The Mercedes-Benz GLC has been an enormous success for the German model because the authentic mannequin got here out seven years in the past.
By offering a real luxurious SUV ultimate for households that don’t have to step up right into a the bigger and dearer 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 couple of 12 months 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’ll get. There is no such thing as a entry-level GLC 200 for our market and the explanation for that’s fairly easy: most patrons of the earlier mannequin went for the higher-spec, highly-optioned fashions.
Mercedes-Benz Australia has utilized the essential ideas of the paradox of alternative and decreased the complexity of its vary as a substitute of accelerating it, giving clients every little thing they might most probably want in a single easy bundle with only one possibility bundle to make buying simpler.
This does imply, nevertheless, in case you have been hoping to get into a brand new GLC for beneath $100,000, you is likely to be slightly disillusioned, although it additionally means some other individual shopping for a brand new GLC is paying precisely the identical as you with mainly no reductions beneath 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 present it a a lot sportier look than earlier than with a pleasant physique package and larger wheels.
It does, nevertheless, imply that every one GLC’s now have the AMG look to them, which is an efficient 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 once they get right here. It does look fairly good within the flesh, even when the frequent 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 really 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 top 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 massive youngsters that need one thing with an honest boot without having that center seat in use always. In case you have three younger youngsters, it will nonetheless work as long as you aren’t requiring all three of them in baby seats.
How a lot does the Mercedes-Benz GLC value?
With current modifications in Luxurious Automobile Tax (LCT), the value of the brand new Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic is now decrease, beginning at $103,370 plus on highway prices.
Up to now once we speak about Mercs, that is the place we’d often 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 will want.
There are two colors which are optionally available ($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, nevertheless, 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 wonderful) 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 largest enchancment from the previous GLC to the brand new is the inside. Primarily based 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 help for wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a really succesful in-built MBUX system that you may simply navigate your means 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’ll be able to most actually do a long-distance drive within the GLC without having a visit to the chiropractor. The again seats are additionally supportive with loads of leg- and head room in case you don’t intend to stay passengers north of 185cm in each seating rows.
One factor we’d like to see in automobiles like that is an possibility for therapeutic massage perform within the entrance seats, however in lieu of that, the excellent news is that at the least heating and reminiscence perform 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. It might take some getting used to however you’ll by no means return to regular buttons after.
Mercedes-Benz Australia has made positive automobiles coming to our market have an upgraded stereo system, though it isn’t branded just like the optionally available Burmester sound system. We discovered the 225-watt nine-speaker stereo to be greater than enough, though in case you can spare the additional $6900 for the one and solely possibility pack, you might as effectively do it to get the higher sound system, alongside a number 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 the most effective within the enterprise.
Mercedes-Benz by and enormous have nailed the ambient lighting of their automobiles and the GLC isn’t any totally different; you’re provided loads of colors to select from, and the menu format makes selecting between them straightforward as it may be. You will get the inside in black, gray or brown for no further value.
The boot measures 620L, which will likely be loads of area 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: 1438mmLuggage capability: 620L
What’s beneath the bonnet?
As talked about, there is just one engine obtainable 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 number of different issues, makes the start-stop system much more environment friendly.
You may also name it a really mild-hybrid in case 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 massive to the ISG with the ability to ship a further 17kW of energy and 200Nm of torque when wanted.
Mercedes claims a mixed metropolis freeway gas financial system determine of seven.7L/100km (98 RON) however in case you get a bit set off proud of the appropriate foot, you may 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’s completely nothing that the Mercedes-Benz GLC does on the highway that you may legitimately complain about.
It’s an especially well-rounded bundle made for inner-city patrons who might frequent an extended nation highway drive, and whereas it is probably not particularly tuned for Australian circumstances, we drove it over a number of the worst high quality roads Melbourne needed to provide and it proved comfy, protected and fascinating to drive.
The steering is impartial in really feel, offering nice ranges of response and suggestions suited to a automotive like this, whereas the throttle pedal really feel, driving place and outward visibility are wonderful, 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 energetic security options work effectively to maintain you a protected distance from the automotive in entrance whereas additionally sustaining your home in the midst of the lane.
If you happen to commute on the freeway repeatedly, you may actually activate the Distronic adaptive cruise system and simply calm down; 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’d like to see is adaptive suspension in order that if you end up on a very horrible piece of highway, you can also make it trip a tad softer.
However for 99.99 per cent of regular commutes, the trip, dealing with and powertrain capabilities the GLC presents are greater than you’d seemingly ever ask for.
Frankly, until you simply need to make noise and get rushing 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 wheelsAMG Line exteriorPanoramic glass sunroofAluminium-look working boardsColoured wheel arch linersPower tailgate11.9-inch MBUX touchscreen infotainment systemSatellite navigationFingerprint scannerHead-up displayWireless chargerOff-Street driving mode with clear bonnetAMG Line interiorWoodgrain dashboard trimPiano black centre consoleArtico higher dashArtico door liningsArtico upholsteryPowered entrance seats incl. memoryHeated entrance seatsWireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
Plus Package deal ($6900) provides:
Digital Mild headlightsAdaptive Highbeam Help PlusHeat- and noise insulating acoustic glassBurmester 3D encompass sound systemAugmented actuality navigationGuard 360 car safety plusAdditional driving help programs
Colors
Commonplace ($NCO)
Obsidian Black MetallicNautic Blue Metallic Metallic Graphite Mojave Silver Metallic Excessive-Tech Silver MetallicSpectral Blue Metallic Polar White
Premium
Opalite White Shiny: $1153.90Patagonia Pink Metallic: $1153.90
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLC protected?
The Mercedes-Benz GLC obtained 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 baby 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 motive force and baby occupants within the facet impression check, the motive force within the full-width frontal check, and front-seat passenger within the entrance offset check.
How a lot does the Mercedes-Benz GLC value 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 prematurely.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Mercedes-Benz GLC
There was a little bit of debate within the CarExpert workplaces regarding the new Mercedes-Benz GLC and whether or not the beginning value (realistically about $110,000 on highway) is getting too costly.
However contemplating the common transactional value 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 little thing has gotten dearer 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 hitch 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 little thing actually, very well. It is probably not the very best at each single factor (e.g. arguably, the BMW X3 and Genesis GV70 are extra dynamically participating), however as an total bundle this can be a higher automotive than its rivals – as long as you may swallow the asking value.
Irrespective of the way you take a look at it, the brand new GLC is in lots of respects essentially the most achieved medium SUV within the luxurious phase.
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