First Drive: All New Mercedes GLC SUV is Fun to Drive

Undoubtedly, the popular Mercedes GLC SUV has been one of the best-selling luxury SUVs in the country since its debut in India in 2016. Till date there are over 13,000 units on the Indian roads.

The German automaker has now launched the locally assembled second-generation mid-size GLC SUV in the country. I took it for a spin around the picturesque Hampi temple town in Karnataka to check out what it claims.

The all-new Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV has scored a 5-star safety rating in Euro NCAP crash tests. Its safety features include 3-point seatbelts for all five occupants, 7 airbags, blind spot assist, active lane keeping assist, car to X communication, active brake assist, active parking assist, 360-degree camera, pre-safe and attention assist.

The Exteriors

The GLC SUV is stylish and attractive without any sharp creases. It has got new LED headlamps, radiator grille with a large central star, front bumper with a chrome skid plate, wide side steps, panoramic sunroof, slim LED tail-lamps with a 3-dimensional look and rear bumper with a chrome skid plate with twin fake exhaust tips.

With a strong road presence, the fit and finish level of the SUV are excellent. The car sits on swanky 19-inch, 5-spoke alloy wheels and the wheel and tyre combo fill up the wheel arches well. The spare tyre is a T145/80 unit on a 19-inch steel space-saver rim. Overall, the GLC is a smart looking car, appealing to both the sophisticated and the aspirational buyer as well.

The Interiors

Once you step inside, you notice that the GLC’s cabin remains spacious with generous amounts of head and legroom. The design of the dashboard is modern and contemporary. The fully digital instrument cluster stands out like a tablet and the large touchscreen is easy to handle. The overall interiors are smart without any rough edges anywhere in the cabin. However, the plastic on the dashboard does not feel luxurious.

The ingress and egress are easy and you can just step into and exit the car with ease. The GLC is a tall car with a long wheelbase, creating good space in the cabin. Four adults can be seated in the car with comfort with a child but a fifth adult will make longer journeys uncomfortable.

The front seats get heating, but not cooling, which is a big miss, especially in hot climate like in India. The seats also do not have the massage function that the previous car had. The car has three memory presets, which include positions for the seat, the reach and rake adjustable steering wheel and the outside rear view mirrors. It also has the connected car tech that the company calls ‘Mercedes Me’, and an excellent 15-speaker Burmister sound system. The SUV has a boot space of 620 litres which is 70 litres more than the outgoing car. Folding the backrest of the rear seat down gives the car more luggage capacity. The boot is equipped with a light, bag hooks, tie-down hooks for luggage and a retractable cover.

The Drive Experience

I drove the GLC 300 4Matic, which is powered by a 1,999cc, 4-cylinder petrol engine, churning out 258 HP and 400 Nm of torque. The engine comes with a 48V mild hybrid system. The mild hybrid helps in quick acceleration by providing upto 23 BHP and 200 Nm of torque. Once you press the engine start/stop button, it is ready to roll with ease with barely any noise or vibration. The power is delivered seamlessly making the GLC a smooth and easy car to drive in the city and on the highways. The GLC can accelerate between 0 and 100kph within 6.2 seconds.

The GLC comes with four drive modes such as Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual. There’s also an off-road mode in case you decide to get adventurous. On the highway, this SUV is a great performer, making overtaking other cars easier with caution though. Throttle response is good and the driving is effortless, taking bumps and potholes in its strike. The Comfort mode, which is the default mode, is great in city and on the highway, offering a good balance between efficiency and performance. 

While driving, I found the GLC’s suspension a bit stiffer but as the speed increases, the ride gets better and smoother. The suspension works very well absorbing the larger bumps effortlessly. Interestingly, on long curves, the SUV has a good grip as it sails smoothly. Its electric power steering is very user-friendly. Its light steering and automatic transmission make the drive easy and effortless. With the disc brakes at the front and rear, you can drive safely and halt it without any hassle. Mercedes has equipped the GLC with Active Brake Assist.

Should I buy it?

With all its good features and a cool price of Rs 73.50 lakh for the petrol and Rs 74.50 lakh for the diesel, the new GLC is here to battle with its rivals like the BMW X3 (Rs 68.50 lakh-Rs 87.70 lakh), Audi Q5 (Rs 62.35 lakh-Rs 68.22 lakh), Volvo XC60 (Rs 67.50 lakh), Land Rover Discovery Sport (Rs 71.39 lakh) and Lexus NX (Rs 67.35 lakh-Rs 74.24 lakh). Despite higher pricing compared with the rivals, GLC will likely tempt you to open your purse.