By Eric Peters
One of Mercedes’ most successful vehicles ever was the M-Class SUV, which Mercedes no longer makes. (The last year was 2015.) Its place has been taken by two SUVs — both of them so similar it’s hard to tell them apart.
One, the GLE is a little bit larger than the old M. The other, the GLC, is a little smaller.
But it’s just gotten a little bit larger.
And a little bit smaller (under the hood).
What It Is
The GLC is a slightly-larger-than-compact-size SUV that’s a little bit smaller than the old M-Class SUV and the current midsize Mercedes GLE SUV. Both differ from crossover SUVs in that the GLC and the GLE are based on rear-drive (rather than front-wheel-drive) layouts. The GLC differs from the GLE chiefly in that it does not offer third-row seating nor an optional — stronger — engine.
It’s also less expensive for that reason.
Base price for the rear-drive GLC 300 is $47,100, and $57,700 for the GLE 350.
Equipped with the optional 4Matic all-wheel-drive system, a GLC 300 stickers for $49,100, and $60,200 for the GLE 350 4Matic.
What’s New For 2023
The GLC gets a little larger and roomier. It is now about 2 inches longer than it was before, and its cargo area has been expanded by about 4 cubic feet.
It also gets a little smaller in terms of what’s no longer available, at least for the moment.
The ’23 GLC only offers a turbocharged four, supplemented by a mild hybrid system similar to the one that’s available in the GLE, with its optional turbocharged (and in-line) six-cylinder engine.
What’s Good
A slightly smaller version of the slightly large, and much more expensive, GLE.
Slightly larger (and roomier) than it used to be.
S-Class-looking interior and tech.
What’s Not So Good
More engine isn’t available.
Driver assistance tech can be overly assisting.
The superb massaging seats that are available in the GLE aren’t offered in the GLC.
Under The Hood
The GLC comes standard with a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 255 horsepower and 295 foot-pounds of torque at 2,000 rpm. The engine is teamed up with a nine-speed automatic and a mild hybrid system that cycles the engine off when its power isn’t needed to propel the vehicle. When the engine is off, accessories are powered by the 48-volt electric system, which (in turn) is powered when the engine is running and charging the battery that stores the power to run the accessories when the engine’s off.
The idea here is to uptick gas mileage, which is 23 mpg city, 31 mpg highway for the 4Matic-equipped GLC 300, and reduce emissions (of carbon dioxide gas) without costing power/performance.
It does a pretty good job on that score.
The GLC can get to 60 in just over six seconds, which is about one second quicker than the old (2015) ML 350, which came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 and 302 horsepower. It also only managed 18 city, 24 highway (17 city, 22 highway for the 4Matic-equipped version).
However, the GLC’s maximum tow rating is just 3,500 pounds. The old ML 350 could pull more than 6,000 pounds — and so can the current GLE, when you buy the GLE 450, which comes standard with a turbocharged in-line six (and 362 horsepower) paired with a similar mild hybrid setup.
On The Road
The GLC’s 2.0-liter engine doesn’t sound like much engine.
It’s mostly as quiet as an electric motor, especially when it isn’t running. You won’t hear that, either, as the off-on transitions are not noticeable by ear or even by feel, except when you’re already stopped, as at a red light. Then you may notice the engine isn’t running — because the tachometer isn’t moving. It moves, again, when the light turns green and the engine is quick-started by the high-powered, 48-volt flywheel-mounted generator/starter system. It has the power — the leverage — to turn the engine over very fast and very quickly, accounting for the almost-instant (and almost imperceptible) restarts.
But the thing you will notice is that the GLC isn’t slow even though its engine is very small relative to the size (and weight) of the GLC itself.
At The Curb
When Benz made the ML 350, it was easy to tell what it was a glance because, at the time, Benz didn’t make other SUVs that looked almost the same that were a little bit larger and a little bit smaller.
Now Mercedes does.
The GLC is a little smaller than the GLE, and it is a little larger than the GLB, which is Mercedes’ smallest SUV.
What the GLC brings to the table is more gravitas than the front-drive-based GLB, which comes standard with less power (221 horsepower) — and a lower price than the GLE, which offers more passenger-carrying capacity if equipped with its available third row. You can’t get that in the GLC, but if you don’t need a third row, you won’t miss it.
The GLC is not Mercedes’ most expensive model, but it comes standard with what used to be offered only in the most expensive Mercedes models: a flat-screen (LCD) instrument cluster and another (even larger) 11.9-inch flat-screen off to its right that looks and works just like a large smartphone.
The Rest
The GLC does not come standard with seats that cool as well as heat. That’s a bit of an omission for a car that stickers for just shy of $50,000 to start, given how many cars that sticker for $35,000 or so to start do come standard with heated and cooled seats. They are, however, available as a stand-alone option, and you can also get heated rear seats. (This feature is uncommon in cars that cost $35,000).
The Bottom Line
The old ML 350 was a kind of one-size-fits-all SUV. The GLC is an SUV that fits some better than others. And for the others, Benz has the GLE — and the GLB.
Eric’s latest book, “Doomed: Good Cars Gone Wrong!” will be available soon. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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