It only seems like five minutes ago when Mercedes-Benz changed the naming policy on its line of sport utility vehicles (SUVs), and it took a little bit of getting used to. Just in case you’re still confused, the new Mercedes-Benz GLC Diesel Estate is the SUV equivalent of the popular – and highly accomplished – C-Class saloon, and this bodes well.
Why? Well, while not being the most involving to drive, the new C-Class saloon is perhaps the most stylish and comfortable small saloon on sale today, and if the German car-maker can get the C-Class traits into the body of the new Mercedes-Benz GLC, it’ll be a superb SUV.
Without further ado, let’s explore the stylish and plush new Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d 4MATIC AMG Line and compare specifications, pricing, and even put it up against some established rivals.
Powered by a 204PS 2.1-litre turbo diesel engine, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d 4MATIC AMG Line isn’t going to wow you with performance, but it will get the fairly heavy SUV moving briskly, and that’s all you really need in a car like this. It isn’t the quietest diesel engine in the world, but it’s certainly strong enough to please most buyers and is a well-judged unit. A claimed 56mpg will also get heads nodding in approval.
Being an SUV, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d 4MATIC AMG Line’s focus is primarily to comfort and this is a field in which Mercedes-Benz excels. All Mercedes-Benz GLCs get faux-leather electrically adjustable seating and, of course, high-end materials are used in the dashboard construction. For ultimate comfort levels, buyers should opt for the optional air suspension – a system that greatly improves the suppleness of the ride and the ability of the Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d 4MATIC AMG Line to absorb blows from the road surface. Being four-wheel drive, the car is exceptionally grippy in the corners and can indeed handle itself off-road slightly, but the limited ground clearance prevents it from getting too far away from the asphalt.
The air suspension itself is configurable and can, therefore, be adjusted in accordance with your mood. If you happen to feel like going a bit quicker, it can be stiffened up to give a sportier feel, reducing body roll slightly and giving a feeling of great composure in the corners. Equally, if you have to waft down a motorway on your way to an appointment, switching the suspension to comfort provides the opposite – for the majority of trips this is the mode we preferred to travel in.
Mercedes’ design department has really started to hit form in the last few years after a period of rather average looking machines. The new Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d 4MATIC AMG Line has subtle curves in the right places without compromising the rather masculine edges of an SUV. In AMG Line trim, it has a slight sporting edge that the higher trim levels more often than not provide, and it highlights certain details on the car to provide a GLC with greater distinction.
Mercedes-Benz currently makes some of the best interiors in the business, and as the Mercedes-Benz GLC Diesel Estate inherits the cabin space of the already excellent C-Class saloon, it’s more of the same here. It’s a wonderfully modern interpretation of a mid-range luxury interior, with the only blight being the tablet that protrudes from the dash. It looks like you could pull it off, and it’s a shame Mercedes’ designers couldn’t find a way to integrate it into the dashboard somehow.
Critiquing the interior build quality is a rather difficult thing to do as there isn’t really a weakness. It’s one of the finest cabins in its class; top quality materials abound and though that tablet looks flimsy, it’s very well bolted together.
There’s room too, with 550 litres of load space available with all seats raised and in position. With the seats collapsed, the loading area can be boosted to a huge 1,600 litres – meaning you can fit just about anything you need into the boot of the new Mercedes-Benz GLC Diesel Estate.
Being a Mercedes-Benz, you aren’t going to be left wanting for toys and gadgets, but some of the crucial pieces of equipment are optional extras in the lower trim levels. Our top-spec Mercedes-Benz GLC Diesel Estate test car came with a hefty selection of extras, including heated front seats, the cheesily named ‘Parktronic’ parking assistance system, and the Garmin satellite navigation system. Aside from that, AMG line is more of a design option as the ‘Sport’ trim line also features these extras.
In terms of options, the air suspension, mentioned previously, is pricey but adds another level of comfort to the Mercedes-Benz GLC Diesel Estate. The intelligent LED headlights are another box worth considering, as they really are a God-send in difficult night time conditions. The driver assistance package is another costly extra, but for those wanting the safest possible car it will be irresistible, as it adds a host of assistants and sensors to aid safety, and can even detect pedestrians stepping out in front of you and apply the brakes.
The rest of the options really all come down to personal taste; there’s an off-road package, a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display, and a special Burmester stereo system for an upgrade to your tunes. Only those who really feel a need for these kind of extras can put a price on them.
The majority of private buyers now opt to purchase their car through the method of Personal Contract Purchase (‘PCP’). This is a fairly flexible system of financing a car with the option of handing back the car at the end of an agreed period, or paying out a final sum to own the car outright. Using this method, a £6,000 deposit will get you into a Mercedes-Benz GLC Diesel Estate, like the one we’ve tested, for around £400 a month. That’s based around an annual mileage of 10,000 miles and of course; the monthly sum will increase if you plan on doing more.
Business users seeking a leasing deal on a Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d 4MATIC AMG Line will find that prices on average vary between £300 and £400 a month, depending on months paid upfront and distance covered, options etc.
To buy the new Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d 4MATIC AMG Line outright from new you’ll need to part with £39,595 as standard, but if some of the optional extras take your fancy you can expect that figure to creep up closer to £43-44,000. The price makes it one of the most expensive cars in its segment, and on average – spec for similar spec – the GLC will almost certainly cost you more than an Audi Q5 or BMW X3.
Comfort
The standard suspension setup is cushy enough, but with the optional air suspension, the new Mercedes-Benz GLC Diesel Estate is an absolute delight to cruise around in. It provides a smooth and settled ride even on rougher surfaces and when you factor in the driver assistance equipment and the security of the ‘4MATIC’ four-wheel-drive system, you can really relax knowing the Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d 4MATIC AMG Line has got things covered.
Interior
Following on from the exceptional mechanical comfort levels, the interior design and materials play just as important a role in delivering a calm environment for both driver and passenger. The heated and electrically adjustable seats are exceptional and really show their worth over a long journey, and there are extra comforts like the Burmester stereo system for those who like the best in sound quality.
Economy
While it may not be the finest diesel engine on the market, the 204PS 2.1-litre diesel lump in the Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d 4MATIC AMG Line performs well, but it also delivers strong economy returns. Mercedes says it will return over 56mpg and the
Uninvolving drive
Since Porsche introduced its highly accomplished Macan SUV, it has no longer been too much to ask that an SUV is sharp on the road. While the exceptional comfort levels in the Mercedes-Benz GLC Diesel Estate are great on motorways and longer journeys, it sadly doesn’t feel all that involving when it comes to meeting twisty roads, and the steering is quite vague.
Price
Compared with its rivals the Mercedes-Benz GLC Diesel Estate comes in at a higher price, and that may well put off some buyers. The costly options don’t help soften the blow all that much either, and as some of them are important for residual value, buyers may feel obliged to fork out more money.
For many families, these three cars are something to aspire to: prestige badges on spacious, comfortable SUVs that can handle everything family life throws at them. The new Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d 4MATIC AMG Line is the newest arrival in this trio, and as such should hold an advantage over the ageing models from Audi and BMW.
Being a BMW, the X3 has the famous BMW driving experience entwined into its DNA. It feels much sharper and more precise on the road with excellent steering feedback playing a big part in that. It certainly trumps the Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d 4MATIC AMG Line for driver involvement, but it doesn’t feel as special.
While there is certainly nothing wrong with the interior of the BMW X3, once you’ve been in Mercedes’ latest offering, you notice that it is starting to show its age. Mercedes-Benz has really moved the game on with its latest designs. At least there’s no sacrifice to practicality with the BMW though, boot space comes out exactly the same at 550-litres with seats up and 1,600-litres with the back row folded down.
Those seeking some extra performance will be pleased to hear that BMW can cram some pretty powerful six-cylinder turbo diesel units into its X3, giving it a considerable performance edge over the Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d 4MATIC AMG Line. Right at the top of the pyramid is BMW’s ‘35d’ 3.0-litre engine that produces a hefty 313PS, making it far more powerful than the Mercedes engine.
Mercedes-Benz GLC – Between £34,950 – £50,870
BMW X3 – Between £33,945 – £46,050.
The Audi Q5 is the oldest car here, but there’s a reason for its longevity – it’s one of the best SUVs ever to go on sale. It handles much like a normal car, seats five in comfort, and has a certain unchallenging, neutral style that seems to sit well with everyone.
Just like all Audis, it is very easy to drive, but that doesn’t make it stand out in this segment. All three cars here are simple to drive, but the Audi differs in that it feels the most like an ordinary car. There’s a strong selection of engines on offer, but really the only one you’ll need is the 2.0-litre turbo diesel that straddles the line between performance and efficiency so well in a number of Audi’s products. For those seeking something extra spicy, there is now an Audi SQ5, the ‘S’ designating one of Audi’s hottest products. In its most powerful form – the SQ5 TDI Plus – it packs a whopping 340PS.
The Audi Q5 is impressive but inside it is really starting to look old. The dash design and materials used are no longer up to date, and the Mercedes-Benz GLC 250d 4MATIC AMG Line is well ahead in this department. The Mercedes and the BMW also have more space, as the Audi Q5 has only 540-litres of boot space available.
Mercedes-Benz GLC – Between £34,950 – £50,870
BMW X3 – Between £32,580 – £44,145.
Mercedes-Benz is on top form at the moment after a period where it was struggling to compete with the offerings from fellow German brands Audi and BMW. The new Mercedes-Benz GLC Diesel Estate is a top quality SUV and only minor criticisms can be levelled at it. It doesn’t drive as well as its rivals, and it can feel a little disconnected, but it is the most comfortable of the three cars here, and it has an aura of exclusivity its rivals just don’t have.
It is the most expensive car of the three, and it doesn’t have a more powerful diesel option, but the majority of buyers won’t be too concerned with this, and as such, it is one of our favourite SUVs on sale.
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8th September 2017
The new Mercedes-Benz GLC Diesel Estate is a smart-looking large family car that mixes upmarket appeal with affordable running costs. Perfect if you need a quiet and cosseted way of moving the whole family and more from A to B and beyond, its cabin is snug and its engines are capable. And because it shares…
Presented by Will Titterington
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