Mercedes GLC, value, vary, options, efficiency, long run overview – Introduction

After brimming the tank, the journey laptop of our long-term Mercedes GLC 220d indicated it had 888km of vary. That’s a determine EV homeowners can solely fantasise about. I’ve to admit that after months of driving noiseless, clear and environment friendly EVs, it felt good to leap right into a diesel automotive and be reminded of their resilience and simply how far they’ve come. And equally, simply how lengthy and much they go between fill-ups. 

Practically 900km potential on one tank of diesel.

The very fact is that nothing beats diesel SUV for an extended highway journey. Tall gearing, a great deal of torque and low gasoline consumption nonetheless make a diesel automotive (or SUV) the go-to alternative for the freeway – extra so while you don’t have to fret about discovering a gasoline pump even within the remotest areas of the nation. 

So it was solely becoming then that the primary outing for the GLC 220d after it arrived on the Autocar HQ was on a moderately fascinating highway journey by the Konkan area of Maharashtra. It was drafted in as one of many assist vehicles for ‘Mango Trails’ – a highway journey beneath our Autocar Expeditions banner. We took our readers to – you guessed it – mango nation, or extra particularly, to the Fern Samali resort in Dapoli, Ratnagiri, 220km from our workplace. The long-legged GLC 220d was in its aspect on NH66, the previous Goa freeway.

With no pace cameras to fret about, I made full use of the two.0-litre turbo-diesel’s 197hp and 440Nm of torque. Overtaking was a chunk of cake, and the 9G-Tronic – Mercedes nomenclature for its nine-speed torque converter auto gearbox – performed a robust supporting function, particularly in guide mode. Taking part in with the paddles, you’ll be able to eke essentially the most out of this engine, which, I have to say, sounds a bit gruff when revved exhausting. However you realize it’s doing its job while you look on the speedo and get shocked. Like all diesels after the shift to BS6, the mid-range punch or the sudden surge of energy that characterised a diesel engine is unfortunately lacking. That’s to not say the GLC is sluggish; quite the opposite, earlier than you realize it, you’ll activate the pace warning gong. And it’s annoyingly loud. The diesel’s linear and easy energy supply masks the GLC’s pace, as does its sensible dynamics and unflappable poise. Actually, the one factor that impressed me essentially the most concerning the GLC is how rock regular it feels at freeway speeds whereas being equally confidence-inspiring on the undulating terrain resulting in the coast. 

Agile dealing with is a pleasure on twisty roads.

Peeling off NH66 onto slim secondary roads simply earlier than Dapoli, the GLC stunned me with its sporty behaviour. You don’t anticipate a mainstream diesel Merc SUV to be agile and hunkered down on a twisty highway, however that’s precisely what the GLC is. I’ve stated this earlier than, and I’ll say it once more: fashionable Mercs have one of the best steering with regards to really feel and suggestions. There’s a beautiful fluidity and precision with which the GLC dives out and in of corners. Physique roll is minimal, which, once more, isn’t one thing you anticipate from a reasonably high-riding SUV. And the final 30km of the drive to the Fern resort was an absolute blast. I used to be amazed at how easy the roads on this a part of Maharashtra have been—of their very best form simply earlier than the monsoon arrives and destroys them. And when you’ve one thing playful and entertaining to drive, why not get pleasure from it to the fullest? And that’s precisely what I did. So, as an alternative of going residence after a weekend of gorging on the juiciest Alphonso mangoes, I took a ‘slight’ detour to the one place that’s a magnet to each new automotive I’m driving. Sure, Mahabaleshwar. Being simply 105km away from Fern, it was too tempting to go up, particularly because the freshly paved Ambenali ghat resulting in the hill station was in a spanking form. These 40km have been an absolute blast, however for the uphill climb, I might have favored a bit extra punch that will have complemented the chassis. Hey, Mercedes! Can we’ve a 300d, please? 

A fast blast as much as Mahabaleshwar within the GLC too tempting to go up.

What astonished me was the GLC 220d’s gasoline effectivity regardless of some fairly exhausting driving. There was no want to go to a gasoline station, and I did the 550km Mumbai-Dapoli-Mahabaleshwar-Mumbai loop with 1 / 4 tank to spare.

Downsides? Again on the town, the trip feels too agency for Mumbai roads and lacks the pillow-soft consolation that’s at all times been on the core of the Mercedes model. Personally, I don’t just like the pinstripe dashboard design, which appears a bit tacky. However with regards to infotainment methods, Mercedes does it finest. I really like the graphics, the logical structure, and the way straightforward and intuitive it’s to navigate all of the capabilities. Nevertheless it’s on the freeway that the GLC feels finest, and I can’t await my subsequent Mahabaleshwar drive in it.

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