The Mercedes-Benz GLC has been an enormous success for the German model because the unique mannequin got here out seven years in the past.
By offering a real luxurious SUV excellent for households that don’t have to step up right into a the bigger and costlier GLE however want one thing extra sensible and substantial than the GLA, the C-Class-based GLC has been a candy spot in firm’s SUV vary.
With the first-generation GLC having launched in 2016 with nice success, the second-generation (X254) GLC was unveiled a few yr in the past in Europe and has lastly landed in Australia with one physique type and one variant – for now.
In case you have been ready for it, the brand new GLC 300 is all the selection you’re going to get. There is no such thing as a entry-level GLC 200 for our market and the explanation for that’s fairly easy: most consumers of the earlier mannequin went for the higher-spec, highly-optioned fashions.
Mercedes-Benz Australia has utilized the essential rules of the paradox of alternative and decreased the complexity of its vary as a substitute of accelerating it, giving prospects every thing they might most certainly want in a single easy bundle with only one choice bundle to make buying simpler.
This does imply, nonetheless, when you had been hoping to get into a brand new GLC for underneath $100,000, you is perhaps somewhat disenchanted, although it additionally means every other particular person shopping for a brand new GLC is paying precisely the identical as you with principally no reductions underneath the brand new Mercedes company gross sales mannequin, which ought to assist protect resale values.
Evaluating the brand new versus previous, the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC will get the AMG exterior and inside bundle as commonplace to provide it a a lot sportier look than earlier than with a pleasant physique package and greater wheels.
It does, nonetheless, imply that each one GLC’s now have the AMG look to them, which is an effective factor in case you are shopping for a GLC 300, however we hope the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 and GLC 63 take the aggressiveness to an entire new degree after they get right here. It does look fairly good within the flesh, even when the widespread German rainbow of colors (i.e. shades of gray) tends to boring a few of its design aesthetics.
The GLC’s similarity to the remainder of the Mercedes-Benz household can’t be hidden, and also you’ll be hard-pressed to inform what it’s when its in your rear-view mirror, however that’s not essentially a foul factor as a result of the present design language from Mercedes is inoffensive at worst and truly very good to have a look at.
From a measurement perspective, the brand new SUV is 1890mm in width, 4617mm in size and 1600mm in peak with a 1970kg weight. This makes it marginally bigger than the earlier mannequin however not sufficient to make an enormous distinction.
Realistically, the GLC is good for households of two adults and two large children that need one thing with an honest boot while not having that center seat in use always. In case you have three younger children, it will nonetheless work as long as you aren’t requiring all three of them in little one seats.
How a lot does the Mercedes-Benz GLC price?
With latest adjustments in Luxurious Automotive Tax (LCT), the value of the brand new Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic is now decrease, beginning at $103,370 plus on highway prices.
Previously once we discuss Mercs, that is the place we might normally write a prolonged paragraph about how you’ll now have to spend one other $20,000 on choices, however the actuality is the GLC 300 comes with just about each single factor you have to.
There are two colors which are non-compulsory ($1500) and the ‘Plus Package deal’ which is able to set you again $6900 – extra on that additional down.
The equal BMW X3 (xDrive30i M Sport) is $96,500 plus on-roads, whereas the Audi Q5 45 TFSI quattro Sport begins at $82,800. The GLC 300, nonetheless, has a better degree of ordinary specification than each its German rivals.
The place the German-made GLC arguably faces some stiff competitors on options alone, is from the likes of the South Korean-made (and glorious) Genesis GV70 2.5T AWD with Luxurious and Sport packs at $84,400, and the Chinese language-made Volvo XC60 Final B6 Darkish ($86,990).
What’s the Mercedes-Benz GLC like on the within?
The most important enchancment from the previous GLC to the brand new is the inside. Based mostly on the most recent C-Class, the brand new GLC comes with a stunning vertically-mounted 11.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
It’s not precisely the Hyperscreen of the higher-grade Mercedes fashions, however the system works very effectively with assist for wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a really succesful in-built MBUX system that you would be able to simply navigate your method round.
We discovered the AMG sports activities seats wrapped in synthetic leather-based (which Mercedes calls Artico) to be good and supportive with out being uncomfortable.
You possibly can most definitely do a long-distance drive within the GLC while not having a visit to the chiropractor. The again seats are additionally supportive with loads of leg- and head room when you don’t intend to stay passengers north of 185cm in each seating rows.
One factor we might like to see in automobiles like that is an choice for therapeutic massage operate within the entrance seats, however in lieu of that, the excellent news is that at the least heating and reminiscence operate is commonplace.
The steering wheel can also be the most recent Mercedes-Benz touch-capacitive design, intuitive performance that requires you to only roll your finger over the controls such as you would on a smartphone display screen. It could take some getting used to however you’ll by no means return to regular buttons after.
Mercedes-Benz Australia has made certain automobiles coming to our market have an upgraded stereo system, though it isn’t branded just like the non-compulsory Burmester sound system. We discovered the 225-watt nine-speaker stereo to be greater than enough, though when you can spare the additional $6900 for the one and solely choice pack, you might as effectively do it to get the higher sound system, alongside a bunch of different options talked about under.
Different notable commonplace tools that makes the inside a nicer place to be are the panoramic sunroof and head-up show, which might be one of the best within the enterprise.
Mercedes-Benz by and huge have nailed the ambient lighting of their automobiles and the GLC is not any completely different; you’re supplied loads of colors to choose from, and the menu format makes selecting between them simple as it may be. You may get the inside in black, gray or brown for no further price.
The boot measures 620L, which can be loads of house for many.
Mercedes-Benz GLC inside dimensions:
- Headroom, entrance: 1048mm
- Headroom, rear: 1007mm
- Legroom, entrance: 1036mm
- Legroom, rear: 950mm
- Elbow room, entrance: 1499mm
- Elbow room, rear: 1480mm
- Shoulder room, entrance: 1456mm
- Shoulder room, rear: 1438mm
- Baggage capability: 620L
What’s underneath the bonnet?
As talked about, there is just one engine out there for the GLC vary in Australia for now, and that’s a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol with 190kW and 400Nm.
The engine is accompanied by a 48-volt electrical system and the second technology of Mercedes-Benz calls its Built-in Starter Generator (ISG), which alongside a bunch of different issues, makes the start-stop system way more environment friendly.
You may as well name it a really mild-hybrid when you should, given the 48-volt electrical system additionally offers the GLC the capability to show its engine off and coast for intervals of time, thanks in giant to the ISG having the ability to ship an extra 17kW of energy and 200Nm of torque when wanted.
Mercedes claims a mixed metropolis freeway gas economic system determine of 7.7L/100km (98 RON) however when you get a bit set off pleased with the suitable foot, you possibly can simply see that rise up to excessive 8s if not into the 9s.
Not that you’ll ever discover it in operation given simply how clean it’s, however the powertrain is coupled to a nine-speed computerized transmission with energy going to all 4 wheels. The corporate claims a 0-100 time of 6.2 seconds.
How does the Mercedes-Benz GLC drive?
There may be completely nothing that the Mercedes-Benz GLC does on the highway that you would be able to legitimately complain about.
It’s an especially well-rounded bundle made for inner-city consumers who could frequent an extended nation highway drive, and whereas it might not be particularly tuned for Australian situations, we drove it over among the worst high quality roads Melbourne needed to provide and it proved snug, protected and fascinating to drive.
The steering is impartial in really feel, offering nice ranges of response and suggestions suited to a automobile like this, whereas the throttle pedal really feel, driving place and outward visibility are glorious, to place it merely.
The engine and ISG work effectively collectively, which implies that dreaded start-stop lag in some earlier Mercs or in rivals to the GLC is lengthy gone.
As well as, it has loads of energy and torque to get your round or make that fast overtake on the freeway.
It feels sure-footed and the insane quantity of lively security options work effectively to maintain you a protected distance from the automobile in entrance whereas additionally sustaining your house in the course of the lane.
For those who commute on the freeway commonly, you possibly can actually activate the Distronic adaptive cruise system and simply loosen up; it’s going to all however drive you there by itself as long as you retain your fingers on the steering wheel.
The one factor we might like to see is adaptive suspension in order that if you end up on a extremely horrible piece of highway, you may make it trip a tad softer.
However for 99.99 per cent of regular commutes, the trip, dealing with and powertrain capabilities the GLC gives are greater than you’ll probably ever ask for.
Frankly, until you simply need to make noise and get dashing tickets consistently, that is all of the ‘AMG’ you want in a medium-sized SUV.
What do you get?
The GLC is effectively packaged and comes with loads of commonplace options.
GLC 300 4Matic highlights:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- AMG Line exterior
- Panoramic glass sunroof
- Aluminium-look operating boards
- Colored wheel arch liners
- Energy tailgate
- 11.9-inch MBUX touchscreen infotainment system
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- Fingerprint scanner
- Head-up show
- Wi-fi charger
- Off-Highway driving mode with clear bonnet
- AMG Line inside
- Woodgrain dashboard trim
- Piano black centre console
- Artico higher sprint
- Artico door linings
- Artico upholstery
- Powered entrance seats incl. reminiscence
- Heated entrance seats
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
Plus Package deal ($6900) provides:
- Digital Gentle headlights
- Adaptive Highbeam Help Plus
- Warmth- and noise insulating acoustic glass
- Burmester 3D encompass sound system
- Augmented actuality navigation
- Guard 360 car safety plus
- Extra driving help methods
Colors
Normal ($NCO)
- Obsidian Black Metallic
- Nautic Blue Metallic
- Metallic Graphite
- Mojave Silver Metallic
- Excessive-Tech Silver Metallic
- Spectral Blue Metallic
- Polar White
Premium
- Opalite White Brilliant: $1153.90
- Patagonia Pink Metallic: $1153.90
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLC protected?
The Mercedes-Benz GLC acquired a most five-star security ANCAP ranking in opposition to 2020-2022 standards, based mostly on checks performed by Euro NCAP.
The GLC scored 92 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 92 per cent for little one occupant safety, 74 per cent for susceptible highway person safety, and 84 per cent for security help.
ANCAP famous the GLC scored extremely within the grownup occupant safety class, with full factors awarded for the safety of the driving force and little one occupants within the aspect influence take a look at, the driving force within the full-width frontal take a look at, and front-seat passenger within the entrance offset take a look at.
How a lot does the Mercedes-Benz GLC price to run?
The Mercedes-Benz GLC, like all new Mercedes-Benz fashions, is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee.
Servicing is required each 12 months or 25,000km – whichever comes first.
Pricing is $3200 for 3 years, $4250 for 4 and $6500 for 5 if bought upfront.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Mercedes-Benz GLC
There was a little bit of debate within the CarExpert places of work regarding the new Mercedes-Benz GLC and whether or not the beginning worth (realistically about $110,000 on highway) is getting too costly.
However contemplating the common transactional worth of the previous-generation mannequin in Australia was within the mid-$90k area and simply how rather more you get within the new mannequin – in addition to how every thing has gotten costlier in the previous couple of years – it seemingly provides up.
That’s to not say an entry mannequin wouldn’t have been appreciated, and maybe in time it’s going to come to affix the brand new GLC Coupe and full-blown AMG variants destined for our market within the close to future.
The factor in regards to the Mercedes-Benz GLC is that it does every thing actually, very well. It might not be the very best at each single factor (e.g. arguably, the BMW X3 and Genesis GV70 are extra dynamically partaking), however as an total bundle it is a higher automobile than its rivals – as long as you possibly can swallow the asking worth.
Irrespective of the way you have a look at it, the brand new GLC is in lots of respects probably the most completed medium SUV within the luxurious section.
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