A BIGGER C CHANGE (some text hidden) SECTIONED_new_mercedesglc_2023

By Jonathan Crouch

In second generation form, the Mercedes GLC promises to be an even more tempting proposition in the upper mid-sized premium SUV segment. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 66

The GLC brings a bit of Mercedes polish to the premium part of the upper mid-sized SUV segment and this second generation model is a significant step forward from the original. The whole of the mainstream engine range has been electrified and infotainment media connectivity has taken an equally large step forward. Plus efficiency, refinement and build quality represent other strongpoints. It's a very complete package.

Backgroundword count: 155

The GLC has been quite a success story for Mercedes. This model line didn't even exist until 2015. Since then, more than 2.6 million of them have been sold and in 2021, the 'X253'-series MK1 version's last full year on sale, over 270,000 GLCs found new owners globally; enough to surpass the C-Class and make this model the brand's overall best seller. So you can understand the high expectations in Stuttgart for the successor 'X254'-series design, which like its predecessor shares an awful lot with its C-Class showroom stablemate. This time, the GLC is bigger, all the engines are electrified and, like the 'C', there's a completely redesigned cabin that sets fresh segment standards. There's the same MRA steel and aluminium platform as the C-Class. This GLC is built in the brand's flagship Sindelfingen factory and is described by the company 'as the most important car in our line-up'. Time to brief you on it.

Driving Experienceword count: 392

What are your expectations in terms of driving a premium upper-sized mid-level luxury SUV? A reasonably commandingly and luxurious seating position? Plenty of pulling power? Impressive refinement? As before, the GLC delivers all of these things. We're a little disappointed that it remains somewhat disengaging to drive, plus ride quality is on the firm side and can't be embellished with the AIRMATIC air suspension system that Mercedes offers in other markets. On the plus side though, lie exceptional refinement and un-bettered autonomous drive tech, if that's what you're into. There's even an 'Off Road' drive mode for rougher tracks, though we doubt many owners will ever use it. Most significant is the news that this MK2 model gets a completely revitalised range of engines, which in the mainstream part of the range now have 48V 'EQ Boost' mild hybrid tech in their diesel forms as well as their petrol ones. With every single variant in this second generation line-up, you'll find a 2.0-litre four cylinder powerplant beneath the bonnet mated to a 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic gearbox and 4MATIC 4WD. Despite prevailing market trends, for the time being at least, most GLCs will continue to sold in diesel form - probably in base 194hp 220 d guise or possibly in uprated 266hp 300 d form. The single conventional GLC 300 petrol derivative has 254hp and if that's not fast enough, then you'll want to know that the same 48V 2.0-litre mild hybrid petrol engine makes a further appearance tuned up to 402hp in the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC+ model. The other versions in the range are all Plug-in Hybrids. The two mainstream PHEV variants take the 2.0-litre petrol and diesel engines we've just referenced and mate them to a 134hp electric motor, creating what look on paper to be quite prodigious levels of combined output - 308hp for the '300 e' petrol model we tried and 335hp for its unique-in-class '300 de' diesel stablemate. In each case, the electric motor is now powered by a much bigger 31.2kWh battery, which officially means you get up to 80 miles of driving range from an 11kW AC two and a half hour charge. The top Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S variant is also a PHEV, but a very different kind of one, tuned more for performance than efficiency but with a 2.0-litre petrol powertrain developing 671hp.

To see the full road test text contact us on 0330 0020 227