Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S 2018 Review

About face

Uh-oh, now this is a problem. I really like the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S 4MATIC+.

Why is that a problem? Well, I’ve been driving performance SUVs from AMG, BMW M, Jeep and others for years and they’ve virtually all (the Porsche Macan gets a pass) suffered from the same fundamental issue – too much weight, height and power combine to make something that’s too cumbersome and too fast.

It made them easy to criticise and deliver a good kicking to (journos like nothing better). They were obvious examples of profit motive defeating good sense.

Now along comes the GLC 63 and what do you know? It works.

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What’s it all about?

We’ve given you a fair old run-through on AMG’s latest V8 SUV already. Pricing and basic technical and equipments details were revealed almost 12 months ago, the de rigueur Edition 1 confirmed for Australia in November and around the same time my colleague Andrea Matthews had a brief drive on wet German roads.

But here’s the essentials reprised. Based on the mainstream GLC SUV, the 63 comes as both five-door wagon and ‘coupe’. Stuffed under the bonnet is a 375kW/700Nm version of AMG’s M177 ‘hot vee’ twin-turbo 4.0-litre petrol V8.

It drives all four wheels via AMG’s wet-clutch Speedshift MCT nine-speed automatic, which debuted in the E63 S. The AWD system is permanent and fully variable, but does not have the E 63’s ability to lock in rear-drive and spin ’em up.

As there is only 10kg weight difference between wagon (2010kg) and coupe (2020kg), the set-up of the multi-chamber air-springs and adjustable dampers is identical.

The final connection to the road is via composite brakes (390x36mm discs up front), an electronically controlled limited-slip rear diff and staggered 21-inch rubber (Michelin Pilot Sports in this case). The AMGs track widths are marginally wider front and rear than the standard GLC.

Another number worth remembering? The wagon has 550 litres of luggage capacity versus 500 for the coupe (before folding the rear seats). To the naked eye it looks like the difference is more significant.

The other number people will pay attention to? The claimed 3.8sec 0-100km/h time (there is a ‘Race Start’ function to help you achieve that), which is slightly quicker than the rear-drive C 63s.

Few who buy the GLC AMG will care about the 10.9L/100km fuel consumption claim (good luck achieving that!).

Oh yeah, dollars. The wagon costs $164,900, the coupe $171,900. Locally, Benz expects the wagon to claim about 65 per cent of sales across the two models.

So, logical competition? The Porsche Macan Turbo, the supercharged Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk and the forthcoming Jaguar F-PACE SVR are obvious rivals. There’s definitely a comparo brewing!

Standard equipment is identical, so that means you get a package of driver assist systems that will autonomously drive the GLC 63 down the road, as long as you put your hands on the steering wheel every 15 seconds or so. Mind you, it’s a far from perfect system so be prepared to steer!

Other safety aids include parking pilot with a 360-degree camera, an active bonnet, nine airbags, tyre pressure monitoring and a head-up display.

Luxury items include Nappa leather trim, a 13-speaker Burmester sound system, the choice of hard-shell or slightly more plush sports fronts seats, a digital TV tuner and three-zone climate-control.

There’s no spare tyre, but there is a bunch of AMG-specific styling touches, led by the Panamericana grille which continues its spread from the GT models to other AMGs.

There’s also a specific AMG steering wheel and instrument cluster, including race timer. Importantly, the AMG sports exhaust is standard.

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Drive-time!

With their big grilles, big wheels and body adornments including cladding, front splitter and rear diffuser, both the wagon and coupe look the business. And, as already noted, they can walk the walk as well as talk the talk.

At its core, the GLC rides on Benz’s flexible rear/all-wheel drive architecture dubbed MRA that’s also used by the C-Class and E-Class, but not (yet) its own bigger and older brothers, the GLE and GLS SUVs.

And the difference really shows. The GLC handles and steers far better than those two big bruisers. It feels manageable and pliable and does not want to topple over when stuck into a corner.

Adding air springs and all-wheel drive to the mix makes it a more comfortable and less edgy car than the C 63s, with their orthodox steel springs and rear-wheel drive. Ultimately, they are faster, but not as comfortable.

That was something emphasised by the lumpy and wet roads used for the central Victorian launch test route. For the life of me, after driving the GLC 63, I could think of no reason why I would prefer a C 63 S wagon. The SUV is way more livable day-to-day.

Not everyone will feel that way. I get the hard-core nature of the C 63 S and couldn’t imagine someone cross-shopping the coupe against the GLC. I could see them both in the same garage though…

Like all AMGs, you can tailor your driving experience via Dynamic Select to suit your needs. You can adjust engine, transmission, suspension, steering, stability control and all-wheel drive through Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Race modes, as well as pick and choose in Individual.

The differences are most easily felt in the suspension and steering, which heavy up more the more aggressive you go.

In Comfort mode you could live with this vehicle as a commuter. Don’t ask about driving on dirt though. Didn’t go there and don’t plan to.

Predictably, there are issues to be noted. Even in Comfort the ride is still on the firm side of the ledger, something emphasised by some interior squeaks over bumps.

And there’s no doubt the 2.0-tonne kerb weight does dull the performance level a tad. Hey, the M177 is still bloody strong, eagerly revving to its 7000rpm redline. But the C 63 S feels faster in terms of rolling response and the E 63 S, with an epic 420kW version of the same engine, feels much faster!

It would be nice to be able to hear the engine a bit more. Yes, it gets louder and crackles and bangs when in its hooligan mode, but it’s never in your face. In contrast, there’s way too much tyre noise.

Also, one test car had rather sudden brake pedal response. Nothing, nothing, then grab. It wasn’t widely evident through, so maybe a one-off.

Away from the driving experience the wagon is the easier of the two versions of the GLC to live with. It has more luggage space and is more spacious in the rear. Looks-wise, the coupe probably gets the nod. Otherwise, they are pretty hard to split.

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Final word

The GLC 63 S is easily the best performance SUV that Mercedes-AMG has ever built. It’s also one of the best all-rounders AMG has in its fleet.

It’s cohesive and even enjoyable to drive at speed or just at a canter. Even at a crawl it’s fine.

It’s also among the very best of this breed, making it a worthy challenger to the Macan for top honours.

What a pleasant surprise.

How much is the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S 4MATIC+?
Price: $164,900 (plus ORCs)
Engine: 4.0-litre turbo-petrol V8
Outputs: 375kW/700Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 10.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 247g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP)