Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Electric SUVOTY Review: This New-Generation Benz EV Is High Style
We evaluate the new GLC400 to see how much Mercedes has learned so far on its EV journey.
Pros
- Handles really well
- New-look style and technology
- Impressive power
Cons
- Gets expensive fast
- Big screen turns off some
- Star-heavy style not for everyone
Back in 2021, Mercedes-Benz launched its first non-SUV offering from its all-electric EQ subbrand, the full-size EQS. A very good large sedan by most accounts with one glaring, can’t-unsee-it flaw: It was ugly. Like, “you ain’t got no alibi” ugly. Being charitable, the best that could be said about it is that it looked like the previous-generation Toyota Prius—not a car you ever want to hear being compared to a Benz flagship.
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Prior to the EQS, EQ family members (EQC and EQB, respectively) simply looked like their internal combustion counterparts with funny grilles. Fast-forward to 2027. Not only is EQ dead and buried, but the latest all-electric Mercedes vehicles also look like the premium products the brand is known for. Case in point, the new Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Electric.
Guest judge Gorden Wagener—who happens to be the former head of design at Mercedes—literally just signed off on the GLC. He explained that the team very consciously wanted to return to rear-drive proportions, punctuated by a massive upright grille, the reasoning being that such a shape looks more premium and upscale. Mission accomplished, even if the busy EV grille didn’t appeal to every judge.
Inside, we were impressed by the clarity of the massive Hyperscreen, but opinions were definitely split about it. “The GLC assaults you with an amazing display of graphic pyrotechnics, director of editorial operations Mike Floyd said. “It’s wild, overwhelming, and unbelievably cool.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum was technical director Frank Markus. “The big screen doesn’t appeal, especially since the passenger can’t watch content if the driver glances at it,” he said. That last bit is weirdly true. Rather than opting for the presumably more expensive solution—the driver can’t see the passenger screen—the GLC just pauses whatever is on said screen if it senses the driver is looking, including the native Angry Birds app.
When we were driving and not looking at screens, judges collectively loved the GLC400 we had in for our event. “The damping is fantastic,” features editor Scott Evans said. “It rode brilliantly on the special surfaces, like a much more expensive car than it is.” (Remember that last sentence.) Backing up Evans was buyer’s guide director Zach Gale. “The air suspension delivered one of the best rides I’ve experienced in a while, and the steering felt good, communicating just the right amount of feedback,” Gale said.
The new GLC performed great in every situation we threw at it, including actual SUV stuff, as features editor Christian Seabaugh found out. “On the off-road course it was happy as a clam, sliding around—with traction control off and in the Off-Road mode—like the Rivian R2 did in its Rally mode,” he said.
Let’s not overlook the GLC400’s impressive dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain with 483 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. It makes for a little speed demon of a smallish SUV that several judges likened to a rally car, one equally at home cruising along on the freeway, lollygagging around town, or tearing up a canyon road. Just a really fantastic machine.
You’ll notice we haven’t mentioned price yet. Value is one of our six key criteria, and at $85,450 as equipped, almost every judge felt that was $10,000 too much, three-pointed star or no. True, the GLC range starts at about $65,000, but what great features do you lose? Among severaly other things, the exceptional air suspension (part of the $2,900 Agility and Comfort package) and the cool Hyperscreen ($2,225). Detroit editor Alisa Priddle said it best: “You have to really want the Mercedes star and all that it offers to spend this much on a compact SUV.”
