Mercedes-Benz GLC facelifted

An upgraded 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC range has been revealed ahead of its world debut at next week’s Geneva motor show and its Australian reveal in the third quarter of this year.

The midlife facelift for the three-pointed star’s answer to popular mid-size luxury SUVs like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 brings fresh interior and exterior styling, new engines, DYNAMIC BODY CONTROL variable damping and improved connectivity and infotainment.

Externally there’s a redesigned grille and headlights with LED High-Performance beams as standard (full-LED headlights with MULTIBEAM tech will be optional), full-length chrome elements, new graphite grey paint and new (17- to 19-inch) wheel designs and, for the Mercedes-AMG Line, a chromed diamond grille, specific front apron, integrated angular exhaust outlets and sports seats.

All 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLCs also score the German car-maker’s latest twin-screen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) multimedia system with touch, gesture and voice control. The standard centre screen is 7.0-inch with a resolution of 960x540 pixels, while a 10.25-inch display with 1920x720 pixels and a 12.3-inch customisable digital instrument cluster are also available.

Also inside are two new multifunction steering wheels with MBUX controls, higher-quality surface materials, KEYLESS-GO starting, DYNAMIC SELECT drive modes and the option of a new ENERGIZING system that integrates lighting, audio, climate and massage functions and “uses data from the vehicle and surroundings to recommend one of the programmes that fits the situation and the individual.

“With the help of a suitable Garmin wearable, personal scores such as the stress level or the quality of sleep make the recommendation more precise,” says Benz.

New safety features include exit warning, emergency corridor function and tail end of a traffic jam functions, plus Trailer Manoeuvring Assist, Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Steer Assist and Active rake Assist.

Under the bonnet, there are new four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines with improved efficiency, in the former case thanks in part to Merc’s 48-volt electrical system with belt-driven starter/generator.

Australian specs are yet to be announced, but five new engines will be available in Europe from launch, all matched with all-wheel drive as standard.

The petrol-powered GLC 200 4MATIC and GLC 300 4MATIC both run a 2.0-litre turbo engine outputting 145kW/280Nm 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.