Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance 2023 Review

Given the 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance has only just launched in Europe and is not due to arrive Down Under until the fourth quarter of next year, the company says it’s too early to comment on pricing for the performance flagship of Benz’s new mid-size luxury SUV range.

But we’d suggest there will be a significant uptick on the existing model’s circa-$190K price tag, just as we’re expecting with the soon-to-be-launched new-generation C 63 sedan.

This is likely to place the incoming new GLC 63 well upstream of current rivals such as the BMW X3 M Competition (from $178,000 plus ORCs) and Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio (from $162,700).

The 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance is distinguishable from lesser GLC models via its AMG-specific grille with vertical fins and AMG front apron with flics, large air intakes and chrome-plated trim element.

The GLC spearhead’s visual differentiation is furthered by integrated side sill panels, a rear apron with additional diffuser panel and a pair of trapezoidal tailpipes on each flank.

Inside, AMG seats in ARTICO man-made leather/MICROCUT microfibre with bespoke graphics create a suitably sporty ambience. Nappa leather upholstery with an embossed AMG emblem in the front head restraints is optionally available, as are AMG Performance seats.

In keeping with the go-faster division’s norm, the AMG Performance steering wheel is flattened at the bottom and trimmed in Nappa leather and MICROCUT microfibre. The two buttons/twist knobs on the wheel enable fast selection of various dynamic driving functions and the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT driving programs.

The sporty theme is rounded off by AMG sports pedals, AMG floor mats and illuminated door sill trims with AMG lettering.

Standard features also include 21-inch alloy wheels, multi-zone climate control, head-up display, heated front seats, sat-nav, keyless entry/start, electric tailgate, active LED headlights, auto wipers, auto parking, roof rails, sunroof and Burmester premium sound system.

However, there’s no spare tyre, just a repair kit.

The 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance comes equipped with nine airbags, ABS, stability and traction controls, traffic sign recognition, around-view cameras, reversing camera, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitor, forward AEB, forward collision warning and tyre pressure monitoring.

The current-gen GLC has earned a maximum five-star rating in ANCAP and Euro NCAP crash tests, so it’s as good as it gets on the safety front for a vehicle in this category.

A barrage of tech has been thrown at the 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance to ensure its searing straight-line performance doesn’t overwhelm the chassis.

To this end, it ditches rigid anti-roll bars in favour of a roll stabilisation system that compensates for body movements electromechanically. The payoff comes in the form of precise, roll-free cornering behaviour, but not at the expense of ride quality.

In addition, AMG RIDE CONTROL suspension that pairs steel springs with adaptive adjustable dampers also provides a broad bandwidth between ride comfort and precise handling. The dampers achieve this by continuously adapting damping forces at each individual wheel, based on the road surface and depending on which of the three different damping maps (Comfort, Sport or Sport+) has been selected.

Also standard in the GLC 63 S E Performance is four-wheel steering, which shortens the turning radius at speeds below 100km/h while boosting stability at higher speeds.

The big news with the 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance is that its engine sacrifices half the cubic capacity of its predecessor, yet power and torque are still up.

At the car’s heart is the potent M139L 2.0-litre unit that belts out 350kW at 6750rpm and 545Nm at 5250rpm, making it the world’s most powerful four-cylinder production engine.

The four-pot is hooked up to AMG’s nine-speed MCT (Multi-Clutch Transmission), which is a conventional auto, albeit with a wet start-up clutch in lieu of a torque converter.

The M139L powerplant is a high-tech piece of kit as is, but the real party trick is the F1-developed electric turbocharger, which all but eliminates lag. The key ingredient is an electric motor that spins up the turbo at low revs, with exhaust gases taking over once engine speeds rise.

Mounted in unison with the rear axle is a 150kW/320Nm electric motor and the two-speed transmission through which it sends drive directly to the rear axle – and also to the front via the 4MATIC+ system if there’s slip at the rear.

The AMG-developed liquid-cooled 6.1kWh battery pack sits above the rear axle, which makes for a perfect 49:51 weight distribution over front and rear axles. This is a key point to note as the outgoing V8 model has a distinctly nose-heavy (55:45 front/rear) bias.

Mercedes-AMG quotes total system outputs of 500kW and 1020Nm for the GLC 63 S E Performance and you might be scratching your head if you’ve done your maths because the collective torque output of the petrol engine and electric motor is 865Nm (545Nm + 320Nm) if you simply add up their peak torque figures.

The answer lies in the torque multiplication effect of the two-speed transmission (in much the same way off-roaders use low-range gearing to multiply their torque output).

A WLTP combined-cycle consumption figure of 7.5L/100km is quoted for the 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance, which is a huge improvement on the 12.2L/100km figure quoted for the outgoing V8 model.

Electric-only range is a modest 12km (approximately) as Mercedes-AMG bills the GLC 63 as a performance hybrid, rather than a commuter designed to trundle around in zero-emission zones.

The 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance has a markedly different character to its predecessor, and that’s partly good news.

Of course, the first thing you notice is the absence of the rumbling V8 burble when you fire up the ignition. In the less aggressive of the eight driving modes, the car initially drives away as an EV. It’s only in Sport, Sport+ and Race that the combustion engine is always active.

Around town, the GLC 63 S E Performance is completely docile as it cruises in almost total silence under electric power (I initially twisted the drive mode knob into Comfort mode). “Is this really an AMG offering?” you might ask yourself at this point.

The fun starts once the road opens up and traffic thins. Now in Sport+ mode, there’s the opportunity to flatten the throttle and stretch the go-faster GLC’s legs.

When you fully open the taps the GLC 63 S E Performance is devastatingly fast, but the build-up of speed is distinctly linear – in contrast to the massive mid-range wallop that the existing V8 doles out when you prod it.

The soundtrack is completely different, too. There’s no V8 thunder here, and what you get instead is a hard-edged (still sporty) note from the exhausts, with the 71mm Garrett turbo chiming in with a pleasing “whoosh” every time you stamp on the throttle.

As alluded to earlier, the big payoff from the downsized hybrid engine is the fact that only 49 per cent of the car’s weight now sits over the front axle. This is immediately evident as the Spanish road we’re traversing gets tight and twisty. The new GLC 63’s turn-in is razor-sharp, and there’s an almost complete absence of front-end push, even when chucking the car into tight hairpin corners.

Of course, the four-wheel steer, active roll stabilisation, electronic limited-slip differential and adaptive dampers also play their part. From behind the wheel, there’s absolutely no perception that this is, in fact, a heavy lump of a car at 2.3 tonnes. It feels about 500kg lighter.

The steering is accurate and nicely weighted, although there’s not much in the way of textured feedback relayed to your fingertips. The composite brakes (390mm at the front and 370Nm) are strong, too, and the pedal is nicely progressive, despite the complexities of energy recuperation under braking.

Incidentally, there are three modes of energy recuperation to choose from, with the last of these enabling you to indulge in one-pedal driving around town.

Ground clearance is reasonable, but tarmac-focused low-profile tyres and expensive alloy rims should ensure no owners attempt to venture too far beyond the tarmac.

Gravel roads are realistically where the all-terrain brief ends for the 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance.

There are no surprises inside the 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance if you’ve previously sat in an AMG offering.

The driver-centric cockpit is neatly laid out and there’s a high-quality look and feel to anything you can see or touch in the cabin.

The front seats are superbly comfortable and supportive and even the rear pews are fine for a pair of adults (as long as they’re not pro basketballers).

Boot space is a respectable 470 litres, which can be extended to 1530 litres by folding down the rear seats.

It may have lost a touch of the brutish muscle-bound charisma of the outgoing V8 model, yet the 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance is, in many ways, a better car.

Of course, no potential owner will mind the fact that it’s a much more frugal vehicle than its predecessor, but the real kicker is the optimal weight balance resulting from the four-cylinder hybrid powertrain.

This makes the newbie a much more agile and enjoyable car to thrash across winding country roads.

2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance at a glance:
Price: $220,000 est (plus on-road costs)
Available: Final quarter 2024
Powertrain: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol-electric
Output: 350kW/545Nm (electric motor: 150kW/320Nm)
Combined output: 500kW/1020Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Battery: 6.1kWh lithium-ion
Energy consumption: 12.7kWh/100km (WLTP)
Fuel: 7.5L/100km (WLTP)
CO2: 170g/km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested