What do you get when you take one of the best selling luxury sedans on the market and adapt it for one of the hottest car segments? The answer is the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLC, a mid-sized luxury SUV that shares much of it's DNA with the C-Class and is certain to be a great seller for the brand.
Mid-sized SUV’s are some of the most popular car styles around these days and the segment is both competitive and profitable. Since 2008, Mercedes-Benz has been well-represented by the GLK model, which had its fair share of success. But since its launch, the competition from other manufacturers has intensified, and in response the automaker has now unveiled an all-new model with an all-new, and arguably, more modern and stylish look.
The solid, squarish lines of the GLK have been replaced by an exterior that is more rounded, smooth and sleek. A contoured bonnet, subtle crease under the beltline, sloping roofline and stylish tail, all complement the very impressive front end, featuring dual chrome strips surrounding the 3-pointed star. Add to this the nicely integrated LED headlamps and some bold front-side air intakes, and you have a vehicle that is pleasing to the eye from every angle.
Given its close relationship with the C-Class sedan, it’s perhaps not surprising that the interior is very similar, and this is certainly not something to complain about, as it is very well designed with high quality materials all around. The horizontal lines of the dash are bisected by a broad, sloping centre console and centre stack, which curves gracefully down from a trio of circular air vents to the high tech looking bezel and touchpad used to control the COMAND infotainment system. Perched atop of the centre stack is 7-inch LCD screen as seen in the C-Class. And our test drive model featured a very elegant black open-pore ash wood finish trim.
The driver’s instruments are set within two sporty semi-cylindrical tubes behind the stylish multi-function steering wheel. Cleverly, the speakers for the optional Burmester surround sound system have been positioned high up on the doors allowing lots of room for large bottles in the lower door storage compartments.
The GLC is slightly wider and longer than the C-Class and the roofline is higher too, so there is an overall feeling of spaciousness throughout. Tall passengers will be comfortable in the rear seats, and the panoramic sliding sunroof allows lots of natural light for a very airy feel.
The rear bench has a 40/20/40 split and can be folded down flat, expanding the boot space from 550 litres to 1,600 litres, which is actually 90 litres more than the C-Class Estate. The EASY-PACK tailgate can be opened and closed by the driver with the simple touch of a button.
Despite its extra size, the GLC is about 80kg lighter than its GLK predecessor, weighing in at 1,735kg. It is thrust forward by a powerful yet efficient 2.0-litre turbocharged in-line 4-cyclinder engine in the GLC 250, with 211hp and 350Nm of torque from 1,200rpm to 4,000rpm. Zero to 100 comes in at a respectable 7.3 seconds, and Mercedes-Benz claims combined fuel consumption of 7.1 litres /100km.
The engine is paired with a new nine speed G-TRONIC gearbox, which adds an extra two ratios from the C-Class.
The GLC comes with Mercedes-Benz’s DYNAMIC SELECT which offers five different driving modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and an Individual program. Each modes gives a different on road feel to the car by adjusting the steering effort, throttle response and gear shift points. Not surprisingly, Sport and Sport+ are certainly the most entertaining, with some real torque and road feel through the steering wheel, but for normal Macau driving Comfort and Eco will be the sensible options.
For an even more comfortable ride you can go for the optional AIR BODY CONTROL air suspension. Meanwhile the 4MATIC permanent all-wheel-drive system has been reengineered for the GLC with a 45/55 front-to-rear torque split giving great grip and confidence when cornering. The electric-assisted steering is light and easy around town, yet precise and very nicely weighted for highway driving.
Standard safety equipment includes the Brake Assist System and Electronic Stability Program as well as nine airbags. The Driver Assistance Package PLUS adds a host of other safety features including Active Lane Keeping Assist and Active Blind Spot Assist. A particularly useful system in Macau is the DISTRONIC PLUS proximity control which helps to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead in start-stop traffic, and COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST which initiates partial braking to avoid collisions.
In Macau, the GLC comes with a good deal of standard tech including keyless entry, electrically adjustable seats with memory, THERMATIC climate control, a reversing camera and PARKTRONIC parking assist, which automatically steers the vehicle into perpendicular and parallel parking spaces.
With the GLC, Mercedes-Benz has definitely stepped into the SUV ring swinging some solid punches that could very well put the competition on the back foot. The automaker may have taken a little longer than others to get here, but now that they are, its combination of style, comfort, practicality, luxury and performance could very likely make the GLC one of the biggest selling models in the Mercedes-Benz stable.
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