Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class 2019 Review – International

The popularity of the Mercedes-Benz GLC isn’t surprising when you consider that Australians had to wait until late 2015  for the three-pointed star to offer them the sort of mid-size luxury SUV its German rivals had been delivering for years.

Aided by a sharp low-$60K starting price, a coupe version that arrived a year later for at least $7000 extra and (so far) the only V8 in its class, the current GLC quickly made up for being late to the party by outselling stalwarts like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 and X4.

Then in 2018 – by which time more Aussies were buying SUVs than cars and mid-size SUVs had become the biggest vehicle segment – the GLC even (narrowly) outsold the C-Class to become Mercedes’ best-selling model and the nation’s favourite luxury vehicle bar none.

Now comes the first major facelift for the GLC, but this time it won’t have it so easy. Not only has pent-up demand for a mid-size Mercedes SUV been satisfied, but there’s more competition – not only from new Q5, X3, X4, Porsche Macan, Range Rover Evoque and Volvo XC60 models.

There are also relative newcomers to the segment, like the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, Jaguar F-PACE and Range Rover Velar, and the GLC will also face more competition from top-end versions of big-selling mainstream medium SUVs like the recently renewed Mazda CX-5, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson, Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V, Land Rover Discovery Sport and Volkswagen Tiguan.

What’s more, although there’s still a broad range including wagon, coupe, four-cylinder, V6 and V8 variants, the 2019 GLC will launch here without diesel power for the first time.

Exterior design changes for the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC line-up are relatively minor, amounting to new front and rear bumpers, standard LED High Performance headlights with torch-like LED DRLs and new LED tail-lights, plus new (17- to 19-inch) alloy wheels, new graphite grey paint and the new option of full Multibeam LED headlights.

Inside, there’s the choice of two new multifunction steering wheels with Touch Control buttons to control the instrument cluster, a new multifunctional touchpad on the centre console to replace the rotary push-button, and a new magma grey interior colour scheme. New in-cabin technology is limited to Mercedes’ latest MBUX infotainment system with ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice control.

In Europe, a 7.0-inch touch-screen (960×540 pixels) is standard and new options include a 10.25-inch central display (1920×720 pixels), fully digital 12.3-inch instrument cluster, the MBUX Interior Assistant including gesture control and multi-contour seats, while another new option is Energizing comfort control, which “uses lighting and music moods for a variety of feel-good programmes”.

Semi-autonomous functionality from the S-Class is now part of the optional Driving Assistance package, which comprises Active Distance Assist Distronic and Active Steer Assist, joining Active Brake Assist, Trailer Manoeuvring Assist, exit warning, emergency corridor and traffic jam functions.

The GLC chassis receives a similarly mild upgrade and once again it’s optional, in the form of Dynamic Body Control variable damping, which can now be had as part of the standard Agility Control steel-spring suspension set-up. Air Body Control air suspension remains optional except for AMG variants.

So perhaps the biggest news is a new generation of Mercedes-Benz petrol and diesel engines. The new mild-hybrid M264 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four replaces the M274 and is equipped with a 48-volt electrical system, EQ Boost belt-driven starter/generator, variable CAMTRONIC valve timing and twin-scroll turbo.

Meantime, the upgraded four-cylinder OM654 turbo-diesel replaces OM651 and now meets the Euro 6d emissions standard (RDE – Real Driving Emissions Stage 2) to be mandatory for new models released in Europe from January 2020 and all vehicles year later.

The petrol-powered GLC 200 4MATIC and GLC 300 4MATIC run a 2.0-litre turbo engine producing 145kW/320Nm and 190kW/370Nm respectively, combined with a 10kW/150Nm electric motor. Fuel consumption is listed at 7.1-7.4L/100km for both models.

Matched to a nine-speed automatic transmission, three four-cylinder turbo-diesel models comprise the GLC 200d 4MATIC (120kW/360Nm), the GLC 220d 4MATIC (143kW/400Nm) and the GLC 300d 4MATIC (180kW/500Nm), consuming between 5.2 and 5.8L/100km.

At the top end of the range, there’s an upgraded Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 SUV and GLC 63 Coupe offering a 350kW/650Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, and an S version of both models that offers 375kW/700Nm and will again be Australia’s only GLC 63 model, priced above $165,000.

The only biturbo V8-powered model in its class – at least until the Jaguar F-PACE SVR arrives – is now claimed to hit 100km/h in just 3.8 seconds on its way to a mammoth 280km/h (now the optional AMG Driver’s Package is standard on the S model), and remains the fastest SUV to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife with a 7:49 lap time.

All four GLC 63 variants employ three-chamber air suspension, adaptive damping, an electronically controlled differential lock, three-stage stability control and fully variable all-wheel drive, with the S model also adding dynamic engine mounts.

Rounding out the GLC 63 upgrade are new headlights and tail-lights, optional 21-inch wheels, a pair of 90mm tailpipes, new steering wheel and AMG-specific infotainment and interface systems including a Track Pace head-up display option and warm-up, set-up, G-force and engine data displays.

The only variants of the upgraded 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV and GLC Coupe range confirmed for Australia from its September launch is the GLC 300 with new 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine and, from December, the range-topping Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S with upgraded 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, so these are the two models we’ve tested here.

Ensuring a similar admission price to the outgoing GLC range ($62,300 plus ORCs), an updated entry-level GLC 200 rear-wheel drive model is also expected to become available here by year’s end.

Also expected on sale in Australia in 2019 is an improved version of the Mercedes-AMG CLC 43, which will continue with 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6 power rather than employ AMG’s straight-six turbo ‘53’ mild-hybrid powertrain when it debuts at the Frankfurt motor show in September.

However, missing in action will be the 2.2-litre and 3.0-litre diesel engines seen in the outgoing GLC 250d and 350d, and Europe’s upgraded GLC 200d, 220d and 300d models.

This is despite the fact that diesel power comprised as much as 20 per cent of GLC sales last year, when the mid-size crossover wagon and coupe outsold the C-Class to be Mercedes’ best-seller Down Under, and originally comprised about half of all sales.

Mercedes-Benz Australia says the lack of diesel variants will simplify the GLC line-up, which currently stands at 11 model variants. It also says a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) version – employing the GLC 200’s new turbo-petrol four – is under consideration for Australia, but warns it won’t be cheap.

Locally, variable damping is likely to be standard across the range and air suspension standard in AMG models.

Exterior design changes might be a case of blink and you’ll miss them, but the Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV and – even more so – the GLC Coupe were hardly shrinking violets that lacked road presence anyway.

With about 5600 of them finding Australian homes last year, including almost 1000 Coupes, no doubt you’ve seen at least a few examples of Mercedes’ most important model Down Under.

As before, GLC wagon gets an imposing twin-bar grille, while Coupe models inject some sportiness with single-bar unit and AMG versions add yet more aggression with no bar but just one big three-pointed star; and each has a unique front bumper.

Inside, new trim materials like open-pore wood trim adds a bit of class, although the AMGs get a big slab on carbon-fibre in the centre stack and although their heavily bolstered sports seats offer unflinching lateral support, they still feel hard to sit in initially and getting in and out a chore.

The other compromise GLC 63 S owners are still asked to make concerns ride comfort, or lack thereof. Unlike the facelifted C 63, in which the rock-hard AMG suspension made way for a more liveable tune that made no noticeable difference to cornering performance, the GLC AMGs continue with extremely firm springs and dampers that, even with the latter in Comfort mode, deliver a jaw-clenching ride.

Selecting Sport or Sport+ mode via the Dynamic Select switch – which also sharpens the engine, transmission and steering – simply makes matters unbearable on any surface other than a mirror-smooth autobahn.

The upside is the ability to exploit the upgraded 375kW/700Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo AMG V8’s muscular performance to its full effect. This is an engine that delivers near-instant bottom-end torque that’s as subtle as a sledgehammer, a top-end power rush that extends to 7000rpm and is almost as glorious as its exhaust note, and enough flexibility everywhere else to make light work of these near-2000kg family wagons.

There’s no getting away from the GLC 63 S SUV’s size, mass and centre of gravity (not to mention its fuel consumption, which averaged almost 15L1/00km on our drive). But all that torque combined with the mechanical grip of a locking rear differential and 265/45 front and 295/40 rear R20 rubber makes road holding feel as tenacious as an E 63’s.

Such is the responsiveness of the GLC 63 S that it sometimes catches out the AMG Speedshift MCT 9G auto, the non-AMG version of which in the GLC 300 was also prone to some transmission snatch – both at low speeds and during overtaking manoeuvres.

The other blight on both the GLC 63 and 300 vehicles we drove was the MBUX system, which can be operated via touch-screen, voice command, steering wheel buttons, centre console touch pad or (optional) gesture control. However, the navigation screens in both cars froze up at least once and both cars asked me what I’d like to do a number of times without being prompted.

Aided by a twin-scroll turbo and small electric motor, the GLC 300’s 190kW/370Nm 2.0-litre petrol engine delivers strong, seamless acceleration at all engine and road speeds, never feeling underdone despite the vehicle’s size and weight, and returning decent fuel consumption of less than 8.0L/100km.

The global launch also showed how capable the GLC can be off-road, albeit in a heavily contrived and well controlled course that nevertheless demonstrated the 4MOTION all-wheel drive system’s clever low-speed traction capability, even on road tyres.

Fitted with the optional Off-Road Package, which won’t be offered in Australia due to lack of demand, the GLC easily ascended a steep and loose 62-degree slope from standstill, used its 245mm of ground clearance and decent wheel articulation to traverse seemingly impossible diagonal yumps and splashed through 300mm of water. With a rear diff lock, more modest bumpers to increase approach and departure angles and a handy automatic reverse braking system, the GLC is surprisingly talented away from the bitumen.

Of course, almost nobody will care for this in Australia, where LandCruisers are for off-roading and luxury SUVs are for commuting, shopping, touring or just posing. The GLC has always done those things well, and now does them all just a little bit better.

Notwithstanding its minor foibles, initial lack of diesel power and formidable new competitors, we see no reason why the GLC won’t continue to lead the mid-size premium SUV segment.

How much does the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC cost?
Price: TBC
Available: September
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 190kW/370Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.4L/100km
CO2: 169g/km
Safety: Five-star (ANCAP 2016)

How much does the 2019 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S cost?
Price: TBC
Available: December
Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8
Output: 375kW/700Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 12.3L/100km
CO2: 280g/km
Safety: Five-star (ANCAP 2016)