Mercedes-Benz defends derivative styling of new GLC

Take a gander at the current first-generation Mercedes-Benz GLC, then have a squiz at the new just-launched second-gen model – there’s not much between them.

From 30 paces, many observers would be hard-pressed to pick them apart.

Even execs at the German luxury car company admitted there was a striking similarity across the two designs, with Mercedes-Benz vice-president for vehicle development, Joerg Bartels, refusing to argue the point when the assertion was put to him at the international launch of the new GLC in Spain last week.

“I think part of this [reason] is that today’s [first-generation] GLC doesn’t look old from the outside, it’s still a very cool, nice-looking car,” he said.

“For some cars you come to a point and say, ‘This is out of time, it’s dated.’ Not the GLC.”

However, Bartels was quick to point out that there are striking differences between the first and second GLC generation in terms of interior design.

“From the inside I would argue the new GLC is a totally different world, the interior is totally different to the current GLC,” he said.

Borrowing heavily from the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class – sales of which are rebounding in Australia, despite hefty price rises – the cabin of the new GLC features a big 11.9-inch vertically-aligned central touch-screen bisecting a redesigned dashboard.

While it might not look like it from the outside, and does carry over some familiar powertrains, the new GLC is based on the modular rear architecture (MRA) underpinning the latest C-Class and S-Class, which Bartels said also takes the mid-size luxury SUV to a higher plane.  

“You will probably find the same number of parts [in the new GLC are] equal to the S-Class that are equal to the C-Class, because it’s the same architecture,” he said.

Bartels explained that the GLC gets the same acoustic foam throughout the body structure as the $200,000-plus S-Class.

“How much S-Class is in a GLC? Beside the product substance you can feel, like silence and NVH and so on … the digital lights and so on look different but the inside of the headlamps they are the same as we use on the S-Class,” he said.

“The all-wheel drive assistance systems and electronic parts for that are the same as well.”

Only one model grade, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC, will launch Australia in early 2023, priced from around $100,000 plus on-road costs.

Mercedes-Benz Australia has decided not to introduce other powertrain options, including advanced new plug-in hybrids, citing lack of demand for PHEVs in Australia.

See our review here for the new-generation GLC, direct from its international launch in Barcelona.