New 2019 Mercedes GLC: pricing, specs and pics
The revised Mercedes GLC SUV starts from £39,420, and features big tech updates plus new four-cylinder engines
Mercedes has confirmed UK pricing for the revised GLC SUV. The BMW X3 and Audi Q5 rival is on sale now, starting from £39,420.
That figure is for the GLC 220 d, one of two engines available in the UK from launch; the other being a more potent 300 d with 245bhp. In matching trim, the 300 d costs £2,055 more than the 220 d, and prices climb to £54,210 in top AMG Line Premium Plus Ultimate spec. Later this year, the petrol-powered GLC 300 will join the range too, with 258bhp and a 6.3-second 0-62mph time.
The engines, all of which feature all-wheel drive, are all new to the GLC, offering more powerful and fuel efficiency throughout. Petrol versions make use of Mercedes' EQ 48-volt mild hybrid system, which uses an integrated starter/alternator unit to recover up to 10kW of energy when decelerating. This can then be deployed below 2,500prm to reduce the effort required of the combustion engine. Other changes include a new turbocharger and revised variable valve timing; the latter helps to bring the exhaust - and therefore the emissions reducing particulate filter - up to operating temperature sooner.
Compared to pre-facelift models, the diesel engines gain an extra exhaust catalyst to reduce emissions further. The result is that the GLC 220 d achieves 40.9mpg and emits as little as 137g/km of CO2, while the 300 d manages 39.2mpg and 157g/km.
Further down the line, a plug-in hybrid GLC will go on sale, but options available to other markets, including less powerful petrol and diesel, plus a fuel cell PHEV which mixes hydrogen and battery power, will not come to the UK.
In a similar vein to the closely-related C-Class, which was updated last year, the changes introduce significantly updated tech and mildly revised styling. From the outside, the GLC remains much the same as before, but there are subtle changes to the grille, lights and bumpers. At the front, the reshaped headlamps feature full-LED tech, while the daytime running lights draw an extended ‘C’ shape in place of the previous single swoop. The new bumper features reshaped vents to either side of the main intake.
The sides gain chrome elements spanning the length of the lower sills, and new alloy wheel designs ranging from 17 to 20 inches are offered. Around the back, tail lights - also featuring LED tech - get a new lighting signature, and sit above a reprofiled bumper.
Unsurprisingly, the interior changes mirror those applied to the updated C-Class with which the GLC largely shares its dashboard layout. That means the overall layout remains similar to before, but the GLC now benefits from the latest version of Mercedes’s MBUX infotainment system. This means that the new central display, which has grown from 8.4 inches to 10.25 inches, is now touch sensitive, and can respond to both gesture and improved voice commands.
A 12.3-inch digital driver’s display is now offered in place of the previous car’s analogue clocks, and its three sections can be customised to display varying information. These menus can be tweaked through the updated steering wheel, which features a mix of physical and touch-sensitive controls first seen on the S-Class. Elsewhere, there are a couple of new material options, including two new wood finishes for the dashboard.
The GLC’s suspension has received attention, too. The brand’s latest version of Dynamic Body Control adaptive dampers can adjust the rate of control individually to each of the four wheels.
A host of improved safety features are fitted to the updated GLC. These include an exit warning function, which prevents opening the doors into oncoming pedestrians and cyclists; emergency corridor function, which can steer between lanes in an emergency; and the tail end of a traffic jam function, which can brake when approaching stationary vehicles, among others. Also new is Trailer Manoeuvring Assist, which can help with reversing manoeuvres while towing.
The GLC 220 d is offered in Sport, AMG Line and AMG Line Premium trims, while the 300 d is offered with AMG Line Premium, AMG Line Premium Plus and AMG Line Premium Plus Ultimate configurations.
Sport models get 18-inch alloy wheels as standard, plus a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system complete with reversing camera and ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice activation. The AMG Line adds 19-inch wheels, adaptive dampers, and AMG add-ons like sports seats and a body kit.
Both of these models, however, lack the 12.3-inch digital dials fitted to trim lines further up: the customisable display lets the driver tailor navigation, infotainment and driving functions to their own tastes. Other features higher up the range include an augmented reality navigation system, multibeam LED headlights and a panoramic glass sunroof.
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