Mercedes-Benz India will launch the all-new GLC-Class on June 2. We’ve been in ths hills down south driving the two variants of the new luxury compact SUV.
Story & Photography: Jim Gorde
The new GLC-Class is the second-tier of the Mercedes-Benz luxury SUV stable. Globally, it replaces the left-hand-drive-only GLK-Class, and, in India, it becomes the much-anticipated middleweight, positioned between the GLA and the GLE. It completes the company’s illustrious SUV line-up that goes further up with the GLE Coupé, the larger seven-seater GLS, and the legendary G-wagen.
Sitting between two established siblings is a good thing because the GLC will now take the fight to some other well-established names: the Audi Q5, the BMW X3 and the Volvo XC60. At 4,656 mm long, it’s only slightly longer than the Q5 (27 mm) and XC60 (12 mm), and 1 mm shorter than the X3. However, being based on the C-Class, its wheelbase of 2,873 mm is significantly longer than all three: 63mm more than the X3, 66 mm more than the Q5, and 99 mm more than the XC60. Right.
The standout details are the smart front-end with the beautiful C-Class LED eyes with Intelligent Lighting System and the suave two-slat grille. The proportions are more large, butch estate-like and less rounded, which makes it unmistakeable as the GLS’s younger sibling. The rear too looks very contemporary, especially with the sharp LED tail-lamp cluster. The Offroad package is offered as standard in India, and that brings a stylish front bumper which allows a better approach angle – worry less about those massive speed-humps – together with underbody protection, side running boards, 18-inch wheels with 235/60 R18 rubber and further-tweaked electronic aids in the form of three additional drive modes, Off-road, Incline and Slippery, as well as tweaked ABS, ESP and traction control, plus Downhill Speed Regulation. Oh, and you also get 20 mm higher ground clearance, so that’s 201 mm, if my calculations are correct. India doesn’t get the Air Body Control so there are no adjustable air springs here.
Mercedes are bringing in the GLC with two driveline choices: one petrol and one diesel. The diesel variant, the GLC 220 d, continues to have the popular 2.2-litre in-line four turbo-diesel motor making 170 PS and 400 Nm, but is now paired to the 9G-Tronic automatic transmission and 4MATIC intelligent-all-wheel-drive. The petrol GLC 300 is the first appearance of the new ‘300’ badged turbo-four 2.0-litre engine in India. Seen in the CLA-, C- and E-Class cars as the ‘200’ with 184 PS and 300 Nm, the ‘300’ gets 245 PS and 370 Nm. It is also paired to the 9G-Tronic and 4MATIC. These choices put the GLC at an advantage. It’s the only one to offer a petrol engine choice, which is a big deal if you want to buy something in this space in Delhi or Kerala for now.
We were driving the GLC 220 d from Kodagu (Coorg, earlier) to Mangaluru (err. Mangalore, earlier) and I managed to cover some 80-odd km in the car over what was mostly winding mountain road. The interior is very comfortable and has several elements and details that the GLA could very well make do with. The cabin quality is very C and feels well put-together. The balance of wood trim and metal highlights, together with customisable ambient lighting make it feel elegant and innately comfortable. The space is good, thanks to the long wheelbase, with the rear feeling even better than it does in the C, if I do say so myself. The knee room is more than adequate and the seat angles are comfortable and ergonomic for long sprints in the car. Cabin sound insulation, as always, is top notch and ride quality is fantastic even with the standard spring set-up. The Dynamic Select has five drive modes: Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and Individual. These are there apart from the Off-road special menu.
Getting a move on over the bumpy, pothole-ridden exit road from the hotel had us bouncing about quite a bit. There’s a feature to counter that, but it’s only available in conjunction with the Air Body Control and that’s not offered in India. So that meant there is a fair bit of moving around on bad roads. All said and done, the suspension is on the softer side, even in ‘Sport’ mode and soaks up bumps well, there is a bit of roll around corners.
Soon, we were out on the winding mountain roads. The GLC 220 d 4MATIC held its line well and, even at highway speeds, it was a cinch to keep in control. Tight corners and changes of direction iin the S bends saw some body roll, but it wasn’t too disorienting. The diesel packs a fair bit of punch with 170 PS and the 400 Nm peaking between 1,400 and 2,800 RPM. However, I wish we see a 250 d with 204 PS soon. The 9G-Tronic nine-speeder shifts early and that sometimes drops it into the lag zone, especially in ‘Comfort’ mode where shifts drop the engine speed down to as low as 1,100 RPM when cruising; putting you foot down there has it taking a bit of a deep breath before the turbo blows hard. Nevertheless, 80 km/h is handled at 1,300 RPM in eight gear – as much as I tried short-shifting at that speed, it simply wouldn’t select ninth.
Select ‘Sport’ though and the power delivery characteristics change completely. The engine boils between 2,000 and 3,000 RPM keeping the wave of torque alive. It’s much more responsive and overtaking becomes easier with instant acceleration when the foot pushes harder on the pedal. The stiffer suspension also makes cornering easier, but roll is still perceptible in the sharper bends. The higher ride height from the Off-road package no doubt playing a part. The cabin, though, is still a great place to be in. The Curve Dynamic Assist function does its best to keep the car planted and it does its job well, it must be said.
The GLC 220 d 4MATIC is comfortable at pottering city speeds as well as triple-digit ones on the open road. It’s a sensible car and should be available at a competitive price point too. We’ll have to wait a week before we find out how much exactly.
The GLC 300 on the other hand, which I drove very briefly, felt more ready-to-spring. The petrol engine bursts into life at a lowly 1,300 RPM where torque starts peaking, and, the way I saw it, I never saw anything less than 1,800 RPM on the tacho. The peak 245 PS and hefty 370 Nm of torque make it feel more agile and the way it goes about business in a more urgent manner is something very appreciated. The weight difference is also responsible here: 1,871 kg to the diesel’s portly 1,954 kg. The GLC 300 4MATIC feels more exciting and lively and it’s relatively compact proportions make it a fun car to have: city, bends or highway.
Need to Know:
Mercedes-Benz GLC 220 d 4MATIC
Price: Rs 45-50 lakh (estimated)
Engine: 2,143 cc, in-line four, turbo-diesel
Max Power: 170 PS @ 3,000-4,200 RPM
Max Torque: 400 Nm @ 1,400-2,800 RPM
Transmission: Nine-speed, automatic, all-wheel-drive
Weight: 1,954 kg
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC
Price: Rs 55 lakh (estimated)
Engine: 1,991 cc, in-line four, turbo-petrol
Max Power: 245 PS @ 5,500 RPM
Max Torque: 370 Nm @ 1,300-4,000 RPM
Transmission: Nine-speed, automatic, all-wheel-drive
Weight: 1,871 kg
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