Is The Mercedes GLC Expensive And Boring?

By Chris Ward, September 4, 2016

Mercedes really took their time developing and bringing to market a compact SUV model line. But now that it’s finally here, does it impress or fall a bit flat? Currently, the GLC is up against more established players from both Audi and BMW. The BMW X3 first hit our roads back in 2003. And since then, BMW put some serious effort into making the car more refined and more fun. Audi has gone down a slightly different route with the Q5. But the idea remains fundamentally the same: make a an appealing premium luxury compact SUV that has more appeal to suburbanites as much as exurbanites. So how does the GLC stack up? The GLC comes equipped with comfortable air sprung suspension. And the interior of the car is borrowed directly from the C-class. But what about the performance?

The new GLC Coupé is available in a total of eight model variants: customers can choose between four diesel and four petrol engines, including a plug-in hybrid as well as a powerful Mercedes-AMG model.

The entry-level models are the four-cylinder diesel-engined GLC 220 d and GLC 250 d 4MATIC coupé with outputs ranging from 125 kW (170 hp) to 150 kW (204 hp) as well as the four-cylinder petrol engined GLC 250 4MATIC coupé rated at 155 kW (211 hp). Market launch will be in the autumn with these engine line-ups. Further models will follow at the end of 2016. With the GLC 350 e 4MATIC Coupé, Mercedes-Benz also offers a plug-in hybrid that combines agile all-wheel drive with extremely low fuel consumption and exhaust emissions: with a top speed of 235 km/h, the mid-size SUV emits just 59‑64 g CO₂/km* with a system output of 235 kW (320 hp). The semi-electric vehicle can cover up to over 30 km in zero-emission all-electric mode, accelerating to 100 km/h in 5.9* seconds when needed, courtesy of the boost function.

For dynamically minded coupé fans, the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC Coupé is the right choice: this powerful top-of-the-line model comes with perfect on-road performance, dynamic styling and an attractive equipment package. The V6 biturbo engine puts out 270 kW (367 hp), accelerating the coupé to 100 km/h in less than 5* seconds.

www.youtube.com The hybrid powered model is surprisingly powerful. It can rocket you from 0 to 62 in 5.9 seconds. And what’s more, since it’s a hybrid, you avoid paying any road tax. Under normal conditions, the hybrid engine emits just 60g/km of CO2.

Most buyers, however, will opt for the more sensible diesel engines: the 250d and the 220d. And this is, unfortunately, where things start to get a little stale. The 250d – the more powerful of the two – takes 7.6 seconds to reach 62 mph. The 220d takes over 8.3 seconds and will only do 130 mph flat out. This means that, unlike its rivals, the mainstream GLC is not the performance choice. vimeo.com So where does the car really shine? Well, one notable area of success is safety. As auto accident injury lawsuit attorneys know, collisions can be dangerous. But Mercedes has a history of impressive safety innovation. For instance, they were the first manufacturer to introduce electronic stability control back in 1996.

en.wikipedia.org The GLC continues in Mercedes’ strong safety tradition. Drivers get Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Crosswind Assist, and Dynamic Cornering Assist. The new collision avoidance system is particularly impressive. It uses a radar that shoots out of the front of the car to detect stationary vehicles ahead. If the driver doesn’t manually apply the brakes, the autonomous system takes over. Mercedes says that the system helps mitigate the effects of rear-end collisions considerably. The new Crosswind Assist system is also a sensible choice for an SUV. Vehicles with high side panels are more susceptible to being buffeted by the wind. And so anything that can help drivers retain control in windy conditions is a plus. Is the GLC as exciting as the X3? Probably not, but the X3 in’t any more exciting either. You buy Mercedes to make a statement not because it is better than a Land Rover because the simple fact is it isn’t. So in the end the Mercedes GLC is both expensive and boring, perfect for Kesinginton & Chelsea.