Always with four-wheel drive – always hybrid
The Mercedes GLC has not only been revised visually, the choice of engines is also new.
In September, the third generation of the Mercedes GLC will be available at dealerships. The mid-range SUV has grown by six centimeters and clearly stands out from its predecessor with a new front grille, new rear lights and modified body seams as well as other details. In addition, the 4Matic all-wheel drive is now standard.
The GLC will initially be offered with three combustion engines (GLC 200, GLC 300 and GLC 220 d). The four-cylinders are now all electrified – as mild hybrids, equipped with an integrated starter generator (ISG). This should improve consumption and thus CO2 values and improve driving dynamics. The drag coefficient improved from 0.31 to 0.29 also contributes to this.
At the end of the year, three plug-in hybrids (PHV) will complete the family, also in combination with two petrol engines and one diesel (GLC 300 e, 400 e and 300 de). An AMG version is also planned. And of course there will be the more elegant coupé version later.
The PHV battery of the SUV, internally known as the X 254, is larger and more powerful than its predecessor. With more than a doubling of the purely electric range to over 100 kilometers, everyday journeys should be managed purely electrically.
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“We have further increased the capacity of the two times 100 cells, primarily by achieving a slightly larger voltage range. For further improvement, more sensors come into play and the cells can recuperate even better than before,” explains the developer of the hybrid drive, Matthias Klöpfer. The manufacturer writes the battery management software itself.
Field assistants
With the changes, the GLC makes a big leap forward, especially when it comes to comfort and safety features. This is reflected in the optics. The new SUV has been stretched further, but the height and width have remained the same. Of the total of six centimetres, three benefit the trunk, which increases to 600 litres, an increase of 50 litres. With the rear seats folded down, a maximum of 1,640 liters can be loaded.
Nice thing: the easy-to-remove trunk roller blind can be placed in a recess in the underbody of the trunk in the mild hybrid if required. With the PHV, there is less space because of the battery, and the luggage compartment still holds 460 liters. The wheelbase grew by 1.5 centimeters, which primarily benefits the rear.
In terms of equipment levels, there will be the Avantgarde line as standard or the AMG line for an extra charge. The GLC should be an all-round vehicle for all mobile situations. In the future, the GLC driver will be able to maneuver more easily with the optional rear-axle steering, which reduces the turning circle on the rear axle by around 90 centimeters to 10.90 meters thanks to a steering angle of up to 4.5 degrees. The rear-axle steering is always linked to air suspension and level control.
Ready for a trip
Off-road, the new Mercedes GLC is anything but helpless.
grown in length
The mid-range SUV has grown by 6 centimeters and clearly stands out from its predecessor with a new front grille, new rear lights and modified body seams as well as other details.
For those who want to go off-road with their expensive GLC, the all-wheel drive vehicle has what is known as a “transparent bonnet” as a novelty: a 360-degree camera shows on the central display where the vehicle is heading. Large rocks, deep potholes or even a preview of what is to come beyond the horizon on steep inclines can be viewed virtually in advance at speeds of up to 8 km/h and the journey can be adjusted accordingly. The new safety feature also shows the front wheels and their steering position.
The infotainment MBUX is now even more digital and intelligent, according to the manufacturer. Gone are the days of round instruments. They had to give way to a high-resolution LCD screen. The central display above the center console is slightly inclined towards the driver, elegantly integrated into the center console and easy to control – either as a touchscreen or using the well-known ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice control.
Interior overview
The infotainment MBUX is now even more digital and intelligent, according to the manufacturer.
At the height of the time
With the changes, the GLC makes a big leap forward, especially when it comes to comfort and safety features.
Everywhere has been refined, the vehicle now recognizes, for example, the type of trailer with its axle load and recommends the most suitable route based on this. The whopping 64 possible ambience color variations are new and more gimmick than useful. For the new GLC, its owner will have to shell out around 6,000 euros more in future, even in the basic model. This will start at well over 50,000 euros. However, Mercedes-Benz has not yet given exact prices.
According to the Swabians, the jump in price can be explained by more standard equipment. Above all, things that would be ordered by most buyers anyway, were taken over from the now significantly shortened option list in the series. But the idea of winning probably also played a not inconsiderable role…
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