Test: Mercedes-Benz GLC – You can’t see it, but everything is new

I didn’t know there was a new Mercedes GLC…

We can imagine that, after all the electrical violence that Mercedes has recently introduced under the EQ label. The arrival of the new GLC was therefore a bit snowed under. It was presented in the summer of 2022. The medium-sized SUV is actually very similar to its predecessor, you could just mistake the new model for the old GLC (2015-2022). But there is enough difference. For example, the grille at the bottom is much wider, and the concave shapes in the flanks have made way for bulges. The taillights are similar in shape to those of the current generation of the C-Class. The C-class also served as an example on the inside, with a prominent role for the standing screen that seems to come out of the center tunnel. The previous generation of the GLC had a much smaller screen on top of the dashboard.

Phew, that dashboard does indeed have a lot of digital screens. How user-friendly is it still?

The size of the screens is huge. A lot of functions had to be integrated. In the central touchscreen, however, all icons are in a very well thought-out place, making operation easier than you would initially expect. Moreover, the software works very fast, which also benefits the functionality. The air conditioning is operated via the screen, but the various ‘buttons’ always remain visible, so you rarely have to search for a long time. The instruments and the head-up display are also very complete. It all looks very nice and functions such as augmented reality navigation are actually of added value.

It all looks beautiful, especially the screens.

What about the space on board the Mercedes GLC?

In addition to technology, the GLC has also made a big leap forward in terms of size at its generation change. It had to be, not only because of the GLB from our own house, but also because of all the younger models that operate in the same segment. Cars such as the Audi Q5, the BMW X3, the Lexus NX and the Volvo XC60 had already put the old GLC well behind.

A Dutch adult is fine in the back seat.

The new GLC is six centimeters longer than its predecessor, resulting in a large luggage space: 620 liters fit in the back. Moreover, thanks to the increased wheelbase, the extra luggage space is not at the expense of the occupants’ freedom of movement. In the front you have it spacious anyway. Due to the panoramic roof, which is available at an additional cost, you do lose some headroom, but the average Dutch person can also sit comfortably on the back seat. And there is no shortage of legroom here. With its maximum towable weight of 2,400 kilos, the GLC is ideal for transporting a large caravan or horse trailer.

And what about its driving characteristics?

Our test car is equipped with an abundance of technological flavor enhancers. The combination of the optional air suspension, active shock absorbers and rear-axle steering makes the GLC particularly comfortable to drive. The way the car glides on the highway is hard to match for the competition. On a winding road, however, the car steers enthusiastically and has plenty of grip reserve. The Continentals EcoContact are the limiting factor, but to the point where they begin to lose the battle for grip, the GLC makes a willing and direct impression.

This is partly because the engine is located far back and the car is basically rear-wheel drive. An additional advantage of the rear-axle steering is that the GLC is very easy to park in small parking spaces. If you want to go off the beaten track, there is a special off-road package. This makes it possible to look all the way around and even under the GLC without getting out of your driver’s seat, so that you don’t accidentally hit a large stone.

Steering rear wheels make the turning circle smaller and the grip reserve larger.

Then the engine of the GLC will also provide the necessary driving pleasure.

Our test car is the GLC 200, which has the base engine on board. That is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 204 hp and 320 Nm, equipped with a mild hybrid system. The starter motor and alternator have been replaced by a starter generator that switches off the two-liter all the time to save fuel. Thanks to an output of 23 hp, the system also makes a real contribution to the propulsion of the GLC.

Together with the nine-speed automatic transmission – which has long gear ratios – this results in a powertrain that can convince especially with a calm driving style. Thanks to the strong starter generator, the four-cylinder fire goes unnoticed and the automatic transmission keeps the revs extremely low. You hardly hear the four-cylinder and the consumption is very neat for such a fairly large SUV with a petrol engine: 1 in 15.8. When you rush the bike, it lacks a bit of vigor. As long as it doesn’t have to be hard it’s all fine, but at low speeds the engine must first get up to speed. If you then go through a lot of revs, the four-cylinder sounds quite stressed and it doesn’t go really fast. From standstill you are at 100 km / h in 8.3 seconds, an intermediate sprint from 80 to 120 km / h takes 6.1 seconds. No, this is not a car for people who like to fit in the front row.

Okay, so for more speed I have to choose a motor with more power.

There are plenty of options, in addition to the GLC 200. To start with the GLC 300 4Matic. It has the same two-liter turbo engine as the 200 version, but with an output of 258 hp. In addition, there are two plug-in hybrids, based on the same two-liter four-cylinder petrol engine. This is assisted by a powerful electric motor, with which you can drive fully electrically over a distance of almost 130 kilometers. The GLC 300 e gets 204 hp from its petrol engine and 136 hp from the electric motor, good for a sprint of 6.7 seconds to one hundred. The GLC 400 e has the same 136 hp electric motor, in combination with a 252 hp petrol engine. It only takes 5.6 seconds to complete the 100 sprint. An important advantage of the fast plug-in hybrid versions is that, thanks to their low CO2 emissions, they qualify for the half rate for road tax.

Mercedes also has a few turbo diesels on offer for the GLC. This also concerns power variants of one and the same engine. This is a two-liter four-cylinder, which in the GLC 220 d produces 197 hp. In the GLC 300 d, 269 hp is transferred to all four wheels. These versions also use the 23 hp starter generator. Finally, there is the GLC 300 de, the plug version of the diesel. Also in this version – good for about 125 electric kilometers – the electric motor transfers 136 hp to the powertrain, the 197 hp turbo diesel comes directly from the GLC 220 d. Like the two petrol PHEVs, the GLC 300 is clean enough for half-rate road tax.

And what will all this cost?

A big ton. At least: that costs the Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 in this test. Where more than €20,000 in options have been screwed up. If the larger, recently refreshed GLE 400 e 4Matic plug-in hybrid as standard equipment also meets your needs, you will be less expensive …

Options such as Augmented reality navigation can drive up the price considerably.

However, the high price can easily be justified. Regardless of the version you choose – Business Line, Luxury Line or the sporty AMG Line – the new GLC has a very complete standard equipment, with for example automatic air conditioning, seat heating, Drive Select driving programs, electrically adjustable comfort seats with a tasteful combination of fabric and imitation leather, the MBUX multimedia system with navigation and remote services, LED headlights with high-beam assistant and a reversing camera. Plus a bunch of other parts we forgot. You can further equip the GLC with the latest technology in the field of safety, driving dynamics and luxury: air suspension with adaptive shock absorbers, active rear-axle steering, enough driver assistance systems to drive almost autonomously in traffic jams, augmented reality navigation, a head-up display which also shows the navigation directions and an off-road package with enough cameras to make sure you don’t miss a pebble during off-road work. And then we leave aside all the options in terms of wheels, trims, leather and paint colors, option packages and individual accessories for the sake of convenience …