Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 2024 Review

There are two versions of the 2024 Mercedes-GLC AMG 43 available in Australia – a conventional wagon-shaped SUV offering more boot space and priced from $136,400 plus on-road costs, along with the sleeker (but still five-door) ‘coupe’ body style priced $10,500 higher at $146,900 plus ORCs.

Given those prices have risen around $30,000 over the previous GLC 43, it’s a good thing the new model offers significantly improved equipment and performance levels to help justify the hikes.

Doubling the Mercedes-Benz GLC family from one derivative to two, as per the entry-level GLC 300 SUV and Coupe (priced from $103,370 and $113,900 plus ORCs respectively), the new GLC 43 will do battle with sizzling mid-size luxury SUVs from German brands, like the Audi SQ5 SUV and Sportback, BMW X3 and X4 M40i, and the Porsche Macan S.

Warranty provisions are fairly standard for a prestige car brand. The high-performance duo are covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and service intervals are very competitive at 12 months or 20,000km, whichever occurs first. Capped-price service plans can be pre-purchased for $4420, $5520 or $6245, covering three, four or five services respectively.

Compared to the vanilla-flavoured GLC 300, the stove-hot 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 brings a lot more equipment to the table, like bigger 20-inch alloy wheels, a racy AMG body kit and the obligatory ‘I’m faster than you’ AMG and turbo electrified badges.

Dual black chromed exhaust outlets add menace as part of the standard-fit AMG night package (the first time it has been fitted to an SUV), which adds a few other dark design elements. An AMG styling package is also standard, adding aero enhancements like front and rear flics, extra black cladding on the front apron and a rear diffuser panel under the rear bumper, all of which helps elevate the 43’s image above the GLC 300.

It’s not just cosmetic stuff that’s been significantly upgraded either, with bigger, stronger four-piston brake callipers gnashing 370mm ventilated brake discs up front and single-pot callipers biting 360mm discs at the rear.

There’s also an adjustable AMG exhaust system and a new rear-axle steering system designed to make it feel more stable at white-knuckle speeds and easier to park in built-up areas.

Look inside and there’s plenty of go-fast goodies too, starting with the Nappa leather-covered AMG ‘Performance’ steering wheel, complete with dual digital dials unique to AMG vehicles.

The Porsche-style twin performance toggles look and feel great, and they allow instant access to adjust performance systems such as the adaptive dampers, exhaust acoustics, steering heft, powertrain response and much more.

All models are fitted as standard with power-adjustable and heated sports seats upholstered in Nappa leather and featuring memory presets. There’s synthetic leather (Artico in Benz-speak) covering the instrument panel and door trims, while a power-operated panoramic glass sunroof is now standard for both body styles – something that wasn’t available on all coupe versions previously.

Also standard is a wireless phone charger, new-look twin digital screens, a large colour head-up display and the de rigueur Burmester audio system with 15 speakers and an ear-bleeding 710W power output.

Coupe models delete the roof rails on the more practical SUV version but metallic paint is standard for both.

Options? Just one. It’s called the Performance Ergonomic Package ($6900) and brings extravagant AMG Performance multi-contour front seats that add a massage function and adjustable side bolsters.

The pack also adds an upgraded AMG Performance steering wheel with microfibre (microcut in Merc lingo) sections added to the Nappa leather, along with the AMG Track Pack that adds 0-100km/h, quarter-mile and lap timing plus braking measurements.

Mercedes-Benz prides itself on having some of the world’s safest vehicles and the introduction of new safety systems for the fast-paced AMG GLC 43 continues that theme.

Among them are digital headlights that leverage ‘smart’ adaptive lighting technology by feeding intel from the car’s various sensors to interpret weather, road surface and traffic conditions and then adapt the light beams to suit changing conditions.

All the usual stuff is in there too, including nine airbags, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control and active lane keep assist. Those last two features are very effective and allow the driver to comfortable relax on highway and country roads as the car monitors its surroundings and keeps the vehicle on the straight and narrow.

They are part of the Driver Assistance Package Plus, which is the highest level of driver-assistance functionality available in the new GLC globally.

Traffic sign recognition enables real-time speed limit updates, which is good if you miss a sign due to robust conversation, and the rear cross traffic alert is very handy when reversing out of your driveway or tight car parks, where it can ‘see’ objects, vehicles or people before you do.

The latest Mercedes-Benz GLC was awarded a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating in 2022.

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 is a technological tour de force, leveraging its electrified turbo-petrol engine to go faster, its all-wheel drive and rear-axle steering system to turn quicker and its impressive digital interface to allow you to access all the goodies.

The aforementioned context-sensitive digital dials on the steering wheel are arguably one of the most intuitive and prompt ways to adjust the vehicle’s various chassis and powertrain systems, because they’re always within easy reach and always clear and concise about what parameters they can adjust.

A large head-up display almost negates the need for the (admittedly excellent and highly customisable) 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster tucked in behind the steering wheel, with loads of info displayed directly in the driver’s line of sight. It also features AMG-exclusive details, adding aggressive visuals and useful intel.

The big 11.9-inch central touch-screen is aligned vertically in portrait mode, looks fantastic and is easy to use. And the hard-coding of climate controls at the bottom of the screen is a nice touch. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work well with the system, plus there’s native sat-nav that’s worth using, given the augmented-reality navigation is both nice to look at and effective.

Wireless phone charging is of course standard, as are USB-C ports and even a fingerprint scanner for those who prefer to keep things locked down.

The ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice-command system work very well most of the time and can be used to open windows and the sunroof, not just plot navigation points and change the temperature.

The 3D surround-view parking system is also very good and should help owners avoid scratching up those gorgeous dual-tone 20-inch alloy wheels.

SUV and coupe versions of the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 have clear visual differences, but performance is common to both models as they share the M139L powertrain.

The feisty 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine belts out an impressive 310kW of power at 6750rpm, and boy does it like to rev. The substantial 500Nm of torque from 5000rpm may be 20Nm short of its V6 predecessor, but the downsized engine generates 23kW more power and makes the new 43 quicker to 100km/h by a tenth of a second, now taking just 4.8sec.

We undertook three acceleration runs using the awesome (read: super-simple) launch control system and managed two identical 5.01sec runs and a quicker 4.92sec time on the third run. Not too shabby.

AMG reckons the firecracker engine’s electric turbocharger is derived from its Formula 1 racer’s and the engine’s Affalterbach assembly process adheres to the ‘one man, one engine’ mantra of the German performance division.

It also has a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that delivers an extra 10kW of power to mask turbo lag at lower revs, and it does a good job hustling the almost two-tonne SUV along.

In full attack mode the engine feels unstoppable, revving eagerly to its 7000rpm redline and generating a sonorous – if obviously augmented – exhaust note. It’s doesn’t sound as buck wild as the old V6 with its rifle crack between gearshifts, but it farts and pops as it snaps through gears and certainly adds to the experience, grounding you in the moment with routine ease.

Power is transferred to all four wheels via a nine-speed AMG-designed MCT (multi-clutch technology) transmission, and the torque split is permanently locked in a 31:69 front-to-rear split – which is a good thing.

The AMG MCT transfers power to the wheels with aggressive efficiency when required and can downshift multiple times in succession with the rapidity of a Chuck Norris snapkick, thanks to a double declutching function that’s enabled in Sport and Sport+ modes.

At the other end of the scale, it also effects smooth and quiet shifts when just trundling around town at meandering speeds.

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 drinks less fuel and emits fewer CO2 than the outgoing V6 version, which was one of the key targets of AMG’s engineers.

The combined consumption figure is 9.7L/100km for the SUV and 9.9L/100km for the coupe, representing reductions of 0.7 and 0.5L/100km respectively, which ain’t too bad.

After a day in the saddle, however, we ended up with a figure of 15.5L/100km in the SUV, which we reckon isn’t too bad considering how hard (and often) we flogged it.

Checking the long-term efficiency number over 1600km showed fuel consumption of 10.8L/100km, which is probably closer to what most owners will see in daily driving with the sporadic backroad blast.

In one word, entertaining. The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 is a significantly more dextrous and agile machine than its predecessor, due in part to its reworked suspension and Bridgestone Potenza Sport tyres (265/45 front, 295/40 rear).

But the real game-changer is the rear-axle steering.

In a first for the GLC-Class, the AMG 43 can turn its rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front wheels below 100km/h, which sharpens front-end response and – together with a fast steering ratio, not to mention two thirds of torque directed to the rear axle – gives AMG’s latest SUV grin-inducing corner-carving capabilities.

Over 100km/h, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels, albeit to a much smaller degree, to improve high-speed stability. But it’s in tighter, sharper second-gear corners where the AMG GLC really shines.

Affalterbach’s chassis gurus have tuned the SUV in such a way to make this car feel very lively and eminently satisfying to drive hard.

The assertive way in which it tips into corners is compelling and there’s a new eagerness to how it tracks through corners, all of which makes the GLC 43 feel like it shrinks around you.

On damp roads it even gets a bit of rear-end wiggle under heavy acceleration mid-corner, although the chassis remains very progressive and communicative and never feels snappy or unpredictable.

Firm suspension means there’s not a lot of body lean when pumping through corners, where the sticky Bridgestone tyres generate impressively high levels of grip.

All this makes the GLC 43 feels less like a high-riding SUV and more like a genuine apex predator, and although brake pedal modulation is not quite as crisp as in some rivals, the AMG’s stopping power is fierce.

The paddle shifters have a solid click every time you request a new gear ratio and the fact they do actually provide full manual override is the icing on the cake. Rapid-fire shifts and a good deal of exhaust-note histrionics promote a desire to snick swiftly through gears manually more often than not.

In terms of everyday driveability, the GLC 43’s powertrain can be remarkably docile and the well-insulted interior means you don’t get too much engine, tyre or wind noise entering the cabin.

But some of shine comes off at slower speeds due to the vehicle’s firm ride.

Indeed, the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 is a stiffly-sprung beast, its steel coil springs with adaptive suspension (dubbed AMG Ride Control) allow every cat’s eye, freeway seam and manhole cover to be clearly felt through the seats.

It’s not unacceptably rigid and some road surface protuberances felt sharper than others, but when you buy a vehicle with an AMG badge on its snout, surely you know what you’re in for.

Mercedes-Benz has done a fabulous job of making occupants feel special inside the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43.

There is a forensic level of detail within the vehicle, from the leather-like upholstery with overt stitching across the dashboard and doors, to the supportive leather sports seats and absurdly chubby AMG steering wheel with its twin micro digi-screens that light up at night.

Even the way the central screen seems to hover below a trio of beautifully-designed air-vents appeals to the eye, and almost every major touchpoint has a high-quality feel.

It smells good too and the LED mood lighting adds an extra sense of pageantry at night.

And because the it’s a longer vehicle than before you get more boot space as well – up 40 and 45 litres in the SUV and coupe respectively, to 620 and 545L.

Front-seat occupants have it the best and, while there’s nothing wrong with regular leather-clad sports seats (except those with the lurid crimson finish), the AMG seats are just divine, offering more support and adjustability.

There’s ample rear-seat space for two adult passengers – three at a pinch – and overall there’s very little to complain about inside the GLC 43, which feels every bit a luxury car, with lots of soft-touch materials and high-quality finishes.

Perhaps a better question is, do you really need the new AMG GLC 63? Sure, the AMG GLC V8 is considerably quicker and has better brakes, but the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 has more performance than most drivers will ever want or need.

The interior is divine, it has an elegant-but-tough exterior design and more technology than a Silicon Valley startup.

But there are two counteracting factors here – the sometimes uncomfortably firm ride quality and the circa-$30,000 price rise over its predecessor.

On balance, however, the extra cash splash feels warranted, given how well-equipped the new model is and just how engaging and entertaining it can be to drive.

2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4Matic SUV at a glance:
Price: $136,400 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol mild-hybrid
Output: 310kW/500Nm (electric motor: 10kW)
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 219g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2022)