2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC350e Luxury SUV First Drive: Best of Both Worlds
With 54 miles of electric range, this plug-in hybrid Mercedes SUV is a great transition into electrification.
As the world hems and haws over electric cars, plug-in hybrids have emerged again as an appealing option for people eager to experience the benefits of driving an EV while still having the peace of mind a gasoline engine offers. In fact, an increasing number of automakers are introducing plug-in hybrids, particularly as EV sales have slowed. To the point, Mercedes-Benz boasts a lineup of all-electric sedans and SUVs but has experienced a significant decline in those sales, with the EQB, EQE, and EQS nameplates down 15, 20, and 50 percent, respectively.
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However, Mercedes reported an impressive 213-percent increase in plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) sales compared to the third quarter of last year. A significant contributor to this growth is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC350e. The plug-in hybrid variant of its most popular nameplate arrived recently in showrooms, and based on our experience with the it, we believe many buyers will find it highly appealing.
What Makes the Mercedes-Benz GLC350e a Good PHEV?
The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC350e offers an all-electric driving range of 54 miles—about 10 miles more than the average American’s daily commute. This means many buyers can make the round trip to their office, etc., without needing to use the gasoline engine or plug in to charge during the day. Our own commute is significantly shorter than that, and we found ourselves needing to charge every other day, with the battery taking approximately five to six hours to charge completely on a Level 2 charger. However, with its 60-kW onboard charger, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC350e can achieve a full charge in about 30 minutes when using a Level 3 charger, according to Mercedes.
We spent six days driving the 2025 GLC350e around Los Angeles, and although we were committed to always maintaining some charge in the battery, we used less than a quarter tank of gasoline after covering more than 240 miles. The plug-in hybrid GLC350e features six driving modes: EV-only, hybrid, battery hold, sport, off-road, and individual, with EV-only set as the default mode and battery hold serving as the option to save as much electric energy as possible. We primarily drove in hybrid mode, and by the end of our evaluation period we were impressed by how little gas the GLC350e PHEV consumed.
How Does It Drive?
Powered by a 2.0-liter inline turbo-four engine paired with an electric motor and a 23.3-kWh battery, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC350e delivers a combined output of 313 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. This represents a notable increase versus the 255 hp and 295 lb-ft produced by the non-hybrid GLC300. However, we’re uncertain whether the plug-in hybrid will outperform the GLC300 in a 0–60-mph or quarter-mile sprint. Mercedes estimates the GLC350e can accelerate to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, which is a chunk slower than the 5.6 seconds it took the 2023 GLC300 to reach 60 mph in our own testing.
Weight is the single biggest reason behind the difference. The long electric range means the GLC350e carries a medium-sized battery that adds more than 700 pounds to the luxury SUV’s overall weight. Despite having more power, this additional weight prevents it from gaining speed quickly, and that’s how it feels on the road. Although the GLC350e feels decent in terms of power, it’s not a performance-oriented SUV, and merging on the freeway can take a bit more time than what we’d like. However, its power delivery is linear, and the nine-speed automatic shifts smoothly.
Unlike the GLC300, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC350e comes with an air suspension for the rear axle to help cushion the extra battery weight. The front coil suspension is just like the one in the 300, but this change allows the 350e to ride smoothly and with a civilized character appropriate for this vehicle class and price point. The ride is pleasant, with body movements well controlled. Like in the GLC300, the steering is tailored on the soft side, but we found it to be quite precise.
The brakes are where our biggest complaint falls. Mercedes uses a system whereby the GLC350e slows down as soon as you lift your foot from the gas pedal, and it then applies the brakes automatically if there’s a car in front of you that’s slowing down or fully stopped. The 2025 GLC350e won’t come to a complete stop on its own, though; you must eventually get on the brakes to stop it fully. You can disable this feature, but the SUV starts out with those settings, and drivers must tap the paddle shifters to disengage it. This feature has been used before on EVs, but during our time with the latest GLC350e, we didn’t get used to it.
Are There Any Compromises?
Aside from the price, which starts at $61,050, the plug-in hybrid variant’s only notable compromise compared to the gasoline model is a slight elevation in the cargo area’s floor. Rather than being completely flat, the floor has a gentle incline that reduces some storage space. Mercedes hasn’t specified the exact loss of room, but we don’t think it is significant. But the incline is a drawback in the sense that it appears and feels awkward.
The rest of the interior is just like the GLC300’s, with a luxury design and nice amenities to make every passenger feel special. The 11.9-inch central display is the hub of operations for the cabin; it controls everything from air conditioning to drive modes. A new feature lets drivers select their own settings, like having the cabin always at 72 degrees, or turning on the heated seats when the temperature drops below a certain level.
The 12.3-inch digital instrument panel blends well with the rest of the cabin, and we are fans of the Burmester 3D surround-sound system and the ambient lighting throughout the interior.
Like other Mercedes electric cars, the plug-in hybrid GLC comes standard with Mercedes “me Charge” program, integrating multiple charging points into a single network. Users can see where chargers are located, how many are not in use, and an estimated time for a full charge. We always charged the GLC350e at our office and didn’t use this feature much, but this is something that will come in handy when charging outside of your home or on a road trip.
How Much Does the GLC350e Cost?
Starting at $61,050, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC350e plug-in hybrid luxury SUV is significantly more expensive than the $50,400 GLC300. Although buyers will save money at the pump, the initial cost difference is substantial. Our test vehicle, which came with a few optional packages including the AMG Line and Driver Assistance packages, has a price tag of $73,770, a bit far from the affordable side of things for a compact luxury SUV. However, the 2025 GLC350e is priced right between the base GLC300 and the all-electric EQE 350+ SUV.
We’re fans of plug-in hybrid technology and the user benefits it brings, but we’d like to see prices more closely match those of internal combustion engine vehicles. The transition to an EV world will only happen when prices come down, for starters, and with this specific price gap, we’re far from seeing the GLC350e as the primary powertrain in the nameplate’s lineup.
Miguel Cortina is Mexico Editor at MotorTrend, covering the auto industry in the U.S. and south of the border. He joined MotorTrend in January 2015 and is an avid automotive enthusiast who enjoys playing golf, surfing, and running in his free time.
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