GLC crossover speaks for itself
Mercedes- Benz has conjured up the perfect combination of style, luxury, safety and comfort
As part of the Mercedes- Benz GLK’s launch before its 2008 Detroit Auto Show debut, a prototype version had a cameo in the seminal chick flick Sex and the City. There is no sneak peek this time for the second- generation GLK, just a completely new look and a new name to go with it.
Now called the GLC, Mercedes’ popular crossover has to do without the New York fashionista glam ( via Hollywood) and showcase its merits on its own.
Fortunately, the new 2016 GLC has little need of such hype. It has the sales momentum its top- selling predecessor brought to the market ( 650,000 GLKs sold over its lifetime). Plus it has new sheet metal, features and technologies to entice a fresh group of buyers — especially women, who seem to like the compact Mercedes.
According to the company, the design philosophy behind the new GLC “essentially favours sensual purity and a modern esthetic over the classic off- road look.”
What’s obvious is that the formal, raked roofline and large window area that distinguished the GLK from other compact luxury utes has been ditched for a more rounded profile.
It’s a stylish crossover with a strong face: an upright yet slimmer radiator grille with twin louvres, a centrally positioned Mercedes star the size of a dinner plate and large headlamps. The profile sees a softening of the sharp contour lines that defined the GLK. Smaller details include the integration of all antennae into the exterior mirrors and the roof spoiler, which does away with the roof- mounted fin.
There’s going to be a staggered rollout for the 2016 GLC when the first version arrives in Canada late this year. The first model will be the gasoline- fuelled, 241- horsepower, 2.0- litre turbo four- cylinder GLC 300 4Matic — the same engine as in the C 300 4Matic sedan. It will be followed a year later by the turbodiesel 2017 GLC 300d 4Matic and then by the 350e 4Matic, a plug- in hybrid scheduled for the 2018 model year. More stylish Coupe versions are also coming, though their timeline has yet to be determined.
Dimensionally, the GLC boasts a longer wheelbase — by 118 millimetres — and is 50 mm wider than the GLK, which translates into more cabin space for passengers, plus more cargo room to store groceries, luggage, adventure gear or whatever. It’s also up to 80 kilograms lighter than the GLK, depending on the powertrain.
As for road manners, part of the day took us from Basel’s airport in France to the wine district of Germany, the first half of the route on high- speed motorways. My co- driver and I were in a preproduction European- spec 250, which has the same 2.0 turbo- four gas engine as the Canadian market 300, but with less horsepower. It didn’t seem to matter much, as the crossover easily cruised along at 130 km/ h and faster, and accelerated briskly enough to get around slow transport trucks. There was only a hint of wind noise at higher speeds.
The 250 was kitted with optional Air Body Control, a multi- chamber air suspension system with electronically controlled, continuously adjustable damping. With Dynamic Select ( the GLC’s driving dynamics program) set on Comfort, the crossover wafted along with not a scintilla of harshness.
Going off the highway sand onto twistier secondary roads provided more of a handling workout. With the Driving Select set for Sport+, the GLC hunkered down — the chassis lowers by 15 millimetres — and gave a reasonable accounting of itself. Though there was less roll in the corners, there was also more abruptness to the nine- speed transmission’s downshifts than was ideal.
More impressive was the GLC’s mountain- goat abilities, courtesy of the 4Matic all- wheel drivetrain. Though the vast majority of GLCs will likely see duty only as shopping mall assault vehicles, an off- road track showcased impressive traction ability bordering on overkill, thanks to an Off- Road Engineering package ( that won’t be offered in Canada).
The 4Matic system features a basic drive torque split of 45 front/ 55 rear, plus ESP, ASR and 4ETS dynamic handling control systems to help keep the shiny side up.
The second day had us in the 250d turbodiesel, travelling from Strasbourg to the northern foothills of the Vosges mountains and the winding roads that run through the wine- growing area of Alsace. The diesel’s abundant torque was ideally suited to tackling the tight roads and the engine ran smoothly, with no discernible clatter from inside the crossover.
But, while the stiffer suspension configuration offered in Sport mode was welcomed, the steering weight felt artificially heavy on the twistier bits.
The Euro- spec GLC’s cabin is both roomier and a little more upscale than its predecessor. The dashboard and centre stack are well integrated, the latter highlighted by three large, round air vents below a multimedia system that includes a high- resolution, seven- inch display. A revised touch pad in the hand- rest, with a rotary push- button, are nestled ergonomically in the centre console. The tester’s Nappa leather and open- pore wood trim were a particularly elegant touch.
Rear- seat occupants get more foot space, making entry and exit easier than in the GLK. Knee room is also improved.
The split- folding rear bench features a cargo position that increases load capacity by locking the backrests at a steeper angle. In all, the GLC is able to haul up to 1,600 litres of cargo.
Added convenience for loading is provided by the optional HandsFree Access, where the tailgate can be opened automatically by performing a swiping movement with the foot under the bumper.
Though the brief drive time and lack of Canadian- spec models make it difficult to assess the many improvements and upgrades built into the GLC, the initial impression is that Mercedes seems to have blended style, luxury, safety and comfort in the right proportions, all wrapped up in a slightly less distinct yet still attractive crossover.