MERCEDES BRINGS ALL-SEASON SPORT
Potent power meets all-wheel drive
Mercedes-Benz calls its GLC43 a “sports car for all seasons” — but the luxury compact SUV does have its quirks.
Foremost, the GLC43’s arching roofline is a dramatic departure from most SUVs with squared-off cargo areas. While some balk at the SUV’s sloping rear cargo area, I find the design feature appealing; Mercedes calls the GLC43 a coupe regardless of its four doors.
Boosted up on 21-inch wheels, the SUV is stout in appearance with muscular fender flares and tall door panels. A trademark three-pointed star emblem attached to the grille distinguishes the Benz from the similar-shaped Porsche Macan and BMW X4. An all-wheel-drive system with a rear-wheel bias provides the GLC43 Coupe with New England weather driving credentials, while under normal driving conditions the drivetrain provides a spirited on-road experience.
The well-appointed $75,745 tester with Mercedes’ AMG performance enhancements included a 362-hp 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with a ninespeed paddle-shifted transmission. The combination hustles the GLC43 from zero to 60 in just under 5 seconds. Setting the trans-
mission in performance mode produced snappy gear changes; full-throttle upshifts were rewarded with backfires from the the throaty exhaust system. I had a hard time getting used to GLC43’s shifter in the form of a stalk mounted on the steering column; at one point, I went to flick on the wipers forgetting that they were automatic rain-sensing and inadvertently put the SUV in neutral.
While summer tires further intensified performance in the Mercedes’ “Sport+” driving mode, the low-profile rubber did little to smooth out road imperfections in “Comfort” mode.
“Eco” decouples the engine from the powertrain, reducing the engine speed to idle when the driver releases the accelerator while cruising above 37 mph. Despite the feature’s intent to reduce fuel consumption, I only averaged 20 mpg on required premium gas during my weeklong test drive.
The GLC43 AMG’s interior was both opulent and sporty. Red and black leather upholstery was contrasted by brushed aluminum door trim and a natural grain black ash wood center console with silver buttons and dials.
The front seats comfortably engulfed both driver and passenger with ribbed inserts and supportive thigh extenders. Door-mounted power seat controls were easy to access and figure out. Overall, the cabin was beautifully designed with flowing lines — that is, until the eye meets the 7-inch color display mounted atop the center console. The afterthought placement of the infotainment screen completely disrupts the interior’s harmony.
My neighbors and strangers were curious and had a positive reaction to the GLC43, with its bold stance and arching roof. The compact SUV would be a good fit for empty nesters, singles or couples who head up country to ski on weekends.
An AMG GLC43 Coupe starts at $60,400, which excludes advanced safety equipment such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping, or the two-tone leather.
Want more horsepower? Check out the AMG GLE63S same coupe shape with a twin-turbo V8 and 577 hp, but a starting price point well north of $100,000.