2027 Mercedes GLC400e First Test: This EV Is Quick and—Hold On, It Costs How Much?!

I’m minding my own business driving to work when That Song begins to play. We all have one like it. Suddenly, I’m butter. I melt in my massaging seat as the adaptive cruise control smoothly handles stop-and-go traffic. Mellow ambient lighting gently changes hue at the top of the dashboard as the air suspension beautifully absorbs road imperfections.

As I roll along, I glance at a display screen that stretches continuously from one edge of the dash to the other. The display shows a stunning image of the sun setting over majestic seaside mountains.

Loooong exhale.

In that moment, the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLC400 EV elevated part of my daily routine. I’m grateful. I wish I could grab a blanket and crawl back inside that moment a while longer, but reality calls. Although the Mercedes offers a luxurious ride and sports-car-rivalling acceleration, our testing reveals a few noticeable drawbacks that give us pause.

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I Can Do Anything

Mercedes’ EQ-badged EVs are being replaced by a range of electric cars that look similar to their gas counterparts. This GLC400 wears GLC badges and is GLC-sized, but it doesn’t share a platform with the gas and plug-in hybrid variants. Instead, it rides on a platform shared with the electric C-Class and likely with more electric Mercedes models in the future.

What elevates this electric Mercedes is its versatility. The 2027 GLC400 reaches 60 mph in only 3.7 seconds thanks to a 483-hp dual-motor AWD system. That’s ridiculous. And what’s even sillier is that it’s not even the quickest in its segment; a Rivian R2 Performance reaches 60 in 3.4 seconds. A Volvo EX60 P10 AWD, meanwhile, manages the benchmark speed in 3.9 seconds.

For a non-EV comparison, a GLC300 gas SUV manages a 5.6-second sprint to 60, and that’s already decent. If you haven’t experienced an electric AWD SUV like the GLC400 EV at full blast, trust us, it’s a ton of fun.

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The Mercedes also excels in our Road-Trip Range test. The EPA rates its range at 350 miles, which is good. The delightful surprise is that its road-trip range in our test is 356 miles, which is fantastic. This means you can drive from L.A. to Vegas without stopping to charge before you reach the hotel.

Our test simulates driving 70 mph from a full charge down to a 5 percent charge, so if you don’t drive the speed of light, you might just make it. There are a couple ways to achieve this feat. The Cadillac Escalade iQ does it largely by fitting an enormous battery. In the Mercedes, efficiency helps the GLC400 EV glide farther on every kWh of electricity than, say, the Volvo EX60 P10 and especially the Rivian R2 Performance.

So it’s quick and long-ranged, but the Mercedes isn’t out of moves. Thanks to an optional air suspension and an available rear-wheel steering system, the 2027 GLC400 EV also feels cushy and maneuverable around town. And with well-tuned steering, the GLC400 makes it easy to connect with the road when the moment calls.

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Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should

We’ve managed to get this far without mentioning the biggest issue with the GLC EV: price. Yes, we know, Mercedes makes expensive cars, news at 11. But at $85,450 as tested, this is a huge chunk of change for a GLC-badged vehicle. Even in its competitive segment, it’s a lot of money. Our SUV had a few visual upgrades that are easy to do without, but the MSRP still approaches $80,000 when you build the car with desirable options like the air suspension, rear-wheel steering, real leather, and ventilated front seats.

One of the more interesting options is the 39.1-inch Hyperscreen display. Unlike lower-trim GLC400s with their three screens elbowing against one another, the Hyperscreen is a single gargantuan screen that’s always in your face.

We like that it can show a picture of your dog or, in my case, one uninterrupted image from one side of the driver gauges to the edge of the screen on the passenger side. A handful of selectable images include a giant crashing wave, the mountains, and a race track, and all change the color scheme of the ambient lighting as well as details in the driver gauges.

Oh, but that’s not all.

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Spend enough, and the glass roof can be dimmed in specific sections and display 162 Mercedes three-pointed stars that glow in the ambient lighting color of your choice. The entire effect can be mesmerizing and slightly overwhelming. Crucially, the Hyperscreen doesn’t speak to our old-school desire to see more craftsmanship or artistic flair in the cabin. No matter how you configure the Hyperscreen, its enormity feels a bit cold and mechanical.

It’s tough to get away from the screens, and it’s impossible to avoid talking about how entry and exit is a tad tougher than it should be. As we found on the CLA250 EV, the GLC400 has a side sill that’s wider than we’d like, which means getting out without touching the car requires a big stretch. That’s not luxurious.

Clearly, tech is a big theme with the GLC400 EV. You can also decide how the GLC sounds when you floor it, which is super cool. Then there’s the front grille. With 942 illuminated polycarbonate panels, the upright grille can put on a show as you approach. Still, we’re not sure we’d describe this as elegant. At the very least, the design is an improvement from the similarly priced EQE SUV.

We also found a slight lack of refinement right around 4–5 mph in the GLC’s one-pedal driving mode (strong recuperation). Not everyone will notice or care, but when you spend this much on a car, it’s worth mentioning.

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Is the GLC400 EV a Good Car?

Few cars can provide the sort of relaxation the GLC400 EV did on my commute yet also respond to a jab of the accelerator with such authority. Is the GLC400 EV good? Yes, as tested, it is. But that comes with a price caveat. A GLC400 EV without an air suspension or full Hyperscreen? We’re not as sure.

Things are changing in the EV space. For under $80,000, you can find five-seat electric luxury SUVs from Volvo, BMW, Rivian, Lexus, Genesis, Audi, and Cadillac. Some of those are quite good. The Mercedes is, too—just option it, carefully.