The GLK is dead, long live the GLC. It might not seem like it at first, but the Mercedes-Benz alphabet soup is about to get less complex. Naming the SUV lines to correspond with the sedan lineup, the M, K and the like are being turfed in favour of C, E, and S.
There are significant changes under the skin, perhaps the most significant of which is the powertrain lineup coming to Canada.
The C-Class sedan lines up with the GLC (formerly GLK), the E-Class with the GLE (formerly ML). It will – eventually – be a more intuitive naming convention that helps customers understand where each model sits in the size range. Or at least it should be.
They made us wade through half-an-hour of “brand synergy” waffle first, but the Mercedes-Benz GLC was unveiled in Stuttgart on Wednesday to an admiring audience.
The GLC is perhaps not as radical a departure as expected from the GLK – it’s more a rounding of the edges to create a more fluid profile. But there are significant changes under the skin, perhaps the most significant of which is the powertrain lineup coming to Canada.
Because the new plug-in hybrid powertrain is 4Matic (the first Benz plug-in hybrid mated to a four-wheel drive powertrain ) it will eventually come to Canada, as will the diesel engine. For now, Canadians will get the GLC 300 4Matic with the same 2.0L, four-cylinder turbo from the C 300. An all-new nine-speed (9G-Tronic) gearbox will send power to all four wheels, because Canada.
This GLC and the GLE will be the first cars to hit the road with the extra cog as Mercedes-Benz joins the ridiculous gearbox arms race. The four-cylinder also replaces the six-cylinder currently in the GLK, with a resultant power drop to 241 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is not released but thanks to the smaller engine, nine-speed gearbox, reduced weight (Benz claims a reduction of 80 kg) and a lower drag coefficient, Mercedes-Benz expects a significant improvement in fuel economy.
On the subject of weight, figures for the 300 4Matic were not available, but the European models start at 1,735 kg for the 250 4Matic, go to 1,845 kg for the 220 d (diesel) and 250 d, up to 2,025 kg for the 350 e. Expect the 300 4Matic to land around the 1,845 kg mark.
In the increasingly competitive SUV segment design is vital to win the hearts and minds of consumers and Mercedes-Benz has paid careful attention to detail here. The colour palette is also revised and the interior materials plush and pleasing to touch.
The thick, soft leather is quilted, giving the interior a generously luxurious atmosphere. It’s a large space too, Mercedes-Benz claims an increase in overall passenger volume and I saw two six-foot tall gentlemen sit behind each other. The one in the rear seat had an inch and a half of spare headroom and ample legroom. Needless to say, my 5’6" frame fit in there with consummate ease.
The porous wood and brushed aluminum feels as spectacular as it looks, and as you might expect it is all real. Even the buttons feel a little heavier and more substantial than the buttons and switchgear of the predecessor.
Externally, the GLC is more rounded, more elegant and sexy. One eagle-eyed colleague pointed out the fake tail pipes moulded into the rear façade – but that was forgiven when I noticed the electric plug cover just above the one on the right because that was cool. Unless you get rear ended and have to replace the whole charging system – that would be less cool.
Canadians will get the off-road focused front bumper with 28-degrees of approach angle clearance as well as 19-inch wheels as standard. Also standard for Canada is collision prevention assist, passive blind spot assist, integrated multimedia system with high-resolution 7.0-inch colour media display and touchpad, power lumbar support, keyless start, ECO start/stop, pre-safe.
An available off-road technology kit may be available; it will be available to European markets from day one.
Confirmed options include the Active LED high-performance lighting system with Adaptive Highbeam Assist (AHA),COMAND Online Navigation with touchpad, leather upholstery & Artico (synthetic) leather dashboard and memory package with power steering column.
The Advanced Driving Assistance Package features Distronic Plus with steering assist, active blind spot and lane keeping assist, rear collision mitigation system, BAS Plus with Cross-Traffic Assist, Pre-smash, brake and pre-safe plus for rear-end collisions. Plus standalone options like Parktronic with active parking assist, easy-pack power tailgate, heated steering wheel, 115V power socket, rear-view camera, panoramic sunroof and keyless-go will be available.
Pricing will be “in the mid-40s” with delivery in late 2015.
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