2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid aimed to redefine the minivan's image, traditionally seen as utilitarian rather than stylish. Toyota's designers gave the Sienna a more SUV-like appearance, featuring a wide grille and sleek LED headlamp arrays integrated into a panel with the Toyota logo. The side profile showcased assertive lines, with re-engineered sliding doors that added a sculpted look. Alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 20 inches filled the arches, enhancing its visual appeal. The rear design maintained a wide and low stance, with Toyota's signature quality fit and finish.

Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines, offering a higher seating position than a sedan but not quite as high as a full-size SUV. The dashboard was simple and uncluttered, with controls clustered around the infotainment screen. The center console featured a gear selector, cup holders, and a large storage compartment. The second and third rows provided ample comfort for adults, with the second row sliding for maximum utility. The materials and surfaces throughout the cabin had a premium feel, making the Sienna a comfortable and practical choice.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC took a different approach, focusing on a timeless aesthetic with soft curves and rounded edges. The front end featured a long hood and wide grille, giving it a dramatic stance reminiscent of a raised C-Class or E-Class sedan. The menacing LED headlights added a touch of modern aggression without the sharpness seen in some competitors. This design language underscored the GLC's car-like characteristics, making it a standout in the luxury SUV segment.

Inside, the GLC's cabin was a work of art, with flowing lines and curves extending into the dash. The floating center touchscreen had rounded edges, and the overall design leaned towards minimalism. Mercedes-Benz's attention to detail elevated the interior to an art form, setting a high bar for compact luxury SUV cabins. The GLC was available in both conventional SUV and crossover "coupe" body styles, with the latter offering a sharp look at the cost of some cargo space. Standard equipment included 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, and a power liftgate, with a host of optional features available for customization.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid marked Toyota's first foray into hybrid minivans, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available across all trim levels. The AWD system used a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, simplifying the mechanical setup. The Sienna employed an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which prioritized fuel efficiency over throttle response. The CVT's smooth power delivery was ideal for a minivan, though it lacked the punch of a conventional transmission. The Sienna offered four drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport, with the latter providing a slightly livelier experience. Handling was significantly improved over previous models, thanks to new front and rear suspension systems. The Sienna Hybrid achieved impressive fuel economy ratings of 36 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 36 mpg combined for FWD models, and 35/36/35 mpg for AWD models.

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 the available 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The GLC featured steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Dynamic Select with Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes. Even in Comfort mode, the turbocharged engine provided ample power, with responsive handling and precise turn-in. For those seeking more performance, the AMG GLC43 offered a twin-turbocharged V6 with 385 horsepower, while the AMG GLC63 featured a twin-turbo V8 with up to 503 horsepower in the 63 S variant. These AMG models delivered sports car-like acceleration and cornering capabilities, making them true performance SUVs.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna excelled in convenience and functionality, essential for a minivan. It featured a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that easily stored into the floor, and a second row that slid up to 25 inches for easy access. The cabin boasted 16 cupholders (15 with the spare tire option) and ample storage cubbies. The Sienna could carry a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed, offering 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101.0 cubic feet behind the first row. The hybrid battery was cleverly tucked under the front seats, preserving cargo space. Power-operated sliding doors and tailgate, responsive to kick motions, added to the family-friendly features.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC provided 56.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 19.4 cubic feet with the seats up. The GLC Coupe's fastback profile reduced these figures to 49.4 and 17.6 cubic feet, respectively. The GLC's interior made good use of space, with a decently sized center console, deep door pockets, and retractable cupholders. Rear-seat space was adequate, with ample legroom and headroom in the SUV variant, though the Coupe's low roofline compromised headroom. Overall, the GLC offered a practical and well-designed interior, though the SUV variant was more versatile than the Coupe.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna was packed with technology features, starting with a standard nine-inch touchscreen offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM. Connectivity options included Safety Connect, Remote Connect, Service Connect, and AT&T WiFi Connect trials. Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming were standard, with Qi-compatible charging available on higher trims. Audio systems ranged from a six-speaker stereo to a 12-speaker JBL package with Dynamic Navigation. An optional rear-seat entertainment system featured an 11.6-inch 1080p display, remote, and wireless headphones. The driver enjoyed a multi-information display, with a 10-inch Head-Up Display available on Platinum models. A digital rearview mirror and Smart Key System were also available on higher trims.

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, offering 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, though switching between the GLC's radio and smartphone apps required navigating through menus. Overall, the MBUX system was user-friendly and offered a seamless experience once acclimated.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision system with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. The Star Safety System added enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop technology. The Sienna had 10 airbags and LATCH connectors, with a rear-seat reminder system and tire pressure monitoring system. Crash-test ratings for the 2021 model were not yet available, but the 2020 Sienna received high marks from IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC came with standard safety features like 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. Optional safety features included a 360-degree parking camera, dynamic cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane departure warning. The parking sensors were overly sensitive, but could be deactivated if desired.