Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 4MATIC 2025 Review

The Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 wagon’s $89,000 plus on-road costs (ORCs) opening price undercuts its pricier sibling, the GLC 300, by more than $16,000, and there’s not a lot missing. After a recent history of being way more expensive than its rivals in the $60K-plus mid-size SUV segment, the Benz, in GLC 200 form, now closes in on the likes of BMW’s $86,100 X3 20 xDrive, Audi’s $88,315 Q5 45TFSI Sport quattro Ultra and the $83,900 Lexus NX 350h Sports Luxury (all pre-ORCs). The coupe version of the GLC starts at $117,000 for the GLC 300 AMG Line.

This enables the GLC range to maintain a spot among the five-best-selling premium mid-size SUVs. According to Australia’s statistical authority, VFACTS, the top three sellers in the segment (as of May 2025) include the new Mazda CX-60 and Kia EV5, sitting alongside the top-spot Lexus NX. BMW’s X3 is currently just off the podium in fourth position, ahead of the Mercedes-Benz GLC range.

It’s worth pointing out that Telsa’s formerly market-blitzing Model Y, among a number of other EVs, is no longer officially included in VFACTS reporting after a spat with the FCAI (but its sales figures are available via the Electric Vehicle Council).

There are some relatively subtle distinctions between the GLC 200 and the plusher GLC 300 in terms of standard equipment, but the essentials are absolutely in place.

Starting with the Benz Avantgarde styling package as standard, the GLC 200 comes with an expansive power-operated glass sunroof, along with powered and heated (but not cooled) seats for the driver and front passenger (with memory settings), power-adjusted steering column, a head-up windscreen display, ambient lighting, 360-degree cameras with self-parking capability, durable Artico fake leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, privacy glass, and a nine-speaker audio system with a sliding volume controller.

Where the differences with upper-echelon Benz models are most evident is in the plain-Jane decorative and trim materials used in the cabin, including the GLC 200 exclusive silver-grey diamond-pattern dash trim. They are almost unashamedly basic and, in some of the more hidden spots, hard to the touch.

GLC 200 options include pricey ‘Manufaktur’ Alpine Grey paint for $2700 and a $1300 Night Package that brings added bling including gloss surrounds for external windows and rearview mirrors, and matt-black external highlights. The Night Package also includes roof rails and, as seen on the GLC 300, bigger 20-inch wheels.

‘Plus’ and ‘Sport’ packages offer further personalisation opportunities. The former focusses on comfort and entertainment with heat- and noise-insulated glass, high-quality Burmeister audio and MBUX augmented-reality GPS with extra overlaid screen graphics. The latter, meanwhile, promotes an AMG vibe with 20-inch wheels, body-colour-matched wheelarch liners and an amped-up engine note.

The GLC 200 is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with five years of roadside assist.

Servicing is scheduled at 12-month or 25,000km intervals – whichever comes first – and there are three capped-price servicing plans. The three-year plan, involving three services, is $3400, while the four-year plan is $4690 and the five-year plan is $7350.

Safety technology runs to autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, traffic-sign recognition, junction assist, self-dipping LED headlights, tyre-pressure monitoring and the Mercedes-Benz Pre-Safe system that, among other things, uses on-board cameras and radar to anticipate an imminent collision and prepare elements such as seatbelt tensioning, seat-adjustment and whether or not the side windows are closed, to help maximise passenger safety.

The nine-airbag tally includes all the usual front, side and curtain bags, as well as a driver’s knee bag and the increasingly common front-centre airbag to help protect driver and front passenger from contact in a side-on collision.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 was awarded a full five-star ANCAP rating in 2022.

Mercedes-Benz hasn’t moved too far from ergonomic practicalities with a well-thought-out dash display that is both simple and sympathetic to the driver’s needs. The low-set, high-res 12.3-inch centre touchscreen presents clearly and there’s a generally smooth driver-vehicle interface elsewhere, with easily deciphered readouts and few knobs and touchpads. There’s little time spent figuring out how to access most functions – including the connection to Bluetooth – and referring to the windscreen head-up display quickly becomes almost second nature.

The multifunction steering wheel places controls where they are easily interpreted and activated and, although the right-hand side wand for engaging drive/reverse/park is not easily seen, once familiar it’s simple and intuitive to use.

The GLC 200’s mild-hybrid powertrain is a two-edged sword, in a good way: it provides adequate power and torque, and helps fuel economy.

Basically a mechanical twin of the more powerful GLC 300, the GLC 200 uses a lithium-ion battery-charged 17kW/200Nm second-generation integrated starter-generator (ISG) located between the engine and transmission, which lifts the capabilities of the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The 48-volt ISG system starts the engine, adds power and torque, enables gliding and boost functions and charges the battery during deceleration and braking.

The main difference between the two powertrains is that the GLC 200’s reciprocating engine is less powerful. At 150kW and 320Nm it’s down quite a bit on the 190kW/400Nm GLC 300 and this is reflected more in its loss of performance than its fuel consumption. Where the GLC 300 will dash to 100km/h in a swift 6.2 seconds, the GLC 200 is much more leisurely at 7.8 seconds.

There’s not so much disparity in consumption and emissions figures, though. The GLC 300’s economy/emissions are quoted at 7.7L/100km and 175g/km, while the lower-powered GLC 200 is not massively advantaged at 7.5L/100km and 170g/km.

The fuel consumptions claims are not frivolous. Over a week of commuting in both urban and freeway conditions, our review GLC 200 averaged 7.8L/100km – virtually identical to the official claim.

The GLC 200 has typical Mercedes on-road composure with a ride quality that tends towards comfort rather than firmness yet is impressively road-savvy. The nicely weighted and responsive steering, with barely more than two turns (2.2) required to swing from lock to lock, is rewardingly quick.

The 4MATIC AWD system is reassuring and welcome in sketchy on-road situations and (slightly) off the beaten track, where it’s helped by a surprisingly reasonable 195mm of ground clearance.

The only time that the GLC 200 became slightly ruffled was on a short section of roughed-up gravel road, where the rear end – mainly audibly – lost some of its quiet composure.

The mild hybrid powertrain is notable for a tendency to be initially sluggish off the mark but, with nine ratios at play, it is ready to perform satisfactorily across the speed range. Partly helped by the extra torque provided through the ISG system, engine noise levels vary from discreet at low throttle to an almost intrusive four-cylinder vocality towards the 6100rpm top end of its power delivery.

As with the ISG’s discreet engine startup, the fuel saving engine stop/start system verges on unnoticeable.

Rated to tow as much as 2400kg, the GLC 200 exceeds contemporaries such as the BMW X3 20 xDrive, Audi Q5 45TFSI and the hybrid Lexus NX 350h.

The GLC 200’s cabin is not as glamourous as higher-level Benz models but it’s not short of space, quality, amenities or comfort.

The substantial seating has a feel of ergonomic proficiency with deep support and shaping that maintains passenger comfort over a long haul. The front seats, with their identifiably Benz upper-door-mounted controls looking after reach, cushion and backrest adjustment, are a nice place to be and there are no issues with leg, shoulder and headroom.

There are plenty of storage spaces; in the doors, solid-backed panels behind the front seats and in a deep double-lidded cubby up front. Cup/bottle holders abound, with two in the centre console, two more in the fold-down rear centre armrest and in the front and rear door pockets.

The boot area is as generous as you would expect of a mid-size SUV, accessible via a powered tailgate and starting at a decent 620 litres to top out at 1680L with the rear seats folded down. A space-saver spare sits under the boot floor.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC wagon range – with all the heavy lifting done by the new GLC 200 – is showing some stabilisation of sales since its dismal showings two years back.

Equipped without any real compromise and priced to take the fight up to its major competitors, the entry GLC Benz is an object lesson in the benefits of taking a realistic view of your standing in the marketplace. Even at the premium level, pricing can be an enormous influence on buying trends.

Within the provinces of what’s realistically possible, Mercedes-Benz appears to have got its sums right with the GLC 200.

2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 4MATIC at a glance:
Price: $89,000 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Output: 150kW/320Nm (electric motor: 17kW/200Nm)
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.5L/100km
CO2: 170g/km
Safety rating: Five stars (ANCAP 2022)

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