The Mercedes GLC is an excellent all-around family car, thanks to its blend of safety and comfort technology, practicality, and refinement, performance, and build quality. You don't need to worry too much about which trim level to pick because every GLC is well-stocked with equipment, but you do need to buy the right engine for your needs, and that's probably one of the excellent diesels or a GLC 300e plug-in hybrid. The Coupé is less practical than the SUV, but it still has all the space you're likely to need.
Mercedes was one of the first car companies to fully embrace the off-roader when it launched the legendary G-Wagen in 1979. These days, you could be forgiven for thinking that the car maker has become a purveyor of SUVs, big and small, within its range. Sitting in the middle of the lineup is the GLC, which arrived in Mk1 form in 2015, picking up where the GLK left off.
View Price on AmazonThe second-generation GLC reached US showrooms in October 2022, with a choice of 194 horsepower GLC 220d and 265 horsepower GLC 300d diesels, or the 254 horsepower petrol-engined GLC 300. All models had mild-hybrid tech and were soon followed by a couple of plug-in hybrids: the 309 horsepower GLC 300e and the 328 horsepower GLC 300de with petrol and diesel engines, respectively. All GLCs had a 2.0-liter engine, 4Matic four-wheel drive, and a nine-speed automatic transmission.
From July 2023, the GLC was available in Coupé form; within months, the 429 horsepower GLC 43 AMG and 671 horsepower GLC 63 AMG had joined the range, and within another few weeks, these were also available in coupé form. Fast forward to 2026, and the first electric GLC 400s will be delivered this summer, followed by the first GLC 53 AMGs, with a 443 horsepower 3.0-liter motor.
We'd opt for the more prosaic models, because the AMG editions don't feel special enough compared to the rest of the range, and they're too expensive for what they offer. Whether you go for an SUV or a Coupé is down to personal preference; both offer decent practicality, and values aren't very far apart.
As for trim levels, AMG Line is the entry-level model and has 19-inch alloy wheels, fake leather trim, an electric tailgate, ambient cabin lighting, electrically adjustable heated front seats with memory, dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, plus a rear camera, and navigation. AMG Line Premium adds digital headlights, acoustic glass, 20-inch wheels, keyless go, and four extra USB-C ports. The range-topping AMG Premium Plus also has an opening panoramic glass roof, four-zone climate, plus real leather.
Source: autoexpress.co.uk
