The new family SUV smoothly evolves the classy, well-liked styling of the current car, and undergoes a digital-first revolution inside, with the very latest in cutting-edge infotainment technology.
The new Mercedes-Benz GLC engine line-up is now fully electrified, with mild hybrid versions of the regular petrol and diesel motors lining up alongside plug-in hybrid petrols – and a PHEV diesel. Each plug-in hybrid has a seriously impressive EV range of at least 62 miles; some of them can do 80 miles between charges.
It boasts interesting new technology such as a Land Rover-style ‘transparent bonnet’. This uses cameras to display the area on the ground underneath the front wheels through the central display screen. It helps with off-roading – and also makes parking in town easier. Optional new ‘Digital Light’ tech can actually beam warning symbols onto the road in front of you.
The new Mercedes-Benz GLC aims to continue the success of the current model – and the firm has exhaustively engineered it to ensure it is as appealing as possible. If you own the current GLC – or one of its rivals such as the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60 – here’s how Mercedes-Benz aims to tempt you into a new GLC.
Prices of the new Mercedes-Benz GLC have not yet been confirmed. The current car starts from around £45,000. The new car’s entry grade will be the Mercedes-Benz GLC Avantgarde, which means prices will jump a little: we can expect the range to start from around £50,000.
The new Mercedes-Benz GLC is scheduled to go into production soon. The firm tells us the regular petrol and diesel cars will arrive in the UK before the year is out, with deliveries of the plug-in hybrid versions beginning in early 2023.
The new Mercedes-Benz GLC is a smooth and refined evolution of its predecessor. Why radically change something that’s consistently proven so popular? Instead, the firm has focused on the details, making them more intricate and delicately-detailed than ever.
The new LED headlights now connect to the radiator grille, making it look wider at the front. And for the Mercedes-Benz GLC Avantgarde, the grille is now surrounded in chrome. Mercedes-Benz GLC AMG-Line variants have a sportier appearance, and now feature more body-colour parts, such as the wheelarches, in contrast to the black plastic of other versions.
The new Mercedes-Benz GLC is even more aerodynamically efficient too, with the drag factor Cd dropping from 0.31 to 0.29. Making the Mercedes-Benz GLC sleeker through the air improves fuel economy, particularly at motorway speeds.
Inside, there’s a much more radical revolution. The digital-first approach we’ve seen in other Mercedes-Benz now comes to the GLC, with the open-plan dashboard focused around two high-resolution screens. The central 12.3-inch touchscreen is the same one as in the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and there’s an additional 11.9-inch driver display.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC uses the very latest MBUX infotainment system. Both software and hardware have been upgraded, so it’s super-fast in operation, and the images used throughout are brilliantly crisp. There’s even optional MBUX Augmented Reality sat nav; using an exterior camera, it superimposes directions on top of moving images for next-generation guidance. Drivers can also use the ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice assistant.
Elsewhere, standard equipment on all new Mercedes-Benz GLC has been improved. The entry grade is the GLC Avantgarde trim, and even this comes with large-format infotainment displays, wireless smartphone charging and heated front seats.
Instead of listing dozens of individual options, the new Mercedes-Benz GLC has equipment choices bundled into options packs. But customers still have the ability to select from a broad range of paint colours, wheels, upholstery and trim.
The new 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC will offer a broad choice of seven different engines. They will all have 4Matic all-wheel drive, and all use the same nine-speed 9G-Trionic automatic gearbox. What’s more, all regular engines have fuel-saving 48V mild hybrid technology – and every engine will be four-cylinder.
The best-selling engine in the UK will be the Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d 4Matic. This entry-level diesel has a 197PS 2.0-litre motor, giving decent 0-62mph acceleration in 8.0 seconds, and creditable fuel consumption of 54.3mpg. CO2 emissions start from 136g/km. There’s also a Mercedes-Benz GLC 300d 4Matic, with a more powerful 269PS 2.0-litre; 0-62mph takes 6.3 seconds yet it still averages over 50mpg.
Two 2.0-litre turbo petrol mild hybrid engines are also available. The Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 4Matic produces 204PS, for 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds; fuel economy averages 38.6mpg. The 258PS Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4Matic does 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds, and also averages 38.6mpg; both have CO2 emissions from 167g/km.
There are three plug-in hybrid models. The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300e 4Matic again uses a 2.0-litre petrol engine, plus electric motor and plug-in battery, with a system total power of 313PS. 0-62mph takes 6.7 seconds and, thanks to a vast pure electric range of up to 80 miles, it officially emits just 12g/km CO2. The Mercedes-Benz GLC 400e 4Matic has the same CO2 figure, but a power boost to 381PS cuts the 0-62mph time to just 5.6 seconds.
There’s also a diesel-engined Mercedes-Benz GLC 300de 4Matic. A combination of 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, electric motor and plug-in battery gives 335PS of system output, with 0-62mph taking 6.4 seconds. It’s rated at just 10g/km CO2, and again will travel for almost 80 miles on a full battery. It is ideal for high-mileage users, where diesel efficiency gives better mpg and a longer driving range when the battery is flat.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC comes as standard with clever amplitude-dependent dampers. These deliver a good level of comfort across all road surfaces, while also making sure body control is responsive through corners. European Mercedes-Benz GLC have the option of height-adjustable Airmatic air suspension, but we understand this is not going to be available in the UK.
A neat new Mercedes-Benz GLC option is rear axle steering. At slow speeds, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the fronts, which helps significantly reduce the turning circle. Mercedes-Benz says it’s almost a metre tighter, with the official figure falling to just 10.9 metres. The Ford Fiesta supermini small car, in contrast, has an 11-metre turning circle…
Interior dimensions of the new Mercedes-Benz GLC are similar to before; it was already a roomy car. The firm has used the increased overhang at the rear to significantly improve boot space; it grows 70 litres, to a mammoth 620 litres. An electric tailgate is now standard too. Just note, boot space falls to 470 litres in plug-in hybrid versions.
Why not join millions of people all around the world and buy a used Mercedes-Benz GLC instead of this all-new one? It remains a very classy and premium-looking car, after all – the similarity with the new one means a used Mercedes-Benz GLC will not look dated.
At heycar, you can pick up an early 2016 car from around £21,000, and we think the broad range of 2018 models starting from around £25,000 represent great value for money. We spotted a 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC 2204 4Matic Sport Premium Plus, with 50,000 miles on the clock, for just £25,450.
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The new Mercedes-Benz GLC is 60mm longer than the old one – but it is actually exactly the same width, and 4mm lower. Interestingly, a new type of door mirror means it’s 21mm narrower when they are factored into the width.
The original Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV was also offered as the Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe, with a swoopier and more angular rear end. Expect the latest model to also be offered in coupe guise.
There isn’t a pure electric version of the Mercedes-Benz GLC; instead, the firm offers the Mercedes-Benz EQC EV.
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