Review: Mercedes-Benz GLC (2015)

Mercedes-Benz GLC (2015): At A Glance

• New prices start from £36,425, brokers can source from £32,396
• Contract hire deals from £311.99 per month
• Insurance Groups are between 27–41
• On average it achieves 89% of the official MPG figure

Mercedes-Benz GLC (2015): What's It Like Inside?

• Boot space is 550–1600 litres

Dimensions
Length	4656–4679 mm
Width	2096 mm
Height	1620–1644 mm
Wheelbase	2873 mm
Full specifications

The interior of the GLC is a beautiful thing, very carefully blending minimalism with a feeling of tech-laden gadgetry. The fundamentals of comfortable seating and a spot-on driving position are present and correct.

To get to the point early on, in pure ambience terms the GLC has the best cabin of all these middle sized SUVs.

Our only real criticism is that Mercedes-Benz persists with its Comand system, which in the pantheon of in-car infotainment systems, tablets and smartphones, is clunky and vexing.

The single dial control is often counter-intuitive, though the navigation system itself is very good. It’s clear and precise, plus it's displayed on a tablet-style high-definition screen – a screen that looks like it should be touch sensitive. But it's not.

The boot is 550 litres big, which is spot on in terms of the class – it’s identical to the BMW X3 and ten litres up on the Audi Q5.

But most importantly to the vast majority of GLC buyers, is that it’s clearly been designed to make life easier. The door pockets are massive, as is the central storage bin, while the boot floor is flush with the lip – and if you do pitch for the air suspension, you can lower the loading area with a switch near the tailgate for greater ease of use.

That’s a tailgate that’s automatic as standard and the back seats fold flat electronically at the touch of a button, too.  On the downside, like the C-Class, there's no spare wheel as standard and not even the space to put one. So that means you're stuck with a tyre sealant kit unless you want a bulky spare taking up your boot.

Equipment:

GLC 220d 4MATIC SE is the entry-level GLC but is very well equipped, coming as standard with a nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox, an Easy-Pack automatic tailgate, reversing camera, rear privacy glass, DAB digital radio, keyless start, heated windscreen washers, climate control and safety systems including ESP with Dynamic Cornering Assist, Crosswind Assist, Collision Prevention Assist, Distronic Plus with Steering Assist, Stop & Go Pilot, Pre-Safe Brake with pedestrian protection and Cross Traffic Assist.

Sport trim adds Active Parking Assist, heated front seats, Garmin Map Pilot, interior lighting and mirror ackage and black ash wood trim.

AMG trim adds an AMG body kit, AMG steering wheel, AMG sports suspension and AMG sports pedals.

Options include the SE Executive Package (£1295) with heated front seats, Active Parking Assist, and Garmin Map Pilot with live traffic updates. A Premium Package (£1695) with Memory Package, panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting and keyless go. Plus a Premium Plus Package (£2995) which adds COMAND online, Road Sign Assist and a Burmester premium surround sound system.

What's the Mercedes-Benz GLC (2015) like to drive?

• Engines range from GLC 220 d Automatic 4Matic to GLC 63 AMG S
• Readers report Real MPG to be between 18–52 mpg

The GLC’s excellent refinement is partly to do with the standard fit twin-clutch nine-speed automatic gearbox, which granted sounds like a lot of clutches and gear ratios, but works wonderfully. On the motorway in ninth the GLC is pulling at a very quiet 1500rpm, though plant the accelerator and it will instantly snap into fourth or fifth without a jolt.

Unfortunately, whether 220d or 250d, the GLC’s four-cylinder engine naturally runs out of steam at the upper end of the rev range, where a V6 diesel simply wouldn’t – Mercedes may lose custom to its rivals on that basis alone.

The 0-62mph times of the pair make for interesting reading, only because the gulf on paper isn’t manifested on the road. The 220d registering an 8.3 second sprint to 62mph and the 250d 7.6 seconds. However, it feels nowhere near that on the road.

In both cases, though, it’s the way the GLC’s maximum torque kicks in at very low revs - 500Nm at 1600rpm in the 250d – that makes it feel quick about town, despite the aforementioned lack of puff at higher speeds.

The caveat to our gushing praise of the GLC’s refinement is that every car we’ve been provided with to date has been complete with optional Airmatic adaptable air suspension, of the type that’s becoming increasingly common in top end and even mid-range, premium cars. 

Its Comfort and Sport modes, while never transforming the character of the car entirely, do a good job of either sharpening up the drive (steering, suspension firmness, gear changes), or softening it down markedly. It’s in Comfort mode that the GLC feels like a big, plush, comfortable SUV, and although it does fidget a little at low speeds, it’s largely composed.

The GLC Is also packed with safety equipment, the vast majority of it standard fit and not only conspiring to make the car safer, obviously, but making even the most basic GLC feel like a real high-end tech-fest.

Distronic Plus is radar cruise control that both speeds up and slows the car automatically in motorway traffic, while if the steering wheel pulses in your hands, you’ll know you’re straying from your lane. It’s impressive stuff.

Engine	MPG	0-62	CO2
GLC 220 d Automatic 4Matic	48 mpg	8.3 s	129–158 g/km
GLC 250 Automatic 4Matic	37–38 mpg	7.3 s	152–174 g/km
GLC 250 d Automatic 4Matic	46 mpg	7.6 s	129–163 g/km
GLC 300 d Automatic 4Matic	-	-	157 g/km
GLC 350 d Automatic 4Matic	48 mpg	-	159–182 g/km
GLC 350d Automatic 4Matic	42–48 mpg	6.2 s	159 g/km
GLC 43 AMG	29 mpg	4.9 s	189 g/km
GLC 63 AMG	24 mpg	4.0 s	234–278 g/km
GLC 63 AMG S	24 mpg	3.8 s	244–283 g/km

Real MPG average for a Mercedes-Benz GLC (2015)

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

What have we been asked about the Mercedes-Benz GLC (2015)?

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