Mercedes GLC 300 de
FIRST DRIVE It’s costly, but GLC diesel PHEV may be the best
MERCEDES has somewhat cornered the diesel plug-in hybrid market of late, which means the new GLC 300 de doesn’t have much competition.
But Merc still hasn’t dropped the ball. The 300 de is powered by a 197bhp 2.0-litre turbodiesel and a 134bhp electric motor; total system output is 329bhp and 750Nm of torque, and both power sources are well integrated. This means a 0-62mph time of 6.4 seconds, so the GLC never feels sluggish.
The GLC 300 de is 60kg heavier than the 300 e (left) at a relatively portly 2,415kg. Mercedes has done well in masking much of this weight with direct, nicely weighted steering and a responsive powertrain; even the ninespeed automatic transmission changes gear swiftly if you use the paddle shifters. However, sharp inputs and tight turns quickly highlight some noticeable body roll.
The GLC 300 de is much happier when cruising along at motorway speeds. We tested the 300 de with the adaptive air suspension, which sadly won’t be coming to the UK; we’ll have to make do with the standard steel-sprung set up instead. Even in the hardest ‘Sport’ setting, the ride remained silky smooth. We’ll get simpler suspension, but this still bodes well.
This refinement is complemented by the addition of what Mercedes says are “S-Class levels of sound deadening”. It’s easily up there with the best in its class and could even give a few luxury limousines a run for their money in terms of quietness.
For even less noise, switch to Electric mode and Mercedes claims a zeroemissions range of up to 81 miles from its 31.2kWh battery. This drops the 300 de into the five per cent BiK band.
As in the 300 e, there’s an 11.9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital dash. The latest MBUX infotainment is wonderfully easy to use, with all the key features easily accessible. Material quality inside is also excellent, and the cabin is comparable with the best in the premium mid-size SUV sector. There’s decent visibility from the driver’s seat, rear occupants get good space, and there’s a bigger boot than in PHEV versions of the Audi Q5 and BMW X3.
“It’s up there with the best for refinement and is even a match for some luxury limousines”