Mercedes GLC Review

How much does it cost?

As one of the Big 3 German brands, alongside BMW and Audi, Mercedes has never been shy when it comes to charging a premium for its cars. As a result, the GLC does not come cheap. A look at the brand’s online configurator shows list prices getting underway at around £55,000 for even the most basic, entry-level car. Costs then rise steadily as you move through the trim levels, with the most expensive versions of the GLC kicking off at more than £125,000. On the whole, most specs fall between the £65,000 and £75,000 range, although Mercedes’ extensive list of optional extras can see the price bump up very quickly indeed. For those on the hunt for better value, the used market may provide the answer. Second-hand versions of the current GLC get underway at around £35,000 on AA Cars, with models then available pretty much all the way up to the most expensive and newest cars, which can reach as much as £90,000 depending on spec.

Engine and performance

Overview

The GLC is available with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, which have been teamed with varying levels of hybrid technology. Basic options include a 2.0-litre turbo petrol unit that produces 258 bhp and a 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel, which throws out around 200 bhp. For those looking to maximise economy and company car tax savings, Mercedes also offers plug-in hybrid variants in both petrol and diesel forms, with official electric-only ranges of over 70 miles. The all-electric GLC comes with a 94 kWh battery, which, teamed with dual electric motors, produces a power output of over 480 bhp – making it among the most powerful options across the GLC lineup.

Out on the road

When you get behind the wheel of the GLC, the first thing you notice is just how refined it is to drive. In urban environments, the car feels smooth and comfortable, while its more compact dimensions mean it does not feel too big for its surroundings – a common problem with larger SUVs. Overall, the car feels easy to drive and manoeuvre, making it easy to squeeze into tight spots on busy city streets. When you leave town and head out onto the motorway, the GLC continues to shine, with the car particularly strong as a long-distance cruiser. Mercedes manages to keep wind and road noise to a minimum, and the suspension is beautifully soft – preventing any issues with the road surface from causing an issue. If you are someone who covers a lot of motorway miles, then the wide array of diesel options, which feel particularly relaxed at speed, could be for you, while the near-silent running of plug-in hybrids and the electric versions also deserve an honourable mention. For an SUV, the GLC delivers its power exceptionally smoothly, with the EV particularly strong on this front with its instant acceleration. Generally, the car feels responsive and composed, making driving it on a day-to-day basis an absolute joy.

Ride and handling

Whereas some SUVs – including a few in the Mercedes stable – are clearly set up to be sporty, the GLC makes comfort its top priority. The suspension is soft without being wallowing and soaks up bumps in the road with ease. The comfortable ride is improved further by taking up the optional air suspension, which makes small fry of even the most uneven of road surfaces. The cost of all this comfort can be found when the road gets twisty. While the steering is mostly accurate, it lacks the feedback that pure driving enthusiasts will want, and there is noticeable body roll if you try and push things too hard through the corners. Things do get slightly sharper if you go for AMG Line models, but overall the car still falls short of things like the BMW X3. Having said that, the majority of people who buy this car will not be thrashing it down bendy country roads. For most drivers, the GLC’s calm and predictable handling will likely prove to be a major strength rather than a weakness.

Interior and features

Interiors

Mercedes has long been renowned for the quality of its interiors, and the GLC picks up that mantle brilliantly. The cabin takes more than a little inspiration from Mercedes’ C-Class saloon, with high-quality materials and soft surfaces on show throughout. Wherever you look, everything feels well put together and premium, which is only helped by the addition of metallic trims and optional leather upholstery. Up front, standard cars get an 11.9-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen located on the centre of the dash, as well as a stylish 12.3-inch driver’s display. For those who want the absolute best that Mercedes can offer, the all-electric GLC can be kitted out with a huge optional 39.1-inch ‘MBUX Hyperscreen’ which spans the entire dash.

Boot space and practicality

For all its sleek, stylish, and luxury touches, at its heart the GLC remains a practical family SUV. It offers a reasonably competitive 620 litres of boot capacity, rising to around 1,600 litres with the back seats folded away. The space itself has an easy-to-access wide opening, as well as a low load lip, which helps when loading bulkier items into the rear. There is also a powered tailgate as standard, to make life even easier when you’re coming back with bags full of shopping. Inside the cabin, there is plenty of storage, while rear-seat passengers in particular benefit from generous head and legroom, making long journeys far more comfortable than in some of its key rivals.

Features

These days, car buyers demand a high level of tech, especially when they are splashing out the amounts of money that it costs to get your hands on a GLC. In order to meet this demand, even entry-level cars get features like dual-zone climate control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, ambient lighting and a comprehensive suite of driver assistance systems. As you move through the range, more and more luxuries begin to become available, including heated and ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof, Burmester audio and advanced semi-autonomous driving aids. The only real downside when it comes to tech is the lack of physical buttons, which results in an overreliance on the touchscreen that can be pretty distracting while driving.

Trim and colour options

There are a number of different GLC models available across the line-up, each of which is available in Sport, AMG Line, AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Premium Plus trims. For most buyers, the mid-level AMG Line Premium represents the sweet spot for having a good level of spec without getting towards the top of the price range. Colour options include Classic Black and Polar White, as well as various metallic shades of grey and silver, and vibrant options like Starling Blue Metallic and MANUFAKTUR Patagonia Red Metallic.

Safety and reliability

As with most German brands, Mercedes values safety highly, and the GLC comes packed with the latest technology, including autonomous emergency braking, lane keeping assist, blind spot monitoring and traffic sign recognition. The model has achieved a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating. The car also benefits from famous German engineering, and owners generally report it to be robust, well-built and reliable. Mercedes also offers comprehensive warranty coverage to help keep ownership stress low.

MPG, emissions and tax

With a good choice of hybrid and electric options, efficiency is a big strong suit of the GLC. While official figures vary, most models can achieve mpg figures in the high 30s at the very least, with several even exceeding 50 mpg. According to official figures, some plug-in hybrid variants can do over 160 mpg, although this was only achieved in test conditions by using electric power only, and regularly stopping to charge. Meanwhile, electric versions of the GLC have a claimed range of over 400 miles. Across the range, CO2 emissions vary from 0 g/km for the EV to around 180 g/km for higher-powered petrol models. When it comes to tax, all versions are subject to the government’s Expensive Car Supplement, which costs an extra £425 a year for five years, applied from the second year of registration.