2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC Review
Car Tested: 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 220d; Road Test No. 1151; Test Location: Bengaluru
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 62.70 – 69.75 lakhs
Mercedes has just facelifted its most popular luxury SUV, the GLC with some cosmetic changes and BS6 engines
It was in 2016 when Mercedes decided to launch the GLC in India, slotting it right between the entry-level GLA and the successful GLE. The luxury SUV segment was already very crowded at that time with enough products in the Rs. 50-70 lakh segment, but Mercedes made a smart move with the GLC. The GLC is bigger and more premium than the GLA but also more affordable than the large GLE. Competing against a variety of cars like the BMW X3, Volvo XC60, Land Rover Discovery Sport, etc., the GLC has had a decent enough run. But what we now have is the GLC facelift, with the SUV getting new clothes and a cleaner heart.
The 2020 GLC gets LED headlamps with new DRLs and 19-inch alloys
Exteriors – The overall body shape of the Mercedes GLC remains identical to the outgoing model. Though, a lot of things have been enhanced for better aesthetics and to make this SUV fit inline with Mercedes’ other newer cars. The headlamps get new inserts and the projectors have been replaced with LED beams. The headlamp unit also gets an LED DRL which covers almost the entire border of the unit, unlike the C-Class facelift which gets a single LED DRL strip at the top. The taillights have gotten a similar treatment, with new detailing similar to the bigger GLS. The bumpers of the GLC now come with faux diffusers and overall I think the car looks so much more polished now. The front looks handsome, the side screams luxury and the rear looks sporty alright. The new 19-inch wheels do their part in improving the looks of this SUV too.
The GLC gets a new steering wheel with two touchpads
Interiors – The interior of the Mercedes GLC always felt like a good place to be in and the facelifted model here has just made things so much better. Upfront, you get the same layout for the centre console and most of the controls but the most prominent changes are the new steering and of course the highlight of the GLC, the new MBUX infotainment system. The new steering wheel gets two touchpads to control the infotainment and the instrument console. The cruise control buttons have moved up to the wheel as well. The instrument cluster gets the same layout as before but the MID has transformed, with a new 3D look and far better colours.
One can monitor & control various features of their GLC through an app
The GLC also gets Mercedes’ latest MBUX infotainment system with connected car features and a voice assistant
The MBUX system consists of a 10.25-inch touchscreen with an in-built Vodafone sim card. Functions like Apple CarPlay and navigation can be operated through touch but the downer here is that CarPlay isn’t wireless. With the in-built sim card, the GLC now boasts of connected car technology and you can remotely lock/unlock your car, switch on the AC and even remotely switch off the engine if your car gets stolen. It also gets functions like vehicle tracking and geo-fencing. The app also displays tyre pressures, vehicle’s health and fuel status, while there’s a version of the app compatible with the Apple Watch too. The MBUX also gets a Voice Assistant feature which does work quite well, but tends to be overly responsive.
The GLC is quite spacious for its size & the large sunroof gives an airy feel
Space at the rear is quite decent. You get enough knee room and headspace and the overall ambience is quite pleasant and airy. Mercedes is now offering manually retractable sun-blinds along with USB Type-C ports at the rear. The boot of the GLC has a good cargo capacity and stuff all your luggage for more than a weekend’s drive. The front seats continue being as good as before with very good support for the back, lumbar and under-thighs. The driving position is indeed very good and offers a good view ahead but I’d have liked the GLC to come with memory seats with this update.
The GLC gets the same refined and frugal diesel engine as the C-Class
Performance – The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC gets a new 2.0-litre OM654 diesel engine which replaces the older 2.2-litre OM651 unit. This is the same engine which also found its way into the facelifted C-Class. While it is down on cubic capacity, it is actually more powerful by 24 PS (195 PS, 400 Nm), runs on cleaner fuel, offers better efficiency and is more refined. Drivability is very good and you notice this as soon as you get behind the wheel of this SUV. The engine responds very nicely to throttle inputs and driving in the city is as easy as it gets. This has enough punch on the highways too, however, it doesn’t feel very aggressive, say like the C300d. The engine has a very calm nature and it has no issues in climbing up to high numbers on the speedometer.
The 9-Speed automatic gearbox keeps pace with the responsive engine
The new diesel engine powering the GLC offers fantastic driveability along with linear power delivery
Matched to this engine is the usual 9G-TRONIC automatic gearbox which is again known for its smooth and refined nature. The gearbox has been tuned well for urban driveability. You’ll notice that when you go easy on the throttle it upshifts very quickly and smoothly but if you’re mashing the accelerator and want a quick downshift to overtake some vehicles, the transmission will take a second or two to respond. The GLC is also offered with a 2.0-litre M264 petrol engine doling out 195 HP and 320 Nm with the same gearbox and BS6 compliant. We drove the diesel engine during our test and returned a fuel economy of about 10 km/l in Bangalore’s traffic and around 13 km/l on the highways. Do note that we did have some fun behind the wheel and the car was driven with a bit of enthusiasm. Maintain consistent speeds on long highway runs and you’ll just be surprised with this engine’s efficiency.
The GLC is oriented more towards comfort and relaxed crusing
Driving Dynamics – The Mercedes GLC has mostly unchanged dynamics. The steering is light for the city and feels confident at high speeds but mind you this isn’t a car meant for spirited driving on twisties. There’s a considerable amount of body roll, the chassis isn’t as responsive and tight as a sedan’s and this car mainly feels like a tourer. It will ferry you hundreds of kms in comfort without breaking a sweat but drive hard and it might just leave you desiring for a bit more enthusiasm. The suspension soaks up bumps well but the ride feels a bit firmer on the updated model. Braking performance is quite good and the GLC now comes with Active Brake Assist. This feature stops the car autonomously when it detects a collision, even if the driver doesn’t give his inputs. If the driver does give his inputs and presses the brake pedal a bit, the ABA system applies more pressure than usual to stop the car properly.
Mercedes has also equipped the GLC with Active Brake Assist
Safety and After Sales Service – The new GLC comes with all the necessary safety features you would expect from Mercedes including front and side airbags along with knee airbag, ABS, EBD, Traction Control, Stability Control, etc. The GLC is equipped with Pre-Safe system which detects collision. It comes with emergency calling system, phone connected live tracking, speed alert, etc. Mercedes is rapidly increasing their footprint in India and currently have a network across 47 cities with 97 outlets. They offer standard 3 year warranty with GLC that can be extended to 6 years. STAR Ease Maintenance Packages is being offered along with Mobilo service which is a roadside assistance service and comes standard for 3 years.
Apart from being dynamically-rich, the 2020 GLC does most things right
Verdict – The Mercedes GLC is actually a very good SUV in the mid-size luxury space. It looks far better now, the interior screams of premiumness and the cabin is possibly the plushest one in the segment and updated list of features is impressive. The diesel engine is a hoot to drive and the GLC is actually the perfect size for our crowded roads as well as longish highway runs. If you don’t tend to drive spiritedly, the GLC makes sense. It also offers a very good back seat experience. But, if you desire something that is far more involving to drive and are willing to compromise slightly on some special touches here and there, a very good rival from Bavaria might be up to your taste.
The GLC comes with a large boot making it ideal for weekend getaways
What’s Cool
* Elegant and classy styling
* Spacious and luxurious cabin
* Refined and frugal diesel engine with great power delivery
* Comes with Active Brake Assist
What’s Not So Cool
* Doesn’t get wireless Apple CarPlay and memory seats
* More than usual body roll
Alternatives: – BMW X3, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Lexus NX 300h, Land Rover Discovery Sport
Has Mercedes done enough to keep the GLC competitive against its rivals?
Further Reading –
2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC Video Review
Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Review
2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC Review
2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC Video Review
Testers’ Note:
[wp-review id=”247142″]