Mercedes-amg GLC 63 S
FIRST DRIVE Mega 503bhp twin-turbo super-suv offers an appealing blend of power and style Mercedes-amg GLC 63 S
Storming twin turbo 503bhp mega-suv put through paces
IF there is one type of car guaranteed to make money, it’s SUVS. In recent years, Mercedes has seen huge success with its crossover range – covering all bases with everything from the cuddly GLA; through to the luxurious GLS and rugged G-class 4x4.
The brand has also noticed a surge in popularity for its sporty AMG models. So mixing the two makes perfect sense, surely? In response to that question, Mercedes has presented this: the all-new AMG GLC 63.
Lifting the familiar 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 from the C 63 S and the new nine-speed MCT gearbox from the larger E 63, Mercedes offers a choice of two full-fat GLCS. The ‘entry’ version gets 469bhp, while the flagship AMG 63 ‘S’ tested here boasts 503bhp and a whopping 700Nm of torque.
Fitting the £2,755 AMG Driver’s Package raises the top speed to 174mph. All S models get this as standard, however, and will do 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds. That’s a full second faster than a Porsche Macan Turbo, but with a list price of £75,610, it’s almost £12,000 more expensive. Standard equipment is pretty generous, however, with all models benefiting from highperformance brakes, a mechanical rear-axle differential and AMG sports suspension.
Inside, there are leather sports seats, and Mercedes’ COMAND Online infotainment system. S versions add bigger wheels and different seats, among other sporty trinkets.
From the inside, neither version feels all that different to the AMG GLC 43. The 63 doesn’t even do much to distinguish itself (on the inside, at least) from the conventional diesel cars. That’s no bad thing, however, as fit and finish is first rate. The GLC is on par with the latest Audi Q5, and finds itself trumped only by the new Volvo XC60. The driving position is high but fine, although the seats feel a little flat and lack support.
Turn the key and there’s no mistaking this SUV for one of the humble diesels, however. Our car had the optional (£1,000) sports exhaust fitted, bursting into life with a bellowing V8 roar characteristic of every 63 model in the current Mercedes range. The smallest blip of the throttle is enough to bounce echoes off nearby buildings, while
placing your right foot flat on the floor produces a noise more akin to a hurricane.
Past AMGS had more than a little in common with old-school American muscle cars, possessing a brutish nature that meant they were more accomplished in a straight line than they were through bends.
While modern models are improved, their ability to rip rubber remains intact. Leave the traction control off and the GLC will slip and slide out of low-speed corners, spinning its tyres away from rolling T-junctions. Yet with the latest 4MATIC+ system, the GLC offers incredible traction over smooth tarmac. Our German test route offered little in the way of broken roads, but the huge (optional) 21-inch wheels followed ruts and tramlined over poorer surfaces. S models get 20-inch rims as standard, and, along with the firm suspension, are likely to make for a fidgety ride back in the UK.
The steering is super-sharp, offering almost twitchy feedback around the straight ahead. The Macan feels more malleable and agile, though the Mercedes’ tight body control belies its size. The nine-speed gearbox rattles through the first few (admittedly short) ratios, but allows the GLC to settle into a sedate cruise. Try to change down through multiple cogs too quickly and it’ll simply refuse, however.
The GLC has lost none of its practicality. The cabin still offers plenty of room for adults, while the 550-litre boot shames the Macan’s 500-litre load bay. We’ll be driving the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio in a few weeks, and it should be a more comparable match for the GLC. Jaguar’s hotly-rumoured F-pace SVR should arrive next year, too.
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