Mercedes-Benz GLC Class (2022 - ) review

Mercedes is making a decisive move upmarket to its traditional premium status, which is reflected in the GLC’s pricing. At least there’s a simple to understand progression up the trim levels, with £5,000 gaps between them and a split between regular petrol and diesels more advanced plug-in hybrid models (PHEVs), which can travel an impressive 80 miles or so on electric power alone by the official stats. This is at least double what most rivals offer, and means with charging at home you could genuinely treat the plug-in GLC as an electric vehicle for most commutes or regular daily trips. True, these plug-in versions are a lot more expensive upfront. But a higher-rate tax payer running one as a company car will make that back with change on Benefit In Kind costs over the course of a typical three-year finance term, so in the long run that extra expense could in fact turn out to be a saving.

Like most of its premium rivals Mercedes generally doesn’t do as well as its image suggests it should when it comes to reliability surveys, this often skewed by the greater expense of fixing things when they do go wrong. Given what you’re paying you’d be reasonable expecting Mercedes to sort anything out if you encounter any issues, though the three-year standard warranty isn’t much to write home about. With the tech under this GLC still relatively new to the market we’ll have to hope it’s more dependable than some earlier Mercedes, and that won’t be an issue.

The range of safety technology available for the GLC is super impressive in its scope and ability to keep you out of trouble, but we need to dock at least a point here on the basis it’s only available as the cost option Driver Assistance Package Plus. Mercedes would argue the technology is expensive, but the GLC is already a very pricey car and you’d hope for more as standard. As it stands you get a reversing camera, assisted parking that intervenes if you still don’t spot obstacles when backing up, automated braking that cuts in if you don’t respond to an oncoming hazard and driver drowsiness alert. If you can stretch to it the full safety package brings a whole extra level of automated alerts and interventions like lane-keeping and blind spot warnings for all manner of driving scenarios. But it’s annoying this option is only available for the already expensive top trim level, and not across the full range.

The tall, SUV stature of the GLC makes it more family-friendly than the C-Class on which it is based, though whether you’ll want to let kids, dogs and other messy occupants do their worst with that posh interior is another matter. The fact the hybrid version we drove was keen to drive on electric power as much as possible helped underline how refined this car is, the acoustic insulation for the glass on this higher trim level also a factor. Given how expensively engineered the GLC feels we’d expect this refinement to carry through to all versions, the isolation from road and tyre noise as impressive as the suspension is comfortable. There’s also plenty of space in the back, with even a half-decent perch for the central seat on the rear bench. Worth noting if you you’re buying SUV for the practicality is the loss of a big huge slice of boot space to the batteries on plug-in hybrid versions, that impressive electric range clearly not coming without some practical sacrifices. The loading sill is also pretty high, with some significant intrusion from the wheelarches eating into the luggage area as well. It’s a common issue with all SUVs and crossovers, but if you’re buying a GLC for load space the regular petrol or diesel versions make better use of what room there is than the hybrids.

Mercedes is properly on its A-game when it comes to interiors at the moment, and the combination of style and tech inside this latest GLC is a huge step up from its predecessor. The combination of a digital instrument cluster and large, vertically oriented central screen is impressive and the graphics and menus they display are suitably slick and logical to operate once you get your head around the idea the touchpad on the left of the steering wheel controls the screen while the one on the right does the instruments. Or you can just use the voice activation if – unlike us - you’re not self-conscious about starting each interaction with a jaunty ‘Hey, Mercedes!’ You can use your phone apps if you prefer but the built-in Mercedes hard disk navigation is very slick and standard across the range, while LED headlights, privacy glass, 64-colour ambient lighting (a favourite with the kids), a reversing camera and climate control among the standard equipment. For the fancier Digital Light headlights, refinement enhancing noise-insulating glass, blind spot assistance and 360-degree parking cameras we’d be tempted to up a trim level if possible, the top spec introducing an even more luxurious feel with proper leather, a panoramic roof and fancy Burmester sound system. Bear in mind it’s only at this level you even get the option of the full Driving Assistance Package, and even then at further cost.

Mercedes is properly on its A-game when it comes to interiors at the moment, and the combination of style and tech inside this latest GLC is a huge step up from its predecessor. The combination of a digital instrument cluster and large, vertically oriented central screen is impressive and the graphics and menus they display are suitably slick and logical to operate once you get your head around the idea the touchpad on the left of the steering wheel controls the screen while the one on the right does the instruments. Or you can just use the voice activation if – unlike us - you’re not self-conscious about starting each interaction with a jaunty ‘Hey, Mercedes!’ You can use your phone apps if you prefer but the built-in Mercedes hard disk navigation is very slick and standard across the range, while LED headlights, privacy glass, 64-colour ambient lighting (a favourite with the kids), a reversing camera and climate control among the standard equipment. For the fancier Digital Light headlights, refinement enhancing noise-insulating glass, blind spot assistance and 360-degree parking cameras we’d be tempted to up a trim level if possible, the top spec introducing an even more luxurious feel with proper leather, a panoramic roof and fancy Burmester sound system. Bear in mind it’s only at this level you even get the option of the full Driving Assistance Package, and even then at further cost.