2025 Mercedes GLC350e First Test: Range Isn’t Just a Number
A plug-in hybrid with strong electric range is an excellent addition to the GLC stable.
Pros
- Unmatched all-electric range
- Thoughtful interior design
- Helpful driver assist features
Cons
- Poor brake feel
- Tricky haptic controls
- Lacks athleticism
Are plug-in hybrids worth it? The debate has merit on both sides, but with PHEVs making up about 20 percent of all plug-in vehicle sales, it’s clear many buyers appreciate the flexibility of driving on gasoline and/or electric power. The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC350e makes one of the strongest cases yet for the format by offering impressive all-electric range and fast-charging capabilities, at the same time luring in drivers with capable performance, an inviting cabin, and driver assists that ease the burden of long highway hauls. Although it didn’t dazzle in our instrumented tests, this GLC proved a versatile SUV in daily life.
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Is 54 the Magic Number?
No rival in the class can match the GLE350e’s all-electric range of 54 miles. Those with average commutes, not just short ones, can drive to and from work on electric power alone. After spending a few weeks with a glistening blue example, I discovered the GLE350e held its electric range pretty well.
Around town, the GLC stayed faithfully in electric mode during moderate acceleration with the EV mode selected. With so much range, I didn’t feel the need to charge every day.
Plugging into a standard household outlet indicated a total charge time of 22 hours, so most drivers will want a Level 2 charger that can cut this time to five or six hours. Unlike most plug-in hybrids, the GLC is capable of Level 3 fast charging. With its 60-kW charger, juicing up from 10 to 80 percent is estimated to take 30 minutes. The actual time you spend at the station can vary due to a wide variety of factors. Topping off one day, it took 30 minutes to go from a 61 to 100 percent charge at one DC fast charger. Although Mercedes will start integrating NACS charge ports in its new electric vehicles to enable Tesla Supercharging, this SUV has a CCS port.
Smart but Not Sporty
With its 313 hp, you may think this GLC would pack a punch. At the test track, the GLC350e needed 6.0 seconds to reach 60 mph, trailing a 5.6-second run by the 255-hp GLC300 AWD and a 5.9-second performance from the sloped-roof GLC300 AWD Coupe. A 302-hp Lexus NX plug-in hybrid also outpaced it with a 5.5-second time. In EV mode, the plug-in GLC sauntered to 60 mph in 12.8 seconds. Real-world driving, however, reveals few deficiencies in acceleration, given that 6.0 seconds to 60 is plenty quick. Highway merges and passes feel effortless, even with five people on board.
As is the case with other GLCs, the brakes proved competent. In our tests, the GLC350e reached a standstill from 60 mph in 106 feet, an improvement of 25 feet compared to the NX. Performance didn’t fade through multiple runs, inspiring confidence. On a local road, the GLC was plenty reassuring when a rogue Prius forced us to make a relatively hard stop on a local road. Although the brakes are clearly effective, we wish for a more linear brake feel. The brakes feel soft and vague upon initial press, firming up near the end of travel.
Many drivers won’t be bothered that this SUV isn’t a handling whiz, instead appreciating its tight turning radius, adequate performance, and relaxed but precise steering. The plug-in feels planted over potholes and gravel-type surfaces, exhibiting some side-to-side motion on uneven highways. While not exceptionally quiet, this GLC provides a comfortable ride, aided by its self-leveling rear air suspension. Notably, it feels cushier than the GLC300 Coupe we sampled without this feature. Sport mode ticks up the athleticism, but only by a modest notch.
Party of Five
Is the GLC350e fit for family duty? Yes, as much as other GLCs. My family of five managed to squeeze inside the GLC with little complaint. The rear compartment is wide enough to fit two squirrely young children and their bulky car seats on either end, plus a petite and patient adult in the middle seat. Conveniently, LATCH anchors are easy to access, making car seat installation a breeze. Another major plus: The door pockets can hold large water bottles.
A proper Mercedes, the interior is an exhibit. In our test car, plush leather mixed with soft wood and intricate metal trim for a cabin full of texture. Customizable ambient lighting and bright circular air vents add to the allure. A smartly sized touchscreen stands at center stage, responding quickly to touch inputs. Legroom is cozy rather than expansive, but the materials and visuals create a fitting atmosphere for a modern Mercedes.
Mercedes, Take Me Away
When road tripping with a 2- and a 3-year-old, luxury features and all-electric range suddenly don’t matter at all. More important is a good sound system to play Disney music and a competent adaptive cruise control system to ease some of the stress. In these areas, the GLC delivers.
Our GLC maintained smooth operation with adaptive cruise control activated on long highway drives. Acceleration and deceleration felt particularly natural, avoiding the abrupt surges and harsh slows that some other systems exhibit. While you can adjust the set speed in 5-mph increments with a press of a button on the steering wheel, modulating it in 1-mph increments requires using a finicky sliding tool.
The real showstopper is automatic lane change. This feature can initiate a lane change based on surrounding traffic and the selected navigation route. Although it changed lanes more often than I would like, it ultimately reduced my fatigue by taking on some of the decision-making burdens of driving. It chimes before making the lane change, and rejecting the maneuver requires a simple nudge of the steering wheel.
Worth $70,000?
With more than $10,000 in options added—including the Driver Assistance package, exterior styling package, ventilated front seats, and a few other extras—our test vehicle rang out to $72,500. That’s not much more expensive than the style-first GLC300 Coupe we tested without the plug. Yet it’s not the cheapest small plug-in hybrid luxury SUV.
Exactly $8,650 separates the more basic, gas-only GLC300 AWD from the GLC350e. For commuters who are willing to plug in regularly, the hybrid could be an attractive option despite the higher price.
With strong EV range, a comfortable ride, and all the luxury and driver assist amenities you’d expect in a Mercedes, the plug-in hybrid doesn’t feel like an afterthought addition to the GLC lineup. It’s a worthwhile entry meant to stand out from its three-pointed-star siblings and its competitors.
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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