German SUV is ultimate road-trip vehicle
Mercedes GLC 300 offers performance, comfort and refinement.
Road trips are amazing; especially when you have the right travel companion in the right vehicle and to the right location. This week’s tester really got some work in as I took the 2023 Mercedes-Benz
GLC 300 SUV on a road trip to southern Indiana. This was my first time to Evansville, Indiana, and my first time in a very long time driving a Mercedes-Benz.
Over highways then to suburban streets and even on some farmland, the GLC 300 was confident and comfortable. I couldn’t think of a better or more comfortable vehicle to take on a road trip. The southern Indiana landscape made for some picturesque photos, and I even got to drive onto a friend’s farm to get some pastures with horses as a background.
Speaking of horses, the GLC 300 is powered by a 2.0-liter inline turbocharged engine. There’s 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. So, this isn’t a high-performance AMG but rather it’s well-mannered but equally well-powered. A 9-speed automatic transmission plus Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive (AWD) system is a perfect mate to this powertrain.
Of note, there’s also a mild hybrid assist in this powertrain to boost the overall fuel economy which is appreciated on a road trip.
This 48-volt system adds up to 23 additional horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque for short periods. So, all in all the GLC 300 feels punchier because of that.
Price/As tested price ...................................... $49,100/$65,950 Mileage ............................................................... 23 mpg/city; 31 mpg/hwy Engine ................................................................. 2.0-liter turbocharged
4-cylinder
Horsepower ....................................................... 255 hp/295 lbs./ft. Transmission ..................................................... 9-speed automatic
Drive Wheels ..................................................... All-wheel drive
Final Assembly Point ...................................... Bremen, Germany
But when it comes to longer drives, it’s all about the interior comfort. And the 2023 GLC 300 has some noticeable upgrades for this model year.
The most obvious is the interior dimensions which have been increased length by 2.4 inches to allow for increased room in the interior cabin along with additional 2.5 cu-ft of storage space.
The newly designed dashboard showcases an opulent expanse of trim that flows seamlessly from the center console to the dashboard.
My previous experience with a M-B vehicle led me to feeling overwhelmed by the infotainment system. But now there’s noticeable improvements to the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX).
The integration with my Apple phone through Apple CarPlay was seamless and the processing power of the touch commands was quick and responsive.
An augmented reality type of animation was a cool feature for the navigation.
Aesthetically, the appearance of the system can be nearly customized with three display styles (Sporty, Classic, Understated) and three modes (Navigation, Assistance, Service).
Speaking of aesthetics, the exterior of the GLC 300 is flashy. This might be the best grille of any luxury SUV on the road today and it’s certainly the best-looking front end of a Mercedes-Benz SUV.
It’s not too flashy or garish, yet it’s distinctive with tons of personality. The back end is more understated with less styling, but the dual exhaust pipes and small subtle spoiler show the sporty side of this SUV.
The EPA rating for the GLC 300 with AWD is 23 mpg/city and 31 mpg/highway. I averaged just over 26 mpg and had to fill up one tank of gas for my trip to Evansville and back which total just over 450 miles round trip.
Suggested retail price for the GLC300 is $49,100. My tester was loaded with optional equipment packages and upgrades and took the final MSRP to $65,950.
I will remember this SUV not just for the memories made on this trip, but for the comfort, confidence and performance it provided. It was an ideal road trip vehicle for just the two of us.
Although we did have an extra adult with us at times who enjoyed the spacious cabin and luxury appointments.
As such, I can proclaim the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 and fantastic daily driver and ideal road trip vehicle.