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Mercedes-Benz GLC variants
Total price
Monthly payment

Finance representative example (PCP)

Total cash price £30,099. Borrowing £27,089 with a £3,010 deposit at a representative APR of 11.9%.

48 monthly payments
£489.69
Fixed interest rate
11.9%
Total amount payable
£39,568.18
Cost of credit
£9,469.18
Optional final payment
£13,053.00
Purchase fee
£10.00
Annual mileage limit
6000 miles

Mercedes GLC buying guide

The GLC certainly has plenty going for it. Buy into the Benz brand and you get a luxurious interior with lots of tech, soft leather upholstery, powerful and mostly economical engines, and enough space for astronauts to be happy.

What Mercedes GLC trim levels are there?

Now that the Sport entry-level trim has been discontinued, all recent GLCs come with AMG Line styling, including large alloy wheels, a ‘diamond’ grille and a rear bumper styled to look like a sports car’s diffuser. The AMG Line trim also includes LED headlights, tinted rear windows, heated sports seats, three-zone climate control and sat nav.

But wait, there’s more. AMG Line Premium brings bigger wheels, digital dials, 64-colour ambient lighting and Apple CarPlay/ Android Auto connectivity. Then, there’s AMG Line Premium Plus, with its panoramic sunroof, memory seats, keyless entry and a fancy 360-degree parking camera. Think that’s a long name? The very top-spec GLC is the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S Night Edition Premium Plus.

In the latest GLC, the trim levels are largely the same, although the entry-level car now gets digital dials and the ambient lighting, plus wireless phone charging.

Mercedes GLC interior and technology

First-generation GLCs (2015-2022) have a wide centre console with an infotainment screen mounted up top. Earlier cars get a smaller screen with a chunky plastic bezel, while more recent examples have a larger, wider touchscreen that just looks a bit more premium. The steering wheel controls feel more modern, too, but that’s hardly the be all and end all. All have quality materials that make you appreciate that you went for a Mercedes over, say, a Nissan Qashqai. There’s aluminium or wood trim throughout.

And now, we come to the latest GLC and… goodness, the screen is enormous. It takes up most of the upper centre console, having swallowed up all the climate control functions and any other button that dared to be there. The interior design is very similar to the far more expensive Mercedes S-Class, and we’d go as far as saying that no other midsize SUV has a better cabin.

Mercedes GLC engine range explained

Mercedes GLC 220d diesel

There’s no small engine in the GLC, so even the lowliest 220d diesel has a 2.0-litre engine with 194hp and a 0-62mph time of under eight seconds. Expect fuel economy of up to 46mpg, which is on a par with its closest four-wheel-drive rivals. The very latest version with hybrid assistance can return over 50mpg.

Mercedes GLC 300d diesel

You get the same 2.0-litre diesel engine in the 220d and the 300d but, in the latter, it’s boosted to 245hp. Fuel economy is still reasonable at 42mpg, while the off-the-line performance is noticeably perkier at 6.5 seconds.

Mercedes GLC 300 petrol

Low-mileage drivers or those that don’t want a diesel engine may prefer the GLC 300 petrol engine. It’s a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder unit with 258hp and is fractionally faster than the 300d on paper, although the diesel’s torque might mean it feels more responsive. The petrol GLC returns up to 34mpg.

Mercedes GLC 300e hybrid

Pairing a 211hp petrol engine and a 122hp electric motor, the 300e petrol-electric plug-in hybrid is the fastest GLC before you get to the raucous AMG ones. It also boasts a 13.5kWh battery for an electric range of up to 28 miles, meaning short journeys can be done without using any fuel.

For the latest GLC, Mercedes has plumbed in a 31.2kWh battery, resulting in an astonishing electric range of 80 miles. If the fully electric Mercedes EQC doesn’t work for you, this car probably will.

Mercedes GLC 300 de hybrid

Mercedes is the only company that currently offers a diesel-electric plug-in hybrid powertrain, which gives the local zero-emission driving and the fuel economy of a diesel engine for longer trips. It uses the same battery and motor as the 300e, and offers the same electric range.

Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 petrol

In most cars, the GLC 43’s near-400hp 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine would be an appropriate range-topper. But here it’s the ‘lesser’ AMG model. Its sub-five-second 0-62mph time means it’s by no means a slouch. Fuel-conscious buyers may be put off by its 26mpg figure, mind.

Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S petrol

Powering the most powerful GLC is a 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine, which is related to the engine you get in modern Aston Martins. The headline figures are 510hp and a 0-62mph time of just 3.8 seconds – making it one of the very fastest SUVs you can buy. Even if you drive it carefully, you’ll barely scratch 20mpg.

Mercedes GLC FAQs

Mercedes has sold the GLC since 2015, and gave it a noticeable facelift four years later. It’s Mercedes’ midsize SUV and is based on the C-Class. Most GLCs come in sporty AMG Line trim, which UK buyers seem to love, and there are a wide range of engine choices so it suits a wide range of people. If you’re someone with a ravenous appetite for licence-losing speed, there’s the full-fat Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S.

All this also applies to the Mercedes GLC Coupe, which we’ve covered separately. The GLC has a pretty conventional SUV shape, while the Coupe gets a more rakish roofline for extra style points. The Coupe isn’t quite as practical as the GLC SUV, but there’s still plenty of room for a family and all the luggage that they’ll need.

The GLC range was replaced by a new model in 2022, following on from the refreshed C-Class. This gets even more tech and even more space, and a larger battery for the plug-in hybrids, so it’s worth looking out for if you can afford it.

You’ll take up a little over 4.6 metres of space in the outgoing GLC, and fractionally more in the very latest car. And fractionally more again in the GLC Coupe. Luckily, all come with a reversing camera and parking sensors, so you can avoid backing it into the garage door every time you park on the driveway.

The GLC offers plenty of space for four adults, but five up can feel a little tight because of the tall transmission tunnel. There’s plenty of adjustment for the driver. Wide-opening rear doors and the raised ride height compared to a C-Class means it’s easy to get young children in and out. The rear seats fold individually so you can carry passengers and large items.

At 550 litres, the boot is the same size as what’s on offer in the X3 and Q5 – although it’s worth noting that hybrids get 395 litres, or barely more than a petrol-powered A-Class. The 2022-on GLC has either 600 or 400 litres, depending on the powertrain.

GLC buyers are spoiled for choice, with everything from frugal four-cylinder diesels and plug-in hybrids right through to thunderous V8-powered AMG models. Just don’t go expecting a choice when it comes to the gearbox, as all GLCs have automatic gearboxes and all are four-wheel drive.

In the 2022-on GLC, the engines have the same badging as the ones below, but the petrol and diesel engines benefit from mild-hybrid technology to improve fuel economy.

Yes, all GLCs come with Mercedes' 4Matic four-wheel-drive system, whether you pick a petrol, diesel or hybrid engine. It gives a little extra grip in wintry or slippery conditions but the GLC doesn't have quite the same off-road ability as a dedicated 4x4 like a Land Rover Defender – not that you'd probably want to risk taking your GLC off the asphalt.

The Mercedes GLC will cost a little more to maintain than a similarly sized SUV from a less premium brand – you're paying a bit more for the sheer amount of technology on board. Mercedes does offer service plans that split routine servicing into monthly chunks that might help you budget easier.

Often, premium brands like Mercedes don't do well in reliability surveys because there's so much technology that could potentially go wrong. But Mercedes performed strongly in 2021's Driver Power owner survey, with the GLC performing no worse for reliability than the majority of other cars in the survey.

There are only two sets of Isofix points in a Mercedes GLC, although you could conceivably fit a non-Isofix car seat on the front passenger seat. Check out our list of the best cars that can fit three car seats here.

Petrol and diesel GLCs have a large 550-litre boot (measured to the parcel shelf) – that's about 50 litres more than you get in the C-Class Estate, and should be more than enough for family life. Fold the individual rear seats down and you get a 1,600-litre space, provided you're happy to load to the roof. The extra hardware needed for the plug-in hybrid engines means the GLC 300e and GLC 300de offer 395 litres of space.