Mercedes-Benz GLC (2023) First Drive Review

The enhanced Mercedes-Benz GLC, the brand’s bestselling passenger vehicle on a global scale, rolled into Cape Town this week. The C-Class-based SUV has also been a massive success in the local market and is one of the most coveted cars in the Mercedes product portfolio. We drove the latest model to see what's new and improved.

Styling

There’s no mistaking the GLC for anything else than a Mercedes-Benz SUV. Typical of Merc’s ‘sensual purity’ design theme, the GLC’s body has a stretched surface design with sharply angled edges. Aerodynamic improvements have also been made for a minimal drag coefficient of only 0.29, making the GLC a roomy and practical, yet efficient family vehicle.

The GLC can be had in one of two trim lines: The basic AVANTGARDE model line exterior (as standard) or AMG Line, which will add nearly R83 000 more to the price.

The chrome under guard and chrome window trim form part of the AVANTGARDE exterior package (see image above) and accentuate the GLC’s curves and proportions.

The new radiator grille on the AVANTGARDE exterior package features a chrome surround and a sporty louvre in matt grey with chrome trim. The GLC’s headlamps now connect directly to the grille to emphasise the vehicle’s width.

The radiator grille on the AMG Line variant (as seen on our red test model, above) features the striking Mercedes-Benz pattern. I would probably spend that extra money just so I could have a GLC with that grille!

Viewed from the rear, the new double-section taillights highlight the GLC’s wide athletic backside with their three-dimensional inner design. AMG Line models can be had with body-coloured wheel-arch liners and the Night package, of which both were fitted to our test car. The running boards can be specified on any model.

What’s the interior like?

The most notable feature in the cabin is the 30.2 cm central display that rises from the middle console. Its surface is slightly angled towards the driver for excellent visibility even in sunny conditions.

The circular, aircraft-inspired air vents on either sides (and on top) of the the wing-like dashboard feel upmarket to the touch – even more so than the ones in the Mercedes EQS I recently drove. Our AMG Line model had stunning AMG-specific carbon fibre inserts (R19 200) under a glossy layer for a dazzling 3D effect.

Another 31.2 cm, high-resolution LCD screen replaces the traditional instrument binnacle in front of the driver. The graphics on both screens are crystal clear and there are many different views to choose from – our choice was that of the satnav, as we had to follow a certain route.

According to the German automaker, the equipment packages have now been simplified and bundled together based on what consumers choose when they specify their cars, so it’s less complicated when you start ticking those boxes. Mercedes-Benz says over R250 000 worth of new standard kit has been added to the 2023 model, such as the large displays and smaller items like wireless charging.

My favourite new feature in the Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-EQ models of late is the augmented reality navigation (see below) that integrates real-time camera images with GPS data. This allows the driver and front passenger to see an overlay of navigation instructions directly on the central touchscreen screen ahead. This technology provides exact turn-by-turn guidance, displaying animated arrows that carefully guide drivers through the correct route. You will never miss another turn-off again! This was also present in our test car and will cost you R 8 073 on its own.

(Configure away on the Mercedes-Benz SA website here.)

Space and practicality

In order to make more space for rear passengers, it looks as though Mercedes-Benz has made the front section a little more compact (or perhaps it’s just a design flaw?) and unfortunately the centre console design, more specifically the front console where you place down your phone for charging (a standard feature) is not so user friendly, especially if you have larger hands and forearms (the interior below belongs to a GLC in AVANTGARDE trim).

You basically have to insert your phone deeply into the binnacle to reach the charging pad, which is a little finicky. On the upside, Mercedes went wild with USB-C ports and there are more ports in the cabin than there will ever be passengers on board.

Those on the rear bench will have ample legroom and their own air-vents, and the boot is huge. It’s also shaped in such a way to maximise space and to reduce strain on your back when lifting heavy items into it – there’s no loading lip and thanks to the car’s ground clearance, you may even cut down on visits to the chiropractor.

Driving the GLC

The 300d in AMG Line trim proved to be a treat – it’s decidedly sporty, and the power coming from the normal four-cylinder turbodiesel is impressive, considering it’s only a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder powerplant. A significant difference is made by the 48-Volt electrical system (including an integrated starter-generator) aboard all GLCs which helps with energy recuperation (and leads to fuel savings), as well as an added overboost function (for 17kW and 200Nm of extra power) and a ‘gliding’ functionality which allows for driving on battery power alone at low speeds.

I was quite surprised when I prompted the MBUX system for fuel economy figures (“Hey Mercedes, show me my fuel consumption please”), and the central display showed only 7.3 litres per 100 km – even in our preferred Sport mode and later the Comfort setting. If you switch to Sport mode, Mercedes has added some lovely sound effects to make the engine growl a little when you ‘put foot’.

All GLCs are equipped with a new four-link suspension at the front and a multi-link independent rear suspension (with amplitude-dependant damping), mounted to a subframe. If you want to take it a step further,  you can specify the R57 753 Engineering package with AIRMATIC air suspension that includes level control and rear-axle steering. The latter will assist with parking and manoeuvring your way out of tight spots, as it makes the car’s turning circle smaller.

When you take your GLC off-road, the AIRMATIC suspension will be equally useful, offering high ground clearance (despite a heavy load) and long suspension travel as well as excellent grip from the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system which is standard on all models.

Active Parking Assist with PARKTRONIC (automated parking thanks to sensors and cameras all around the car) is also available as an optional extra, along with many, many other clever and useful bells and whistles.

Other engine options include the GLC 220d and the GLC 300 (see the spec sheet at the bottom of this page for their respective power figures) and power is driven to all four wheels via Merc’s sublime 9G-Tronic transmission.

Off-road capabilities

When the first GLCs launched in Namibia a few years ago, the cars didn’t do too well in the rough, sandy, rocky terrain – not that any GLC owner was ever going to take their prized possession that deeply into the dunes anyway, regardless of the brand’s claim that the GLC has been “explicitly designed for off-road driving” from the start.

But, it seems that 2023’s model has quite a few bundu-bashing tricks up its sleeve, such as a ‘transparent bonnet’ that displays whatever is under the car in the central touchscreen, helping the driver to avoid obstacles in time, as well as key information such as the current position of the car, and steering angles of the wheels. The driver’s display will then also show topographical altitude, geo-coordinates, a compass, inclination, gradient, as well as road and engine speed (when not in EV mode).

Unfortunately our route didn’t involve any off-the-beaten track sections, but go check it out on the Mercedes-Benz website to learn how it works.

Specs and pricing

The GLC will have its work cut out, especially since the Q5 Sportback 40TDi quattro S line is more affordable (the Audi has a starting price of R1 106 100), while the X3 xDrive 20d M Sport will set you back “only” R1 105 394 – but what’s a R100k if you have this kind of cash for a car?

*Pricing includes a 5-year/100,000 km PremiumDrive Platinum service and maintenance plan, as well as  CO₂ tax. **Excludes CO₂ tax.

Verdict

Even though the GLC is a mid-range offering, the amount and calibre of technology on board the GLC that has filtered down from the upper echelons of the Mercedes stables, seem to lift it considerably higher up the pecking order. In the same breath, with a starting price of R1, 211, 220 for the entry-level model, one should certainly hope so. Mercedes-fans have plenty to look forward to!

ENDS

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