Test Car Specifications
Model tested: Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d 4Matic
Pricing: starts from £34,950 on-the-road; as tested £39,425
Engine: 2.1-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel
Transmission: nine-speed automatic, 4Matic four-wheel drive
Body style: five-door, five-seat SUV
CO2 emissions: 129g/km (Band D, £110 per year)
Combined economy: 56.5mpg
Top speed: 138mph
0-100km/h: 7.6 seconds
Power: 204hp at 3,800rpm
Torque: 500Nm at 1,600- 1,800rpm
What's this?
This is the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLC, an SUV that squarely has the likes of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Lexus NX, Range Rover Evoque, Volvo XC60 and Land Rover Discovery Sport in its sights. It's the first time Mercedes UK has had a competitor in the lucrative premium SUV sector - though the GLC was preceded by the GLK in left-hand drive markets. The new car is vaguely based on the mechanicals of the C-Class, but it has been stretched, which is obvious when you step into the spacious, high-quality cabin. Rear passengers are particularly well catered for and there's a 550-litre boot that is quickly expanded by flipping down the split-fold rear seats.
Prices start at £34,950 on-the-road initially and until 2016 there are just two engine options. Buyers can choose from the GLC 220d or the 250d tested here. Both are powered by Merc's venerable twin-turbocharged 2.1-litre diesel engine, mated with a nine-speed automatic transmission and 4Matic four-wheel drive as standard. The entry-level car has 170hp and 400Nm of torque at its disposal, while the 250d makes 204hp and 500Nm. There are three core trim levels, SE, Sport and AMG Line, plus plenty of additional add-on packages to tempt buyers further. SE cars come with 17-inch alloy wheels, a powered tailgate, LED daytime running lights, rear privacy glass, auto wipers, a reversing camera, DAB radio, keyless go, man-made leather upholstery ('Artico'), electric front seat adjustment, cruise control, seven-inch colour display with touch pad, climate control and Collision Prevention Assist Plus.
Sport models add 18-inch rims, the mirror package, LED headlights, Active Parking Assist with ParkTronic, Garmin satnav, heated front seats and a few aesthetic and material upgrades inside and out. The AMG Line adds more presence to the GLC's appearance, with 19-inch AMG alloys, a sporty body kit, sports suspension and specific interior bits and pieces with plenty of AMG branding.
Along with the optional Executive, Premium, Premium Plus and Driving Assistance packages it's worth a closer look at the Off-Road package if you reckon you'll go off the beaten track in your GLC (will anyone, really?). It costs £495 and adds more ground clearance, a different front bumper and engine sump guard, Downhill Speed Regulation and extra driving modes designed for off-road driving. It works best in conjunction with the Air Body Control air suspension, which is a £1,495 option.
In 2016 Mercedes will introduce a plug-in hybrid version of the GLC called the 350e, fitted as standard with a seven-speed automatic transmission and 4Matic four-wheel drive. It mates a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 211hp with an 85kW electric motor and the battery pack from the hybrid S-Class. Total maximum power is 320hp, peak torque is quoted as 560Nm and it will hit 62mph from rest in just 5.9 seconds. On top of all that the GLC 350e comes with official economy and emissions figures of 108.6mpg and 60g/km, plus an electric-only range of some 21 miles at speeds of up to 87mph.
How does it drive?
Comfortably, in a word. That's our overriding impression of the GLC from the international drive event. All available vehicles were fitted with the air suspension option mentioned above, which means it's not yet possible to know how the standardly suspended models will feel. For the record, the cars we drove rode with remarkable suppleness, even in the Sport Plus mode. The only exception to that was the AMG Line version fitted with optional 20-inch alloy wheels, where there was a little more transmission of the road surface shape into unwanted body movements. On 19-inch wheels and non-AMG suspension, in the Comfort setting, we found it too soft, causing the body to float a little over undulations and dip under even modest braking. Saying that, the body remains commendably flat during cornering. It's not a car you'd push on for the fun of it in, though, as there's little feedback or engagement through the steering or chassis.
Better instead to revel in the GLC's refinement. It really is an incredibly quiet car. The 250d's twin-turbocharged 2.1-litre diesel engine is quite gruff when fitted to the C-Class or E-Class, but its rumbles are somehow isolated from the cabin of the GLC, eerily so at anything other than high engine revs. Road noise seems well-contained too and wind roar below 80mph is perfectly acceptable for a car of this size. Performance from that diesel engine is adequate rather than sparkling and unless you're towing close to the full 2,500kg braking limit then we'd suggest there's little tangible benefit in opting for the 250d over the 220d. Its extra 34hp and 100Nm of torque will only be noticeable if you drive the cars back-to-back. They both share the same nine-speed automatic transmission, which is gloriously smooth at all times.
Most of our driving was at a relatively high-speed cruise on the motorway, where the GLC is quite at home. The adaptive cruise control works a treat and its application of the brakes and then acceleration back up to speed afterwards is commendably smooth. That's the likely habitat for most GLCs sold in the UK of course, but for those that need a little more off-road ability, there's the aforementioned Off-Road package. We tried it out on a dry, gravelly test track through a hilly vineyard and it performed impressively, particularly in making it a doddle to tackle incredibly steep inclines and descents on a low-grip surface. Most buyers are unlikely to ever need this full capability, but it lends the GLC further credibility.
Along with the diesel models, we took a brief drive in the 350e plug-in hybrid model. For most of the route it remained in silence on electric power alone, but the petrol engine is quiet too. And it's quite a bit faster than the diesel GLCs too. Could be a good choice for urban buyers in particular.
Verdict
The new Mercedes-Benz GLC is attractive looking, spacious, comfortable and highly refined. On top of all that its running costs are modest, so it's likely to be as big a hit with business buyers as it is with those spending their own cash. Audi, BMW et al should be worried.
Exterior Design
Interior Ambience
Passenger Space
Luggage Space
Safety
Comfort
Driving Dynamics
Powertrain
