's decision to maintain the infotainment system similar to Ford's SYNC 3 was a wise choice, ensuring ease of use and familiarity.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 came 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 various drive modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+, but even in Comfort mode, the engine provided ample power. The steering was soft yet precise, offering a refined and responsive driving experience. For those seeking more power, the AMG GLC43 and AMG GLC63 variants offered twin-turbocharged V6 and V8 engines, delivering up to 503 horsepower.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The Reserve and Black Label trims offered a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, producing 355 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The V6, standard on the Black Label, provided smooth and controlled acceleration, complemented by an adaptive suspension that absorbed road imperfections. The Nautilus was firm and composed through corners, offering a pleasant driving experience despite a slight delay in power delivery due to the engine stop-start feature.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 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 design reduced these figures to 49.4 and 17.6 cubic feet, respectively. The GLC's interior was well-utilized, with a decent-sized center console and deep door pockets. Rear-seat space was adequate, with ample legroom and headroom, although the Coupe's low roofline compromised headroom.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus provided up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo space, with 37.2 cubic feet available with the rear seats in use. The Nautilus emphasized two-row comfort, with spacious and comfortable rear seats. The front seats, especially the available 22-way multi-contour power-adjustable units, offered optimal comfort. The interior featured a large center console bin and deep in-door pockets, with a floating center controls design allowing for additional storage.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC featured the MBUX infotainment system, utilizing a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a center console touch controller, and an 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 infotainment screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, although switching between the GLC's radio and smartphone apps required navigating through menus.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a user-friendly menu layout. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were seamlessly integrated, with large icons for easy use. The available wireless charging pad enhanced the phone-car relationship. The Revel 19-speaker premium audio system provided excellent sound quality, enhancing the overall tech experience.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came equipped with standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. It also had front- and rear parking sensors, hands-free parking assist, and a driver drowsiness monitor. However, the parking sensors were overly sensitive, causing distractions. Optional safety features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus featured the CoPilot360 package, offering standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional available features included adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, a surround-view parking monitor, and adaptive headlights. However, the standard backup camera was of low quality, making it difficult to see in low-light conditions.