The Mercedes-Benz GLC is a luxury SUV that offers a blend of performance, comfort, and technology. It’s the perfect car for those who want a vehicle that can handle anything, from daily commutes to weekend road trips.The highly anticipated second-generation Mercedes-Benz GLC, or third if you count the GLK, has finally made its way to the Indian market. After its international debut in July last year, it’s safe to say that the GLC has been long-awaited. In the financial year 2022, the GLC secured its place as Mercedes-Benz India’s best-selling SUV. However, in FY23, sales took a hit, plummeting by over 30 percent due to unavailability in the last quarter of 2022. So, can the new GLC regain its lost ground? Let’s dive into what this revamped star has to offer.
Here are some of the things that make the Mercedes-Benz GLC a great choice for drivers:
- Performance: The GLC is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged engine that produces 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. This engine gives the GLC plenty of power for passing and merging on the highway. The GLC also comes standard with rear-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available.
- Comfort: The GLC’s interior is spacious and luxurious. The seats are comfortable and supportive, and the cabin is quiet and well-insulated. The GLC also comes standard with a variety of features that make it a comfortable ride, such as heated and ventilated seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a Burmester sound system.
- Technology: The GLC is packed with technology features. The standard MBUX infotainment system features a 10.25-inch touchscreen display and a touchpad controller. The GLC also comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.
If you’re looking for a luxury SUV that offers a great balance of performance, comfort, and technology, the Mercedes-Benz GLC is a great option.
Mercedes-Benz GLC Platform and Design
The new GLC is built on Mercedes’ MRA platform, specifically the MRA II iteration. Its styling continues the evolution of its predecessor, with a focus on understated elegance rather than flashy flamboyance. The body design is more aerodynamic, boasting a drag coefficient of 0.29 compared to the previous model’s 0.31.
- Front-End Elegance: LED headlights are now seamlessly integrated into the grille, adorned with the iconic three-pointed star and a horizontal bar splitting the grille.
- Sleek Profile: The overall profile maintains the graceful lines of the previous model, with the glasshouse gently sloping beyond the C pillar.
- Smart Alloy Wheels: Notably, the 19-inch, 5-spoke alloys on the test car exude a smart and appealing look.
- Rear Styling: The rear lights adopt a horizontal orientation, with LED units tapering inward and connecting to a central bar on the tailgate. Mercedes bucks the trend with a non-illuminated central bar and a chrome-trimmed rear bumper.
Mercedes-Benz GLC Dimensions and Interior Space
Thankfully, the GLC’s size remains within the comfortable range for its class. It has a height of 1,640mm, a width of 1,890mm (unchanged), and a length of 4,716mm (60mm longer than the previous model). The wheelbase has increased by 15mm to 2,888mm. As a result, the GLC’s cabin remains spacious, offering ample head and legroom. The rear seats can be flipped forward to expand the cargo space to an impressive 1,250 litres.
Mercedes-Benz GLC Interior and Features
Upon entering the GLC, you’ll notice a redesigned interior that’s distinctly modern. While some elements like the central AC vents and the 3-spoke steering wheel retain a familiar feel, the overall design is fresh and reminiscent of the new C-Class.
- Elegant Dashboard: The dashboard features a pinstripe pattern with a matte dark wood insert, lending a neat and contemporary look.
- Intuitive Infotainment: The infotainment controls, now integrated into a floating touchscreen tilted towards the driver, free up space for additional storage, including cupholders and a wireless charging pad.
- Digital Transformation: The GLC boasts extensive digitized controls, with the new MBUX infotainment system at the helm. It includes features like a fingerprint reader, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, natural voice recognition, and dual large displays (12.3-inch instrument panel and 11.9-inch central touchscreen).
Mercedes-Benz GLC Engine and Gearbox
Under the hood, the GLC impresses with 4-cylinder engines that are all hybridized, either through a 48V mild hybrid or a plug-in hybrid system. All models come with all-wheel drive and a 9-speed automatic transmission. For India, two mild hybrid powertrains are available: the petrol 300 4Matic and the diesel 220d 4Matic.
- Punchy Petrol: The 2.0-litre petrol engine produces 258hp and 400Nm of torque, with an additional 23hp and 200Nm boost from the hybrid system’s integrated starter generator (ISG). It offers strong and linear power delivery, effectively masking potential turbo-lag.
- Diesel Efficiency: The 2.0-litre diesel engine generates 197hp and 440Nm of torque, with the same hybrid boost. It provides a good balance of power and efficiency.
Mercedes-Benz GLC Ride and Handling
The GLC shines in the handling department, with a steering system that offers sporty weight and response. While the ride is firm, even in Sport mode, it remains comfortable. The body roll is well-controlled, and the overall grip is commendable, making for an enjoyable driving experience.
Mercedes-Benz GLC Price and Verdict
In India, the second-gen GLC is priced at Rs 73.5 lakh for the petrol and Rs 74.5 lakh for the diesel, positioning it slightly above its German counterparts and other rivals. Despite a firm ride and less-than-plush seats, the GLC presents a well-rounded package. With its appealing style, spacious interior, and confident performance, it’s poised to make a strong comeback in Mercedes’ SUV lineup. The new GLC seems ready to reclaim its throne.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC is a popular luxury SUV in the Indian market. Earlier iterations of the vehicle were well received, carving out a dedicated fanbase for itself. As such, the GLC 2023, has its work cut out. While it had to live up to the expectations built up by the earlier model, it also had the task of enticing more customers who may still be on the fence. We drove the GLC on open highways and across some rocky off-road conditions to test out its tech-driven experience, and here is what we found.
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Design
Staying with the current aesthetics of the Mercedes lineup, the GLC comes with a neat and classy-looking dashboard. The vehicle’s interiors, inspired by the S-Class, make quite an impression with its lavish use of leather and clever angling of the central display, which is tilted towards the driver seat for ease of use.
The positioning of the central display is spot-on, and while the angle of the screen’s tilt is obvious when viewed from the front-passenger seat, it does not hinder usability for the front passenger.
Below the 11.9-inch display, users will find themself navigating a familiar layout, right below the screen users will find the haptic controls for drive select, and parking camera assist, along with the fingerprint scanner, display power button, and volume controls.
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The positioning of the central display in the new Mercedes-Benz GLC is spot-on. | Photo Credit: Nabeel Ahmed
The wireless charging pad is tucked neatly within the central console with two USB-C ports next to it. Access to the charging pad could have been better, however, it does do a good job of securing smartphones during enthusiastic drives.
The 12.3-inch LCD driver display is also a familiar place. It is well positioned, and whether you are someone who prefers a high or a low driving position, the driver display with its good viewing angles, and vibrant colours should be easy to live with.
In line with its approach of offering all-touch controls on its luxury offerings, all the control in the vehicle, including the climate control settings are touch-based. And while these controls may not be easy to navigate while driving, the addition of good haptic feedback helps to some extent.
The GLC is a vehicle most users will experience from behind the steering, keeping this in mind, Mercedes has opted to keep the back seat fairly simple. While the rear seats do get a pair of USB-C ports, they are tucked away below the AC vents. The ports are illuminated, and reaching them is easy enough.
Centrální displej
The central display in the new GLC runs on Mercedes’ latest MBUX: NTG7 software that promises improved performance along with a well-designed and easy-to-navigate interface. The screen itself is vibrant with good visibility. It houses all the major controls and settings for the vehicle including settings for the ADAS features; the active lane keep assists, blind spot assist, and braking assist. While lane assist and blind spot detection are great features to have, the proximity sensors on the vehicle can get agitated when driving through narrow bustling streets.
The transparent bonnet feature comes in handy when maneuvering the vehicle through tight spots. | Photo Credit: Nabeel Ahmed
One of the key upgrades on the 2023 GLC is the introduction of the transparent bonnet feature. It presents the underbody video feed of the vehicle using a range of sensors and cameras. The feature works well in off-road scenarios, ensuring the vehicle’s underbody is safe from rocks, it also comes in handy when maneuvering the vehicle through tight spots in parking and urban areas. The feature, however, is available only when the vehicle is driven at speeds up to 8 km/hr.
Driver display and steering-mounted controls
The 12.3-inch LCD driver display is also easy to use. The display setup can be changed on the go using the haptic buttons on the right side of the steering wheel. The driver’s display gets four setups, each suited for different kinds of driving experiences. We especially liked the layout of the off-road mode that displays important information like the angle of incline, compass, and power consumption.
Controls on the right side of the steering wheel can be used to navigate through the menus of the central display. While the steering mounted controls have a familiar layout with good haptic feedback, getting used to the host of functionality their offer may get some getting used to.
Mercedes Me app and voice controls
The Mercedes Me app, the bedrock of the company’s connected car features, still struggles to provide the same luxury and convenience the vehicle offers. During our test drive, the app, though connected, was unable to perform most functions. As such the app is best used to check the status of the vehicle when handing it to a valet and keeping track of the service schedule.
Screenshots of the Mercedes Me app user interface. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Mercedes seems to be doubling down the use of voice commands for its vehicles. While the “Hey Mercedes” command to activate the assistant has become more responsive over time, it is yet to reach the levels of sophistication and ease of use offered by Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri. The assistant can perform basic functions like lowering the cabin temperature, and increasing the audio volume but struggles when asked to perform more complicated tasks like bringing up the navigation or suggesting the best route for a destination.
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Maps on the MBUX are still to catch up with Google and Apple maps. They still miss out on updated roadways in some parts of the country. As such we would not recommend depending on just the MBUX navigation when exploring areas outside city limits.
The vehicle also gets a two-stage air filter capable of detecting NOx, CO, and PM 2.5. The air quality index is reflected on the central display and judging by the numbers we saw driving across dusty patches; the air energizing function works really well.
Verdikt
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 2023 does a fine job of cleverly using tech to provide an enviable driving experience. The vehicle is equipped with cleverly designed tech which makes a choice for enthusiasts as well as drivers looking to hone their off-roading skills from within the cabin of a luxury SUV. The transparent bonnet in particular makes this vehicle a good choice for people looking for a compact luxury SUV that can be driven in off-road conditions.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC (2023) is priced at ₹ 73.5 lakhs.
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