Mercedes GLC SUV review

The Mercedes GLC is an upmarket SUV with a quality interior and plenty of space inside. It’s similar to the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 – all three are upmarket and spacious, but like a posh handbag, they’re not exactly great value for money.

The GLC name hints that the SUV is of a similar size to the C-Class, and it shares a little with the way it looks too. The GLC is a bit more aggressive than the saloon, but you can see the family resemblance and both are smart-looking cars.

It’s even more similar inside as the interior of the GLC is just as luxurious and pleasant as the C-Class’. The soft-touch materials and tactile wood trims mean it’s a great place to spend time especially with the comfy leather seats.

The Mercedes GLC’s interior suffers from a rather poor infotainment set-up, though. The screen looks like an afterthought on the dash and while functionality is good, the interface looks dated and isn’t that easy to use.

There’s plenty of room inside, though, and even tall adults will have no trouble fitting in the back seats. It’s really roomy up front too, with plenty of storage around the cabin for your things. There’s a big boot as well, so whether it’s bikes, buggies or golf clubs you’re carrying there shouldn’t be any issue with space.

The Mercedes GLC has a fancy cabin and sharp styling, so it’s an appealing choice, but a BMW X3 is a more complete car under the skin

The GLC comes with a decent range of engines, so there’s a good model for each use case. The C220d model is a good all-rounder as it’s punchy and economical, or if you prefer petrol there’s the C300 model. There’s even plug-in hybrid and powerful AMG models, too.

High-spec models have air suspension but most cars have standard springs, and while the GLC is comfortable for the most part, it can be a bit jittery over bumps at low speed. The versions on larger alloy wheels exacerbate this trait.

It’s not that fun to drive either, as a BMW X3 is more agile. The steering is light but not very satisfying to use, and with four-wheel drive as standard and a nine-speed automatic gearbox, it’s safe rather than exciting to drive quickly.

Yet buyers who want a sporty car will rarely choose an SUV. The GLC is all about practicality and luxury, which it certainly lives up to. A few small flaws are easily overlooked if you love the way it looks.

If it’s your choice as a next car, check out our GLC deals page to find one at a great price.

Common Mercedes GLC questions

What does GLC stand for?

There are two parts to the ‘GLC’ name. First, ‘GL’. This is a contraction of ‘gelandewagen’, the German word for ‘off-road vehicle’, otherwise known as an SUV. Next, we have ‘C’, which Mercedes uses to denote its mid-size cars, like the C-Class saloon. Put it all together and the name GLC tells you that the car is a mid-size SUV– or the SUV equivalent of the C-Class.

Which is better – GLC or GLE?

The GLC is the SUV equivalent of the C-Class; the GLE is the SUV equivalent of the E-Class. Therefore, the GLE is a much bigger car than the GLC. So, it’s more a question of how much space you need and what your budget is.

If you want a Mercedes SUV, buy one. If you need lots of space and the option of seven seats, buy the GLE. Oh, it also has a nicer looking infotainment system. If you don’t need so much space, or your budget won’t stretch that far, buy the GLC.

Mercedes GLC Design

The Mercedes GLC is a typical medium-sized upmarket SUV – its design accentuates its size using bulges and creases in the bodywork to make it seem more aggressive. There’s a relatively long bonnet at the front, which merges into a high-up cabin. There are roof rails on top to give it a more rugged appearance, and black plastic cladding around the wheel arches does the same job. There are plenty of parts that are determined by which trim level you go for.

Mercedes GLC Sport
The Mercedes GLC Sport is the most basic model in the range but it’s still fairly flashy. It has LED headlights, a large Mercedes badge on the grille – which has a ‘four-spoke’ design – and 18-inch alloy wheels as standard. The back end of the car has a silver-coloured section at the bottom that highlights the tailpipes.

Mercedes GLC AMG Line
The AMG Line version of the Mercedes GLC is easily picked out because of the different grille – it has a ‘two-spoke’ design with lots of little silver dots. Mercedes calls this the Diamond radiator grille, although there are no precious stones involved. The AMG Line car also has a different front bumper with sportier-looking air intakes, a rear diffuser and larger 19-inch alloy wheels.

Mercedes GLC AMG Line Premium
The AMG Line Premium model is almost identical to the AMG Line for the most part, but it has larger 20-inch alloy wheels, some running boards and different-looking multibeam LED headlights.

Mercedes GLC AMG Line Premium Plus & AMG Line Ultimate design
AMG Line Premium Plus trim has 20-inch alloy wheels as well but they’re in a different five-spoke design, and there’s also a sunroof. AMG Line Ultimate has the same exterior look but features special air suspension under the skin.