Battery size: 94.5kWh
E-Rating™: A
Max charge rate: 330kW
WLTP range: 396 - 406 miles
Introduction – new Mercedes GLC Electric
The all-new, electric Mercedes GLC is here! You certainly can't miss it – or that enormous grille. This is Mercedes’ mid-sized electric SUV. At 4.86 metres long, and full of next-gen battery and infotainment tech, it sits above the slightly smaller (yet seven seat) Mercedes GLB Electric, and it replaces the old Mercedes EQC.
That means it’s a rival to the Volvo EX60, Audi Q6 E-tron and Porsche Macan Electric as well as the new BMW iX3. It will also have to face the Tesla Model Y, Polestar 4 and various new Chinese rivals like the BYD Sealion 7 and Xpeng G6.
I spent a day driving a few different variants of the new, electric Merc GLC around Surrey in the UK, and it really impressed. So don't think that the GLC is out of the running in the premium family electric SUV class just because there are some rivals with even longer range; the Merc feels like a happy medium between the BMW iX3 and Volvo EX60, and it's also more generously equipped as standard – as I found out when I spent some time in the entry-level Merc GLC 400 Electric Sport – but I'll talk about that a bit further down the review.
Mind you, one of the standard features that you can't miss is that grille! I imagine you’ve noticed how big it is? Mercedes says the new GLC Electric is a return to its classic style of 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, even if it is a bit blingy. Let us know what you think by leaving a comment on the video.
You can have an illuminated version as an option, which can perform a little light show as the car is locked and unlocked. This might help distract from the fact that the rest of the styling is pretty conventional, but there are some power bulges on the bonnet to add a bit of interest, as well as a rear spoiler. It's a bit predictable, I guess, but not in a bad way! In fact, I think the more understated, traditional styling may be something that a lot of buyers will like.
The electric GLC is already available to order in the UK with two powertrain options in GLC 400 4Matic or GLC 250 guise.
Range, battery and charging
The electric GLC EQ Technology gets a 92kWh usable NMC battery in its 400 guise, or an 85kWh pack in entry level 250 form. Both are built into the all-new MB-EA platform, which will also be used in the new electric Mercedes C-Class, as well as in a baby G-Class SUV.
WLTP range on the Mercedes GLC 400 4Matic is up to 406 miles, which is a way behind rivals like the BMW iX3 and Volvo EX60 but is very competitive with alternatives like the Porsche Macan and Audi Q6 e-tron. The Mercedes has a smaller battery than the BMW iX3, though, so claimed efficiency is almost identical. The GLC 250 get a 389-mile WLTP rating from its slightly smaller battery.
Real-world range shouldn’t drop too much in winter, either, as the GLC uses a new heat pump, which is compact and super efficient. It grabs waste heat from the battery, motors and the surrounding air to warm you and the battery if needed.
I drove the electric GLC 400 in warmer temperatures around Surrey, in mostly slower town and faster country roads, and saw an average efficiency of 3.8 miles/kWh, which isn't bad for such a big car – especially as I got much the same results regardless of whether I was in a car on 20 or 21-inch alloy wheels. That works out at a real world range of nearly 360 miles, although I'd expect that to drop to closer to 300 miles in winter temperatures.
As you’d expect, the GLC gets 800V electrical architecture, which is effectively an industrial-strength electrical system that allows for much faster charging than the 400V charging used in most EVs. It allows for ultra-rapid charging of up to 330kW, which Merc claims is good enough for an additional 160 miles of range in around 10 minutes in ideal conditions, provided you’re plugged into a suitably powerful rapid charging station.
A 100 mile top-up from one of the 400V 150kW rapid charging stations that you find in most services in the UK will take around 15 to 20 minutes. Most owners will do the majority of their charging from a 7kW home car charger, which will deliver a 10–100% charge in around 14 to 15 hours.
Practicality and boot space
The electric Mercedes GLC gets a big boot of 520 litres. That's 50 litres more than in the BMW iX3, but is a fraction smaller than the boot you get in the new Volvo EX60. Still, it’s a pretty huge luggage space that has a fairly low load lip and will be great if you’ve got dogs to load, or a chunky buggy.
As an added bonus there's a huge 128-litre frunk with touch control, so you just press the badge and don’t have to faff around with pull levers in the interior of the car to release it, which I really do like. It always annoys me when you have to rummage around in the footwell of a car in order to open the frunk.
There’s also loads of space in the rear seats, so even if you’re ferrying lanky teens around (like I am!) then they’ll have loads of space to get comfy. If you’re thinking of switching to this electric GLC after having the petrol or diesel GLC previously, you’ll notice that there’s a fair bit more space.
The electric powertrain and EV-specific new platform means that Mercedes has squeezed in a longer wheelbase, so (despite the battery-powered Mercedes GLC measuring much the same length at 4.85m long) there’s nearly 50mm more legroom in the back and 46mm of additional headroom. Naturally, there are also charging ports, climate control and a central rear armrest.
You even get a standard full-length panoramic glass roof on every GLC model, which you can shade in different sections. It’s absolutely gorgeous and really makes the cabin feel light and airy – and it’s great that it’s standard, as a lot of rivals only have a pano roof on high-spec trims or as a pricey optional extra.
Towing capacity is up to 2,400kg for the electric GLC, which isn’t bad at all and could make this a good electric SUV for those who want to tow a caravan or horse box.
Interior, design and technology
This is where the GLC gets really interesting. Mercedes 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 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 – or the rather Zen forest setting, shown above – should you want it. Otherwise it will, of course, also show you the nav map, menus, climate control and all your other features.
Physical switches are back, too, with a proper button to change the drive modes and a few other key functions, and you get that huge panoramic roof as standard on every trim (you'll pay extra for that on the lower trim BMW iX3, by the way...). The seats are especially comfortable and supportive, and the long wheelbase means there is loads of room in the back – much more than in the existing petrol versions of the Merc GLC.
It all feels beautifully finished, but I’ll be honest – I think this is a bit too much screen for me. It’s a matter of opinion, and I don’t find the interface too difficult to get on with so I think this would be an easy system to use every day. You do get nav, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ChatGPT-powered voice control and more, all included.
And yes, you can choose modes for the Merc's screen that switches off the section in front of the passenger and keep info and glare to a minimum, if you don't want to be distracted by it. But I do prefer a smaller screen that’s a bit less overwhelming.
What do you reckon? You may well love this, as it’s certainly a pretty spectacular screen! Leave a comment on the video, to let us know.
Motors, performance and handling
Right, there are big expectations for the GLC in terms of how it drives, given the huge success of the Mercedes CLA that went on to win European car of the year.
I drove the GLC 400 4Matic model that was initially the only one available in the UK before the 250 joined the range. It gets dual electric motors for active all-wheel drive, as you probably guessed from the 4Matic badging, and they deliver a combined output of 489hp for a 0–62mph time of just 4.3 seconds. Which, I think we can all agree, is plenty.
The 250 has a single motor setup with a still respectable 354hp, driving the back wheels and getting the car to 62mph in 5.9 seconds.
The 400 is punchy, but I found the power delivery really nice, actually. It doesn’t have that ridiculous shove that the Tesla Model Y Performance delivers. Instead, the GLC feels controlled and easy to modulate yet supremely muscular. It’s really nice... understated yet potent. Just what you expect of a Mercedes, of course.
The ride comfort is lovely, too. I drove a Merc GLC 400 Electric Sport on 20-inch alloy wheels and with the standard, passive dampers, and it managed well over the typically scruffy and lumpy UK roads all around Surrey and the western corner of the M25.
You notice the noise from the rear suspension, more than any thumping or jarring from the ride itself. It did get a touch crashy over a few bigger potholes around town, but generally the GLC Electric proved to be really nice to drive, and I'd say you don't need to add the air suspension unless you're really keen on that pillowy ride comfort.
Having said that, the higher spec GLC 400 Electric I drove with the Airmatic suspension and rear-axle steering (part of the Refinement pack that costs £2,500 in the UK) did have that extra sense of sumptuousness.
You can feel the rear-wheel steering giving the GLC a tighter turning circle when you're manoeuvring around a car park or jinking through sharp direction changes, while the air give a really nice, loping ride comfort that suits the GLC perfectly. It's not an essential, but it is a very good addition to the electric Merc SUV if you can afford to add it. You can also now raise and lower the ride height using the voice activation, which is useful.
Another thing that I really like in the GLC is the driving position – not just because the car set it up for me perfectly with its automated driving position selector mode, but I like the fact that for an SUV with a massive battery underneath I don’t feel perched too high. You can set the seat quite low, and you feel nicely ensconced.
I also really liked Mercedes’ new regen braking system, which has been designed to put more energy back into the battery. Like most regen systems, it works when you brake or coast, but it can feed back more energy than previous regen systems.
More importantly, it’s easy to toggle between the one-pedal setting, the more moderate regen modes and the adaptive setting using the steering wheel paddles or the gear selector stick, and the system is easy to predict as it doesn’t feel grabby or inconsistent.
Smooth driving is no problem in the GLC, even in stop-start traffic. In fact, the whole car is characterised by being very smooth. Very Mercedes, I suppose!
Is the BMW iX3 a bit sharper to drive on a good road? I’d say so, but the GLC is very slick and a bit more comfort focused. In fact, the GLC, iX3 and EX60 all have their own distinctive characters and feel quite different to each other, so I suspect they'll appeal to different buyers despite all being large posh electric SUVs.
Running costs and pricing
The GLC range starts from just over £55,000 and stretches right up to over £73,000 on the road. Equipment is pretty good even in the GLC Sport entry model, with that panoramic roof, full-width infotainment screen, leatherette upholstery (certified vegan, in fact), adjustable lumbar support for the driver, heated front seats and even a massage function all included.
The AMG Line model adds that illuminated grille, sports seats and various style upgrades, while the AMG Line Premium adds that Mercedes Hyperscreen infotainment system with touchscreen functionality for the passenger as well. Higher spec trims adds features like the head-up display, bigger alloy wheels, nappa leather and more.
I’d stick with the mid-spec AMG Line, but add the Refinement pack for that air suspension and rear axle steering, and probably one of the rather lovely metallic paint colours, too. If you feel like spoiling yourself, anyway...
That’ll get you a very competitively priced Mercedes GLC Electric 400 4Motion, and is actually slightly better value than the Volvo EX60 and BMW iX3 when you compare them spec-for-spec. The Mercedes also looked slightly cheaper on PCP monthly costs when I did a comparison between this and the BMW iX3 and Volvo EX60, but these monthly finance and leasing costs change all the time, so do your homework on the real ownership costs if you're thinking of paying monthly.
Verdict
The Mercedes GLC electric is just a sumptuous delight of a car. I really love that it feels very different to the BMW iX3 and Tesla Model Y, and even to the Volvo EX60. It’s great that buyers now have such fantastic options in the executive electric SUV class, as there’s not a bad car out of this lot.
But it has to be said that the BMW and Volvo both have usefully longer range – and that'll be the deciding factor for plenty of buyers. If you're not so fussed about having that milestone 500-mile range, then the Merc definitely sets itself apart with infotainment wow factor, silky on-road manners and competitive monthly finance costs, so if that’s what you’re after then don’t hesitate – it’s great!
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