Mercedes-Benz GLC EQ Technology preview

Let’s deal with the bit of this car which you probably can’t take your eyes off. Because I certainly can’t. It’s the grille. Forget all the high tech, long range, fast charging and 600bhp version. This is what everyone is going to be talking about. 

It’s huge. And just in case you miss it, which is unlikely unless you are in space, it is also illuminated.

Now we have the grille over and done with, let me tell you more about the GLC. This replaces the EQC and is – obviously – an electrified version of the familiar petrol and diesel GLCs. That means it’s a rival to the Audi Q6 E-tron and Porsche Macan Electric as well as the BMW. It will also have to face the Polestar 3 and 4, along with some of the new Chinese rivals. 

It will be on sale in the UK in early 2026, and it’s big news for Mercedes as the GLC is the company’s biggest seller. I know – that was news to me too!

Styling and Dimensions

Mercedes says this is a return to its classic style of having big upright grilles and it will be used on all is future electric cars – so we’d better get used to it. Just as BMW starts toning down its nose, Mercedes ramps it up. I think I like it….

You can have an illuminated version as an option, with a total of 942 polycarbonate backlit dots. This can even be animated to make pretty patterns. Additionally, the central star and grille are illuminated.  The rear lights can do many of the same tricks, performing a little light show as the car is locked and unlocked, and always displaying an illuminated Mercedes star.

This might help distract from the fact that the  rest of the styling is pretty conventional – perhaps that’s what Mercedes buyers like. There are some power bulges on bonnet which add a bit of interest and a rear spoiler too, but its pretty predictable. 

That doesn’t mean it’s ugly, but it won’t turn as many heads as a Polestar or BMW iX3.

Interior

This is where the Mercedes gets more interesting. It really has thrown everything in here, filling it with tech and features which it says will make it feel like a ‘home away from home’. 

The TV is as big as the one in my home, certainly. The company clearly want to win the war of the screens, and has  ‘pillar to pillar’ hyperscreen displays, all powered by a central ‘superbrain’ called MB.OS. The total size of screen is a whopping 39.1 inches, and it has all sorts of different modes, including a fake aquarium, should you want it. 

Physical switches are back too – unlike in the CLA – and the optional glass roof has a snazzy electronic shade which can be programmed to have Mercedes logos and stars displayed, if you wish.

The seats are especially comfortable and supportive, and the long wheel base means there is loads of room in the back – much more than in the petrol and hybrid versions.

The boot big too – 570 litres is 50 more than the BMW, but it is 10 litres smaller with the seats down at 1,740 litres. 

As an added bonus – huge 128 litre frunk with touch control, so you just press the badge and don’t have to fannying around with clips and levers. 

Battery, Charging and Efficiency

The GLC EQ doesn’t share its body and other bits with the internal combustion GLCs. Under the body is an all-new electric architecture called the MB-EA platform. It will also be used in the new electric C-Class next year, and a baby G Class SUV.

As you’d expect in has an 800-volt electric architecture which means it can charge fast and is super-efficient. Like the CLA Tom drove a few weeks ago, it also has a two speed gearbox to help make every watt go further.

This all means the most efficient CLA will have an official range of 435 miles in the single motor version. That’s less than the BMW, but the Merc has a smaller battery at 94.5kWh versus the iX3’s 108, so the miles per kWh numbers are almost identical. 

The range shouldn’t drop too much in winter either, as the GLC uses a new heat pump, which is super-efficient and compact too. It grabs waste heat from the battery, motors and the surrounding air to warm you and the battery if needed. 

The 320kW charging means you’ll be able to add 160 miles to the range in less than 10 minutes on the right charger – and unlike the CLA Tom tested, you’ll be able to use 400-volt charging stations when they are all that’s available. 

Performance

As you’d expect from Mercedes there are loads of options. With twin motors it will have up to 482bhp, and the front motor can be engaged or disengaged to keep the efficiency high. There are rumours of a 600bhp AMG too. 

The GLC 400 4MATIC which launches first will be a fine tow car too – it will have a rating of up to 2.4 tons. That’s loads.

We need to highlight the brakes too, as the pedal isn’t connected to anything except electronic gizmos. It’s called the One Box system – and the computers control the brakes rather than pipes of fluid. Most of the time it will use the motors to slow the car and recapture the energy. It’s said to really boost the amount of regen you get back. 

The computers control the air suspension too, with technology nicked from the S‑Class. If you order the The Agility & Comfort Package it also has with rear-axle steering, giving up to 4.5 degrees of steering angle in each direction. That means it will go around tight turns much easier and will also change lanes faster on the motorway. 

Verdict

Mercedes knows its customers well, and has created a car which is both exciting and a little boring at the same time. Ignore the grille and it is a generic Mercedes SUV, but inside the amount of tech is mind-boggling. It’s spacious too and has some really interesting features.

The new electric car hardware is impressive too, with a long range, fast charging and good efficiency. There is no word on prices yet, but I suspect you will have to pay for all this in the showroom, but hopefully it will still be affordable for some