Mild & Wild: We test the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 & Mercedes GLC 63 AMG

The Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class (X253/C253) is a mid-size luxury Crossover SUV introduced in 2015 for the 2016 model year. It replaced the former Mercedes-Benz GLK-Class.

Under the vehicle naming scheme maintained by Mercedes-Benz, SUVs use the base name "GL", followed by the model's placement in Mercedes-Benz hierarchy. The "G" is for Geländewagen (German for off-road vehicle) and alludes to the long-running G-Wagen. This is followed by the letter "L" that acts as a linkage with the letter "C" - the GLC being the SUV equivalent to the C-Class. Other Mercedes-Benz’s CUVs are the GLA, GLE and GLS. All can be had in mild form or wild, meaning AMG editions.

Like its predecessor, the CLC is assembled at Mercedes-Benz's plant in Bermen[SJ1] [SJ2] , Germany. Since the plant runs at full capacity, manufacturing of the GLC also began in Merce, Finland during Q1 of 2017. So, your GLC can conceivably come from either German or Finland, but not from Daimler-Benz’s Tuscaloosa, Alabama factory.

The GLC 300 is available either as a CUV with seating for five, or a GLC Coupe, with four doors. In mainland Europe it is available with three diesel engines, three petrol engines, and a plug-in hybrid. In the UK only three diesels as well as AMG model are offered.

2020 Facelift

At the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes unveiled the refreshed GLC-Class as a 2020 model. New features include an updated MBUX Operating System that can be activated by saying "Hey Mercedes", new engines, a new steering wheel, and a 12.3-inch digital cockpit. The Coupé-variant was unveiled at 2019 New York International Auto Show. The GLC entered the Mexican market on 18 September 2019.

Overkill? Mercedes-Benz specializes in it. Comfort, safety, power and off road. Yes there are several off-road capable Mercedes that can go way off pavement. The 2020 GLC300, with the adaptive suspension and off-road package, handled it all like a pro. However, 90-percent of GLC owners will never engage.

1.5 million examples of the GLK/GLC have been sold since inception like Mercedes has, a certain small percentage of those will take the GLC off-pavement. If they do, they will see capability of 11.8 inches of water, clear 9.6 inches of ground and climb up those crazy steep inclines. And they’ll use Hill Descent Control to keep them safe on the downside.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 and GLC63 AMG receives a significant facelift which includes a new grille, front and rear lower fascia and slimmer headlights. LED head and taillights are now standard and like always, the AMG option sends some of the sportier styling elements down to the less powerful model.

From the outside, the updated GLC-300 Class SUV looks very familiar to the untrained eye. The grille wears fluted inserts that add some visual texture to its face. The lower fascia now has three, small rectangular sections at the bottom, and the corner intakes are more rectangular. LED headlights are standard, and the lamps have a smaller, more angular shape. At the rear, the taillights feature rectangular lamps in them. The integrated exhausts have sharp-edged trapezoidal outlets. The GLC is the latest Mercedes to gain the MBUX system that consists of a digital instrument cluster and infotainment screen in a wide bezel that spans a good portion of the center stack. The navigation is one of the best on the market, with it’s 3d graphics in an easy to read color display. There’s also another place where nav can be display, where the digital analog tach is located.

New trim choices like Natural Grain Grey Oak and Natural Grain Walnut add a fresher look to the cabin. A revised multi-function steering wheel has new controls for using the updated infotainment system.

Power comes from a Boosted to 255-hp, the turbocharged GLC 300 SUVs can sprint to 60 in just 6.1 seconds. Advanced Direct Injection and multispark ignition can self-tune in milliseconds, to optimize performance and efficiency while in motion. The 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic is smooth, sporty and smart. DYNAMIC SELECT lets you dial in the GLC's driving character, from enthusiastic Sport mode to easygoing ECO. There's even a mode you can set up as you prefer.

Daimler is operating a test fleet of fuel cell powered GLC models, dubbed GLC F-CELL, which was originally supposed to enter production in 2018.

Both GLC 300 models (CUV & Sedan) come standard with RWD, where 4Matic AWD is an option. Our GLC was the RWD model. Base MSRP was a modest $42,500. The option list brought that up to $50,975, including designation charge of $995. Our tester was equipped with the Digital Instrument Cluster ($750), Heat & Noise Insulating Front Side Dual Pane Glass ($150), a Panoramic Roof ($1,500) , 20-inch Twin 5-spoke wheels (($1,250), DA5 Multimedia Package ($1,250) includes DP1 Premium Package ($500) includes SiriusXM Satellite Radio, 64-Color Ambient Lighting, Illuminated Door Sills, and KEYLESS GO. The DA2 Driving Assistance Package ($1,700) adds adaptive cruise control capable of braking to a stop, active steering assist, lane change assist, and route-based speed adaptation. the Dynamic Body Control adaptive dampers for a smoother ride. In addition, the Off-Road Engineering Package adds Off-Road and Off-Road+ driving modes.

Among its peers, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC ranks high up. It offers excellent safety and performance, cutting-edge technology both in and outside of the cabin and a good history of reliability and resale. For comparison, the Acura RDX does a bit better in the resale department, while both the GLC SUV and GLC Coupe share many components, the Coupe sports a racy fastback rear end that makes it more attractive but less practical. The Coupe is longer and taller than the SUV, giving it more front-seat headroom, but the SUV has nearly 2 cubic-feet more cargo space. Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive comes standard on the Coupe, but otherwise the two share the same engine, interior design and feature set.

Mercedes-Benz GLC 63 AMG

First thing you’ll notice between the GLC 300 SUV and its throbbed cousin, the GLC 63 AMG SUV, is it more aggressive stance. The grille is far bolder, as well as larger’ The alloys are far more impressive, and the wheels are larger as well. Our AMG tester was equipped with 21-inches, though 20s are the standard fair. Attached to the wheels are Brembo brakes, which have your typical painted calipers.

Spawned from the GLC 300 SUV and S Coupe, is the high-performance Mercedes-Benz GLC 63 AMG SUV and S coupe, which pegs the absurdity meter in nearly every measure. Take, for instance, its twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8, which produces 469 horses at 479 lb.-ft. of torque. The GLC 63 AMG S Coupe is rated for 503-hp at 516 lb.-ft of torque, packing a 34-hp and 37-lb-ft advantage over the GLC 63 AMC SUV.

Whereas the plain vanilla wrapper GLC 300 is a soccer mom’s dream machine, the GLC 63 AMG is a sport Ute on Steroids. It can best be compared to a Dodge Durango with the Penestar V6 to a Durango SRT 6.2-L Hemi, or a Jeep Grand Cherokee, again with the Penestar V6, compared to Grand Cherokee SRT more in specs, and the 707-hp Hellcat Grand Cherokee Trackhawk sharing similar price points. But a more precise comparison, as well as another German brand, is the BMW X3 M, which comes very close in overall specs. At first you have to ask yourself if putting an AMG badge on the GLC worth more than the $20,000 upcharge. After spending a week with it I’d have to say if I had the means, you betcha.

As noted above, base MSRP is a hefty $73,750, with a total window sticker of $83,655, including a designation charge of $995. Options included a paint upgrade for the Cardinal Red Metaillic ($1,000), black Nappa leather interior ($2,500), Performance steering wheel ($600), 21-inch AMG multispoke wheels ($1,000), AMG Drive, ($400), AMG Track Pace ($795), Panoramic Roof ($1,500), Interactive Wireless Charging ($295) and Parking Assistance Package ($1,200). Almost every box was checked, but I can’t imagine the Benz not having any one of these ammendities.

The GLC 63 AMG produces plenty of pops and crackles from the V-8's exhaust, although it seems a bit more restrained than in some similar AMG models driven recently. Dynamic engine mounts, which are exclusive to the AMG and S models, quell raucous engine vibrations that might find their way into the cabin. There’s even a setting that controls the exhaust note from quieter to robust.

For a vehicle with a relatively high center of gravity the GLC63 AMG is incredibly stable at speed, which was verified on some stretches of open freeway. It was even stable on slippery wet surfaces with help from the Traction Control. Even on the rougher sections of pavement the dampers react quickly to prevent harsh impacts from rattling the chassis without sacrificing overall body control. The only complaint we have, other than a much harsher ride than the regular 300 SUV, is that you have take parking lot speed bumps with extreme caution, thanks to its taint suspension and lower stance.

As before, the GLC 63 AMG’s various driving modes alter the behavior of its damping, steering, throttle, transmission, and exhaust settings. And for 2020 they are augmented by an additional four AMG Dynamics modes: Basic, Advanced, Pro, and Master. Bordering on overkill, they are paired to the drive settings and operate as subsystems that can alter stability-control programming, engine-mount stiffness, rear-differential programming, and fore-aft torque distribution of the all-wheel-drive system.

The Basic setting teams with Slippery and Comfort drive modes; Advanced pairs with Sport; Pro operates in Sport+ mode, and, in the S model only, Master mode kicks in when you deactivate the traction control in Sport+. Even finer adjustments of the AMG Dynamic settings are available via console buttons and a steering wheel-mounted rotary control knob. If all this configurable minutia has your eyes glazing over, you're not alone. That said, we found the GLC63 AMG's core attributes to be so sufficiently dialed in that we found little need to fiddle with the various individual settings.

Thankfully, the focus on technology hasn't dampened Mercedes's enthusiasm for interior finery. From the helm, nothing you can see, or touch would make you worry that other models in the segment are more luxurious. Instead of simulated wood trim of the base GLC 300, the AMG comes with brushed aluminum trim and carbon fiber on the center stake. A highlight is the optional AMG sports steering wheel which features tiny little thumb touchpads to control the big screens, and small customizable digital buttons for drive modes, exhaust sound, traction control, etc. The rest of the cabin, in typical Mercedes overkill fashion, is gorgeous. AMG models can be optioned out in carbon fiber trim. There’s also wood and a few other options for inlays. Touchpoints are always soft, and the stitching looks impeccable.

Benefitting from the same upgrades as the rest of the 2020 GLC lineup, the GLC 63 AMG features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.3-inch center display screen, an available assistant for the MBUX infotainment system. Though the screen size is not generous as say on the Tesla Models, the graphics quality of the graphics for the navigation was spot on, displaying everything in a nice large size and in a 3D mode. The optional Nappa leather sport seats do an excellent job of blending comfort and support without cramping backsides during long stints.

The GLC63 engine is the same as the model it replaces, a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 469-hp at 479 lb.-ft. of torque. The GLC63 S goes a bit higher to 503-hp and 516 lb.-ft. That S version is, by the way, now the fastest GLC AMG on record on the Nurburgring Ring.

The AMG has a nine-speed multiclutch transmission while the base model gets a conventional nine-speed automatic. The AMG comes standard with 4Matic Plus all-wheel drive; on the GLC300 it’s a $2,000 option. All GLCs get adaptive suspension damping with comfort, sport and sport plus modes. AMG versions come standard with the Mercedes’ new three-chamber air suspension.

That new off-road mode comes with off-road-mode specific information in the new MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User eXperience) infotainment system. The 10.25-inch, high-definition central screen has a bunch of different view modes and features including augmented reality navigation, a multitude of camera angles and the rest of the usual stuff (radio/phone/media) just like its bigger GLE brother.

The rest of the cabin, in typical Mercedes overkill fashion, is gorgeous. AMG models can be optioned out in carbon fiber trim. There’s also wood and a few other options for inlays. Touchpoints are always soft, and the stitching looks impeccable.

Burmester is the chosen audio upgrade and there’s both a standard gauge cluster and a 12.3-inch digital screen option. Redundant buttons on the central dash make it easy to switch between navigation, media and other settings. The main control point is a touchpad, which doesn’t work as well as the old rotary knob, but you can always say “Hey Mercedes” and tell it to turn the heat up or the radio down. It still seems more gimmicky than useful.

On the inside, the MBUX infotainment system gives the cabin a more modern appearance. The “y Mercedes” feature is rather, can I say, unique. As my son and I were driving the GLC 63 AMG SUV down the freeway, I must have said something with the word Mercedes in it, because the in an Alexa-style voice, asked how see could help. Stunned, I told my son from here forward I’m just going to refer to the vehicle as “AMG”. With the rest of my time with it that seemed to do the trick. Strangely, I didn’t seem to have problem with the base GLC 300 SUV.

A highlight is the AMG steering wheel, which features tiny little thumb touchpads to control the big screens, and small customizable digital buttons for drive modes, exhaust sound, traction control, etc.

Whereas the driver and front passenger seat feel supportive and comfortable, the back seat feels a little cramped for a full-grown adult. However, that said man was in driving position, the rear area looked a lot more spacious. The cargo area swallows 19.4 cubic feet of stuff, about four medium-sized suitcases and a couple of bags.

In addition to the standard drive modes, with an extra “race” mode on the GLC63 AMG, those AMGs come with the company’s new AMG Dynamics modes that change parameters like the electronically controlled locking differential, ESP thresholds and more. Those modes are called Basic, Advanced, pro, and Master. Like the AMG, there are a lot of combinations of exhaust sound, suspension, steering, power and transmissions to sort through. Thankfully you can find the one you like, set it to “individual” and stick with that. Or work through the combos, your choice.

In comfort mode, both the GLC300 and GLC63 AMG are, well, comfortable. The GLC63 feels a step stiffer. Like the throttle tip in, sport seems to be a good medium on any surface besides smooth asphalt. All four corners are independently controlled, and talk to each other, so even if you’re in sport plus, it still tries to damp out the big bumps. The GLC300 comes standard with 18-inch wheels (again, our GLC 300 tester came with optional 20-inchers); the AMGs get 20s as standard (where our tester came with optional 21s).

Mercedes is calling out the usual competitors: the BMW X3, the league-leading Lexus RX and the Audi Q5. And here’s where I would normally say “the BMW is sportier, the Mercedes is more luxurious and the Audi is in the middle,” but, the AMG has the sports-car/compact-crossover market locked down now with the biturbo V8.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 and GLC63 AMG, should be plentiful and on dealer lots as of this writing.

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