Mercedes-Benz might have been on a launch spree in India in the last couple of years but there was one big gap in its portfolio. Amidst rising popularity of luxury SUVs, the Stuttgart-based luxury car-maker lacked a midsize SUV to take on the likes of Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Volvo XC60. With the launch of the all-new GLC, the gap is finally plugged. In trademark Mercedes-Benz fashion, the first few hundred units of the GLC would be imported as Completely Built Units (CBU) and will be called ‘Edition 1’. Eventually, the GLC is likely to be assembled at the car-maker's facility here in Pune.
The GLC is available with two engine options - a petrol and a diesel, with just one trim level each. The petrol GLC 300 4Matic is priced at INR 50.90 Lakhs while the diesel GLC 220d 4Matic retails at INR 50.70 Lakhs (ex-showroom, Pune).
Based on the Modular Rear Architecture (MRA), the GLC is Mercedes’ second-generation midsize SUV that replaces the GLK internationally. It slots perfectly in between the GLA and the GLE in Mercedes’ SUV lineup.
Visually, the GLC is just another new Mercedes-Benz. All cars with the three pointed star are looking very similar these days and the GLC is no exception. It’s a jacked-up C-Class which itself is a shrunken-down S-Class. The fascia borrows heavily from the C with the headlights, grille and bumper lifted straight off the midsize luxury sedan. The thin cladding and the higher ground clearance gives the GLC its much-needed SUV traits while two subtle character lines spruce up the otherwise simple profile. The curvy rear houses a pair of sharp taillight clusters that extend into the tailgate and a chunky bumper applique with integrated dual exhausts.
The interiors are shared with the other Mercs as well with the steering wheel, instrument cluster, air-conditioner vents, COMMAND infotainment system and the switchgear being very similar to the ones offered on the C-Class. Feature list includes a three-zone climate control, panoramic sunroof, mood lighting with three colour choices and a full safety suite. The GLC gets five driving modes for everyday driving - Comfort, Eco, Sport, Sport + and Individual and three for off-roading - Off-road, Incline and Slippery. The latter, together with the standard 4Matic All-Wheel Drive (AWD) and Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) systems, would ensure the GLC performs off the beaten path if desired.
As its nomenclature indicates, the GLC 220d is powered by a 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel engine that generates 170 horsepower and a substantial 400 Nm of torque. The GLC 300 on the other hand gets a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder petrol engine that churns out 245 horsepower and 370 Nm of torque. Both engines are mated to the new 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission that’s said to have smoother shifts and better fuel efficiency than the 7G-TRONIC transmission that we are used to in India.
Mercedes-Benz has hardly put a foot wrong in India in the recent past and its sales has been on the rise continuously. The GLC is yet another step in the right direction and would have no problems adding a sizable chunk to an already impressive sales roster.
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