Mercedes GLC is brand’s best-selling SUV in the UK and new version is due later this year
- New GLC due on sale in September
- Plug-in hybrid model will have more range
- Styling previewed in our exclusive image
A new Mercedes GLC SUV is in development and is set to be launched in the autumn. The GLC is an important car for the brand – SUVs made up 49% of Mercedes’ sales in 2021 – and it’s expected that the next-generation model will play host to the firm’s latest infotainment and electrification technology. You can read our review of a prototype version of the new GLC at the bottom of this page.
Inside, the interior will share many parts with the latest Mercedes C-Class, the car on which the GLC is based. There’ll be a large portrait touchscreen taking up most of the centre console, resembling a freestanding tablet device. All models will also get a crisp digital instrument cluster, while AMG Line models will be fitted with a smart six-spoke steering wheel.
By using the same platform as the latest C-Class, the GLC has improved practicality, with the 600-litre boot around 50 litres bigger than its predecessor’s. The rear seats are more spacious, too.
The new GLC will borrow from the Mercedes S-Class in terms of look and feel, despite costing half the price. Mercedes will hope that helps sway buyers away from rivals like the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Lexus NX. The GLC won’t be short of competitors, with other cars like the Alfa Romeo Stelvio and Jaguar F-Pace also vying for the business of customers looking for upmarket SUVs.
The GLC should benefit from increased electrified options. Nearly all petrol and diesel models will feature 48-volt mild-hybrid technology with an integrated starter-generator, and the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models will feature a greater electric range than the current ones. A bigger 23kWh battery is fitted in the new car – up from 13.5kWh in the current model – which will enable an electric range of up to 62 miles. Mercedes should keep its lineup of petrol and diesel-engined PHEVs; it’s the only manufacturer to offer a diesel plug-in hybrid.
Mercedes is planning to introduce a raft of new models in the next couple of years, with everything from convertibles and off-roaders to MPVs and ultra-luxurious cars planned. Many of these will be electric, although the next GLC will still be on a platform that can only support limited electrification.
Mercedes GLC prototype review
Diesel still has a place in the Mercedes GLC, but sometimes you wouldn’t know the engine is there at all. That’s partly due to the effectiveness of the 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, which allows the engine to smoothly cut out to allow the car to coast on electric power alone. Additional sound proofing and the availability of double glazing further helps the car feel serene on the move.
Comfort was the order of the days with the last GLC majored on comfort, and it looks like the new one will continue that trend. However, the new car also adds extra agility to the mix, with less body roll and a greater feeling of stability than the original.
In fact, stability was a key focus of the car’s development, which has led to rear-wheel steering being offered for the first time on the GLC. The rear wheels turn up to 4.5 degrees – in the opposite direction to the fronts at low speeds, and face the same way at higher speeds. This not only allows a sharper turn-in in tight corners and greater manoeuvrability around town, it delivers more security in high speed corners.
Keyword: New 2022 Mercedes GLC SUV: latest details and prototype review