Warming up the engine
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An all-new Mercedes-Benz GLC arrived in 2022, but here we’re concentrating on the popular outgoing model that arrived in 2015. Throughout its time on sale it was one of most desirable and accomplished cars in its class, offering everything from practical and fuel-efficient family transportation to monstrous AMG performance models.
There are no real areas in which the GLC falls down, but as a Mercedes it certainly wasn’t cheap when new, and that’s where buying a used GLC begins to look very tempting. The brand’s strong residuals mean it doesn’t depreciate as fast as some SUVs, but picking up a car that’s a few years old can still save thousands over the latest model. Read on below to find out more about the GLC.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC is a great buy in the premium family SUV class. It has the right badge, handsome styling, a practical and well-built cabin, and a wide range of engines and trim levels that mean just about everyone should be able to find a variant that suits them.
The GLC doesn’t break any new ground in this class - instead it just gets on with doing things well across the board. The cabin is spacious, well-built, and comfortable, and isn’t over-encumbered with distracting screens. The boot is a decent size too, though opt for the plug-in hybrid model and space does shrink slightly thanks to the battery pack.
It’s good to drive too. Some rivals might offer a sportier driving experience but the GLC isn’t out of its depth on a twisty road, while being more comfortable than most around town or on a motorway jaunt, though larger wheels can give the ride quality an edge that chips away at the GLC’s comfort. All engines offer good performance and economy, and are refined enough to settle well into the background when you’re cruising.
Reliability ratings aren’t bad either, which is reassuring when you’re buying a used car from a premium marque. The GLC isn’t without tough opposition though - the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 are similarly talented, with their own strengths (build quality for the Audi, a more dynamic feel for the BMW), and the Porsche Macan is difficult to ignore too. For fun, and a different style, don’t discount the Alfa Romeo Stelvio or Jaguar F-Pace either.
Unless you want the image and the rampant performance of the AMGs, it’s the diesels that make most sense in a premium SUV like this. Even the basic 200 d offers good performance and quite impressive economy - nearly 50mpg on paper - but move up the range and performance only becomes more effortless, without getting significantly more thirsty. The plug-in 300 de isn’t quite as attractive for used buyers as it was for new or fleet owners, but if you have somewhere to charge it, it could still prove quite affordable to run. As for specification, we think AMG Line Premium trim strikes a good balance between equipment and value.
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The Mercedes trim level lineup can be quite complex, as you can see from the various GLC trim grades detailed below. As a quick rule of thumb though, there are Sport, AMG Line, and full AMG models, and the more words affixed to the end of each of these, the more equipment you’re going to get. Most trim levels were available with most engine options, but the proper AMGs got their own engines - a V6 for the 43, and a V8 for the 63 models.
The Mercedes-Benz GLC’s dimensions are:
The Mercedes-Benz GLC’s boot size is:
All Mercedes GLCs cost more than £40,000 when they were new, and this means a hefty VED surcharge for all models between two and six years old, registered after April 2017. This in turn means a bill of £600 per year for petrol and diesels, and £10 less for hybrid models. Cars built before this date are instead taxed on CO2 output, which typically makes the diesels cheaper to tax than petrol models.
Unsurprisingly the AMG models can be found towards the top of the 50-group insurance scale, with the AMG 63 S sitting in group 47, and the Edition 1 special edition bumping that to group 49. The range as a whole starts a little lower though, with a GLC 200 d in Sport trim beginning in group 28, and some earlier models being less still.
£24,669
£44,469
£17,995
£20,850
£31,308
£53,490
£37,427
£52,965
£27,739
£47,271
£27,184
£17,980
£1,000 off£41,780
£22,326
£22,738
£21,847
£46,207
£30,405
£1,207 offWhat is the most popular colour for Mercedes-Benz GLC ?
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What is the most popular engine for Mercedes-Benz GLC ?
What is the average mileage for Mercedes-Benz GLC ?
29964
How many Mercedes-Benz GLC cars are available for sale?
280
