2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe: Get That SUV Out of my Sight!

SUVs remain a mystery for driving enthusiasts. Why would someone in need of a practical car turn to a clumsy, top-heavy vehicle that is no fun at all? After all, there a tons of great wagons on the market!
In Europe, every sedan has its hatchback equivalent, giving us masterpieces like the Audi RS 3 Estate.

Here, SUVs rule the roost. On the other side of the Atlantic, they are gaining in popularity every year and we won’t even get into their global appeal. Mercedes-Benz is acutely aware of this and is now offering one of the most stacked SUV lineups out there.

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It’s also offering cars in a collection called Dream, comprised of coupes with magnificent silhouettes and a unique grille covered with little dots that look like jewels.

In the Dream lineup, there’s the Mercedes-Benz GLE, already offered in a coupe version, and now the GLC. There was a great deal of resistance from the public when Mercedes-Benz unveiled the current generation, which ditched the vehicle’s unique square look for a style that was more aligned with the brand. Thus, the GLC Coupe features the same shapes as the other Mercedes’ coupes. In fact, as it’s essentially based on the C-Class—the moniker GLC comes from GL for truck and C for compact—you’d think it was a slightly higher sitting C-Class Coupe.

The GLC Coupe looks nothing like an SUV and, honestly, it doesn’t handle like an SUV at all either.

Several attractive engines

At present, the regular GLC is available with only one engine. Known as the “300,” it’s a 2.0-litre turbo, but there are other engines on the way. An AMG version, the GLC 43 AMG, is expected too, but other, more reasonable versions will be available in the next few months.

First of all, as with the normal GLC, there’s the GLC 300. The 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder develops 241 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque. Power is transmitted to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic gearbox, which should eventually replace the seven-speed automatic in the C-Class, but that’s another story.

Next will be the diesel engine for those who still like this technology despite the “Volkswagen incident.” In Europe, it’s the 250d engine, but here, it will be the GLC 300d. With a displacement of 2.1 litres, it has a lot of spirit, thanks to its 200 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft. of torque.

During our test drive of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe, I wasn’t able to try the AMG version so I won’t talk about it here. However, I drove a plug-in hybrid version that we should see in Canada in 2018.

Known as the GLC 350e, it combines a V6 with an electric motor to offer a 34-km operating range in 100% electric mode. What’s interesting is that when driven in ECO mode, the vehicle uses radar to detect the best times to recharge the battery, sending small impulses to your foot via a very special accelerator to tell you when to release pedal. At that moment, the GLC 350e will automatically follow the car in front, recharging its batteries at the same time. In normal mode, if you can call it that, the vehicle will behave like a regular hybrid car, consuming less than 8 L/100 km of fuel.

Drives like a charm

If we focus a little more on the two versions that promise to be the top sellers, the GLC 300 and the GLC 300d, let’s just say that both handle like a charm.

The nine-speed automatic transmission is even better than the seven-speed, responding quickly and efficiently. Regardless of speed, you have access to a lot of torque, which goes to show how well calibrated it truly is.

Both the diesel and the turbo engines accelerate well, providing a lot of torque in low gear. That means you’ll find city driving pleasant and you’ll have no need to fear the left lane of the highway. As for fuel consumption, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Coupe averages approximately 10 L/100 km, while the diesel version impresses with about 7 L/100 km. If I had to recommend a version, it would be the diesel, simply because it consumes less fuel while delivering comparable performance.

As for the rest, suffice it to say that the GLC has all the refinement of the C-Class and the same remarkable handling thanks to the Dynamic Select chassis management system. At the push of a button, you adjust both the firmness of the steering wheel and the suspension as well as the sensitivity of the accelerator. Furthermore, regardless of the mode selected, the steering remains precise and informative.

The GLC Coupe, lower and firmer than the “regular” version, is more akin to a sport coupe than an SUV. If it weren’t for the height of the vehicle, you would never feel like you’re at the wheel of an SUV at all. It’s an excellent product for those on the hunt of an SUV that drives like a sport coupe.