Mercedes-Benz GLC Review 2024

If you can afford it and want a posh, comfortable SUV with the technology to match its image, the Mercedes-Benz GLC is a very worthy choice. It’ll also suit business users in plug-in hybrid form as the company car tax rates combined with electric-only running will save a fair bit of dosh.

It’s probably not the SUV of choice for keen drivers, however. If you want something that feels like a high-riding sports saloon you’ll be disappointed - although we’ve not yet driven the lighter pure petrol and diesel models that may feel more agile.

The plug-in hybrid petrol is one of the best examples of its type thanks to that super long electric range. Those that can charge at home or work will love it, but bear in mind it’s expensive and for many the saving in fuel costs won’t offset that price jump. 

We reckon most private buyers will be served best by either the Mercedes GLC 220d diesel or the GLC 300 petrol. Both offer respectable on-paper performance, should be pretty refined and are much cheaper to buy or lease than the hybrids. Bear in mind that the petrol version will likely be pretty thirsty if you do lots of town driving, though. 

The Mercedes-Benz GLC’s toughest nuts to crack come from familiar places: yep, it’s those pesky German counterparts in the form of the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. The advantage the Mercedes has is that both those cars are getting on a bit now so aren’t as fresh. We’re expecting to see new versions of both in 2023, however.

Other cars that you should consider alongside the GLC include the new Lexus NX, the Volvo XC60 and the Jaguar F-Pace - all three offer good plug-in hybrid options too. Don’t discount the Mazda CX-60, which may not have the same clever tech and premium badge as the Merc but is usefully cheaper. 

For petrol or diesel buyers you should also consider the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Genesis GV70, while the CX-60 will be offered in straight-six petrol and diesel form sometime in 2023. 

You’d have to be incredibly cynical not to step in a modern Mercedes like the GLC and be impressed by the visual wow factor. Everything looks classy and neatly styled, with floating dash elements, soft-touch finishes and a cool overall design. It’s a lot more up-to-date than the previous generation car. 

However, if you’re used to the sheer substance of underlying quality you’ll find in a BMW or Audi you might be slightly disappointed. There are some scratchier, less appealing plastics lower down the dash, while some of the switchgear isn’t as impressively finished as rivals. We’re being picky, but this is an expensive premium SUV and buyers will be too. Oh, and cool though that ambient lighting is, you’ll want to dim it at night so you can concentrate on the road rather than feel like you’re driving a Miami vodka bar. 

Until possible cheaper versions arrive all versions of the Mercedes-Benz GLC feature a pair of big displays. A 12.3-inch instrument display is complemented by a portrait-angled 11.9-inch infotainment screen in the centre of the dash in its own bezel, angled slightly towards the driver. 

This being a modern Mercedes there’s a variety of ways to control it. It’s a touchscreen, with seriously sharp graphics and a responsive interface, while there’s also touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel that complete basic functions. These are, sadly, really fiddly, making a simple task like changing track on your Spotify playlist infernally complex when you’re trying to concentrate on the move. Physical buttons would be much easier to use without taking your eyes off the road. 

Still, there’s the Mercedes Me voice control system which is a lot better than some systems on the market. Say ‘hey Mercedes’ and it springs to attention, allowing you to ask for things like heated seats, changing the radio station or inputting a navigation address using natural speech. Like many of these systems you’ll find it activating when you don’t want to at times, though. 

On the nav front, AMG Line Premium or Premium Plus models get a cool feature called Augmented Reality navigation. Just like in other more recent Mercedes models, it shows the car’s front camera feed on the centre screen and arrows or pointers to show you exactly which junction or roundabout exit to take. Plus they also do that on the head-up display, which sounds distracting but works really well. 

Of course you can bypass much of the system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay that allows you to mirror smartphone apps like Spotify and Waze, while wireless phone charging is standard fitment. 

It might be a image-focused premium car but Mercedes hasn’t forgotten about the important stuff in the new GLC. Whether you’ve got a car full of adults or children it’ll excel as a family SUV.

Those up front have loads of legroom and a tremendously comfortable and adjustable driving position, so six-plus footers or broader built people up front will be more than happy. Headroom is good too even with the panoramic sunroof that comes on certain models. 

Similarly a pair of six-plus footers can sit behind themselves with little cause for complaint. Legroom is plentiful, headroom is generous and there’s room to slide your feet under the front seats to stretch out. The large centre tunnel does hinder a middle seat passenger more than electric SUVs which usually have a flat floor, however. Interestingly the Mercedes GLC is not a seven-seater, but the smaller Mercedes GLB is.

Storage aboard the GLC is pretty impressive, too. Cupholders are hidden under a neatly sliding tray in the centre console and have pop out holders that snugly grip your cup or bottle, while bigger bottles will fit in the door bins front and rear. There’s also a cubbyhole under the armrest, a decent-sized glovebox, map holders on the back of the front seats and pop-out cupholders in the rear armrest that also feature a little phone holder. 

The Mercedes-Benz GLC’s boot capacity of 620-litres is bigger on paper than most rivals and a good shape, with buttons in the rear to fold the seats down easily. However, we’ve only seen the plug-in hybrid one so far. That reduces the capacity substantially to 470-litres, with no underfloor storage and a higher boot floor. With the seats folded, you get 1680-litres of capacity, dropping to 1530 with the PHEV versions. That’s the price you pay for that class-leading battery. 

In terms of exterior dimensions the new Mercedes-Benz GLC is 4716mm long, 2096mm wide including mirrors and 1640mm tall. That makes it identical in width and 4mm lower in height than the old car, but it’s 61mm longer.

There is a choice of two diesels, one petrol and two plug-in hybrids, plus two performance AMG versions. The non-PHEV models all still have a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. Some markets also get a third plug-in hybrid option, too. 

So far we’ve only tested the GLC 300e petrol plug-in hybrid and it’s a respectable setup. It has 3013PS from a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine mated to an electric motor. 0-62mph comes up in 6.7 seconds, with useful if not thrilling performance and a surprisingly rorty engine note when you give it the beans. Standard all-wheel drive means it gets off the line well in all conditions, too. 

Its performance is always boosted by the electric motor with its decent 136PS output. You feel that instant electric punch off-the-line as it kicks in before the engine and gearbox can react, while it’s not too difficult to keep it in electric power unless you’re really ham-fisted with the throttle. Top speed without the engine running is a useful 87mph.

Interesting the GLC 300de diesel plug-in puts out even more power, up to 333PS from it’s 2.0-litre diesel and electric motor combo. 0-62mph is dispatched even more quickly in 6.4 seconds.

Even the pure petrol model is no slouch. This 2.0-litre four-cylinder puts out a ‘mere’ 258PS (plus 23PS from the mild-hybrid system) but because it’s so much lighter than the hybrids it’ll do 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds. 

Meanwhile, the entry-level GLC 220d 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel makes do with 197PS (plus that 23PS) for a 0-62mph time in eight seconds dead, while the GLC 300d (the same engine in a higher state of tune) puts out 269PS plus 23PS for a 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds.

Then we have the full-on AMG models that use a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine and electric motor to offer 421PS in the 43 model and a heart-pounding 476PS in the 63 model. You won't be shocked to learn this pair offer 0-62mph in 4.8- and 3.5 seconds respectively.

All versions of the Mercedes-Benz GLC come with 4Matic all-wheel drive as standard, and a nine-speed automatic gearbox. To avoid hesitation when you suddenly demand power the plug-in hybrids use electric power to fill in while the gearbox chooses the right gear. 

The Mercedes GLC’s refinement seems generally pretty good on these initial impressions, with the caveat that we’ve only driven the plug-in hybrid. Of course that is as smooth and serene as you’d imagine around town with gearless, silent running.

On the motorway wind noise is well isolated for an SUV and road noise isn’t too intrusive either. The suspension isn’t as calm as the lower, lighter C-Class, however, with more thumps and body movement - but this could be the hybrid’s weight penalty again.

The AMG models are a bit noisier on their larger wheels with firmer suspension, and there's a bit more engine roar under hard acceleration that most buyers of these cars will be only too pleased to hear.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC has been crash tested by Euro NCAP and achieved the maximum five-star safety rating. High scores across the board makes it a strong all-rounder, although some SUV rivals are slightly better in certain areas. 

Standard safety kit includes automatic emergency brakes in both forward and reverse, active lane assist that keeps you in lane, a blind spot warning system and a bonnet that pops up in an impact to protect pedestrians from the hard engine below. You of course get a  load of airbags 

You can boost safety even further by opting for the Driving Assistance Package Plus, which adds active cruise control that can steer the car around corners and operate the car's accelerator and brakes.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC is a relatively new car and it’s difficult to accurately assess its reliability at this stage. The brand itself finished respectably in the mid-table of our latest HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, although it was beaten by all of tis key premium rival brands. 

The Mercedes-Benz GLC is a relatively expensive new car and insurance groups reflect that. Even the base diesel model sits in a high group 40, with the 300 petrol in group 42. 

The plug-in hybrids, meanwhile, range from group 47 to group 50 - the maximum ranking that’s comparable with luxury cars and supercars. It’s also around 7 groups higher spec-for-spec than the C-Class saloon on which it’s based, interestingly.

The AMG models start in group 45 and go all the way up to group 50, but then you probably expected that.

As you’re unable to buy a Mercedes-Benz GLC for less than £40,000 new you’ll be stuck paying the £410 a year ‘premium car’ tax on top of the regular road tax (VED) for five years.

Happily none of the engines are particularly inefficient. The GLC 300 petrol is the worst offender which is hit with a £1095 first year rate, while both diesels cost a more reasonable £270 in the first year. The stars of the show are the hybrids, both of which have a first year tax rate of only £10. 

All models default to the £190 a year flat VED rate after that, although the hybrids get another £10 discount. 

The Mercedes-Benz GLC is available in for trim levels, plus the standalone AMG versions.

The entry-level Mercedes-Benz GLC Urban Edition for the GLC 300e and 300de. It comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, AMG Line exterior, LED headlights, roof tails in black, chromed twin exhaust pipes. You also get an AMG Line interior with Seat Comfort pack, electric seat adjustment, climate control, wireless charging, cruise control, and the Parktronic active parking assist and reversing camera.

Next is the AMG Line with standard-fit 19-inch alloys, privacy glass, AMG bodystyling elements, sports seats in combination man-made leather and suede-like upholstery with front seat heating, LED headlights with auto high beam, 64 colour ambient lighting, the full infotainment suite and wireless phone charging and front and rear parking sensors. It also has a powered tailgate for added convenience.

Mercedes-Benz GLC AMG Line Premium models add more kit, with 20-inch alloy wheels, plus matrix beam Digital Lights that can shape their beam to the road and around other road users.

There's also heat and noise-insulating glass, illuminated door sills, keyless go and access, memory electric front seats, blind spot assist, a built-in dashcam, augmented reality navigation, a 360-degree camera system and Traffic Sign Assist. 

Stepping up to top-spec Mercedes-Benz GLC AMG Line Premium Plus brings 20-inch multi-spoke wheels, while the the Digital Light system gains a projection function that can display directions or instructions on the road. You also get a panoramic glass sunroof, four-zone climate control, a Burmester sound system with 13 speakers, a head-up display and full leather.

The AMG performance models come with 20- and 21-inch wheels for the GLC 43 and 63 respectively. There's also AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension, selectable drive modes, AMG body kit styling, privacy glass, rear axle steering for sharper handling, and panoramic glass sunroof.