GLC 2023 plug-in hybrid

You would be forgiven for failing to notice that the new 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC has changed much at all. It looks very similar to the last one. But it is a few inches longer than the outgoing version, lending a bit more interior and cargo space inside. The powertrain will incorporate a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup the automaker says will increase torque and fuel economy. 

Many of the more substantive changes are up front, in the infotainment system, and include the now de rigueur big center stack touch screen and large digital instrument cluster. The new infotainment system—an updated version of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience, or MBUX—is voice-activated, too, and will perform a variety of functions when the user says, “Hey, Mercedes.”

What it competes with: Audi Q5, BMW X3, Lexus NX, Tesla Model Y, Volvo XC60
What it looks like: More or less like the last GLC
Powertrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 48-volt mild-hybrid system, 258 horsepower; 9-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel or all-wheel-drive
Price: $45,000-$55,000 (estimated)
On sale: Spring 2023

The new GLC looks like a conventional SUV, and in a lot of ways it is. And although early teases of the model had suggested that there may be full hybrid and plug-in hybrid models offered, a 48-volt mild-hybrid system—which uses an integrated electric motor/generator to power accessories and smooth out the stop/start system—is the sole powertrain option for now. We found the last GLC to be very quiet and comfortable, with an impeccable interior. Aside from its complex controls, it was a delightful vehicle that packed luxury sedan qualities and agile handling into a versatile SUV package.

Mercedes-Benz says it redesigned the GLC’s front end, but the changes are subtle. The headlights are now connected to the grille via top-edge LED spears, and the grille now has one bar across the opening instead of two. The taillights have a slightly different shape, too, but the rest looks largely the same unless you look closely. New paint colors and wheel options will be on offer, though.

The big change inside the GLC is in the instrument cluster. Gone are the round gauges of the previous model, in favor of a 12.3-inch digital screen. At 11.9 inches, the center touch screen is larger, too, and has been moved below the climate control vents—presumably for easier driver access. It is also now arranged in a vertical orientation, which Mercedes says is better for navigation. The HVAC vents appear in largely the same configuration, although their shape has been changed from round to more of a rounded square.

The upholstery, armrests, and dash material have also been updated with new designs and colors. All trim levels come standard with an improved panoramic sunroof, which Mercedes says has a slimmed-down center support for better outward visibility. Heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel will be optional.

The new GLC’s navigation system is available with augmented video, which uses cameras in front of the car to superimpose images of what you’re seeing ahead on the road onto the navigation map, along with real-time directional prompts. Head-up display will also be standard across the model line, as will wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality.

Mercedes says its expansion of the GLC’s exterior dimensions has increased passenger room inside the vehicle, and has also increased cargo space behind the rear seats by 2.5 cu. ft., to nearly 22 cu. ft. All GLC trims will come standard with the Easy Pack tailgate, which allows the operator to open and close the tailgate by touching a button in the driver’s door, the key fob, or the tailgate handle.

Mercedes says the 258-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is more powerful than in the previous model, and it now gets a boost from an integrated 48-volt motor that can either provide up to 23 extra horsepower and 148 lb.-ft. of extra torque, or capture energy to recharge the 48-volt battery when the car is decelerating. The automaker says it will improve fuel economy, although estimates are not yet available. Mercedes says that both the rear- and all-wheel-drive versions of the GLC will accelerate to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds from a stop, with an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph. A nine-speed automatic is the only transmission offered.

All trim levels of the GLC will come standard with a full suite of active safety features, including forward collision warning (FCW), emergency automatic braking (AEB), blind spot warning (BSW), and a driver monitoring system that looks for signs of driver fatigue. The optional driver assist package includes adaptive cruise control and a steering assist feature that can react to stationary objects at speeds of up to 60 mph.

Also optional is a 360-degree camera system that recognizes traffic signs and signals and provides the “eyes” for the vehicle’s obstacle detection and avoidance capabilities, as well as its active parking assist system. If the driver chooses not to use active parking assist, the 360-degree camera provides a virtual bird’s eye view of the car to help avoid scraping stationary objects. The all-wheel-drive 4Matic model uses the 360-degree camera system to aid during light off-road driving.

Benjamin Preston

My reporting has taken me everywhere from Baghdad, Iraq, to the Detroit auto show, along the U.S.-Mexico border and everywhere in between. If my travels have taught me anything, it's that stuff—consumer products—is at the center of daily life all over the world. That's why I'm so jazzed to be shining light on what works, what doesn't, and how people can enrich their lives by being smarter consumers. When I'm not reporting, I can usually be found at home with my family, at the beach surfing, or in my driveway, wrenching on my hot rod '74 Olds sedan. 

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