2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe: Automotive Fusion
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CALGARY, Alberta – German automakers are pretty good at creating new market segments, and they did it again a few years ago with coupe-like SUVs. BMW conjured up the X6, and Mercedes-Benz eventually retaliated with the midsize GLE Coupe. Then BMW introduced the X4, and Benz’s response is the compact GLC Coupe which, according to the brand, will also compete with the Jaguar F-PACE, the Porsche Macan and the upcoming Alfa Romeo Stelvio.
Think of it as the love child of a GLC SUV and a C-Class coupe. Its flatter, hunkered-down stance is made possible with the extra 76 millimetres of length and the 36-mm ride height drop compared to the regular GLC. Now, just who would be interested in such an oddball vehicle? Quite a few people, apparently. Mercedes-Benz figures about 20% of total GLC sales will be Coupes, or roughly 1500 units in Canada this year.
- Also: 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe: Get That SUV Out of my Sight!
- Also: 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC: Simply Refined
Two variants of the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe have hit the market in the last few months. The GLC 300 4MATIC Coupe is equipped with a turbocharged, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that develops 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission.
This powertrain can be silky smooth or downright aggressive, according to the drive mode chosen, and thanks to its torque that peaks from 1300 to 4000 rpm, GLC Coupe is blessed with blistering performance. According to the brand, the GLC 300 Coupe can sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds, but on the highway, it can consume as little as 8.5 L/100 km.
Developed in-house, the nine-speeder is an impressive piece of machinery. Despite the number of cogs and turning parts, it can rip upshifts or downshifts in the blink of an eye. On the other hand, it does bang off some jerky gear changes from time to time, even when the DYNAMIC SELECT system is set to Comfort. Choosing Sport or Sport+ gradually increases throttle response, steering liveliness and the exhaust note.
The Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC Coupe is the hot rod of the two, featuring a twin-turbo, 3.0-litre V6 that generates 362 horsepower and 384 pound-feet. It can reach 100 km/h from a standstill in only 4.9 seconds. Compared to the GLC 300, the GLC 43 belts out a nastier soundtrack, especially in Sport+ mode. And the company said it’s the real deal—no computer-generated revving and growling here like what we’re starting to see in more and more sports cars and trucks. Our ears and goosebumps concur.
Unlike the AMG V8s, which are hand-built in the division’s Affalterbach factory, the V6 is assembled alongside other engines in the company’s plants. Does it matter? Not really, because the rest of the package is tuned to be a hot-blooded AMG product. And if a V8 engine is a dealbreaker, we can always wait for the 503-hp, GLC 63 S 4MATIC Coupe to arrive later this year.
The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC Coupe includes a conventional suspension, while the GLC 43 benefits from the AIR BODY CONTROL pneumatic suspenders. This setup is optional on the GLC 300, but the folks at Mercedes-Benz pointed out it will no longer be available for that version when production turns over to the 2018 model year. After driving the GLC Coupe with the standard suspension, we can attest that it works just fine.
As their names suggest, all-wheel drive is standard. However, the full-time power split differs between the two versions of the SUV. In the GLC 300, 45% of available torque is sent to the front wheels while 55% goes to the rear ones. In the GLC 43, the split changes to 31%/69% front/rear.
Plain-Jane 19-inch wheels are standard on the GLC 300, while 20-inch AMG rims are featured on the GLC 43, but included with the optional Sport package on the GLC 300. An upgrade we strongly recommend, which also adds an AMG styling package and a performance exhaust. The GLC 43 can be fitted with 21-inchers.
It may still be an SUV, but Mercedes did a remarkable job of cranking up the sports-car character of the GLC Coupe compared to the regular GLC. The Coupe’s suspension can feel a little stiff at times, which is expected given its performance-oriented attitude. It handles surprising well for an SUV, and is quite fun to drive. Oh, and towing capacity is rated at 3500 lbs.
The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe’s cockpit trim and layout are pretty much the same as what’s found in the GLC. Man-made leather—the company calls theirs ARTICO—is the standard seat upholstery, although the GLC 43 also gets man-made suede—the company calls their DINAMICA—inserts. Full leather in various colours is optional, as is designo Nappa leather.
There are also six interior trim options, including four wood, one AMG carbon fibre and one aluminum. The latter also includes piano black trim on the centre stack, which quickly gathers dust. Wood veneers don’t quite fit the sporty nature of this vehicle, so we’d go with the carbon fibre stuff.
We’ll sound like a broken record, but the COMAND infotainment system in Mercedes-Benz vehicles is a chore to use. Despite the large screen and the touchpad on which we can scribble letters and numbers with our finger, navigating through the system’s menus is laborious. It’s time for some improvement here. And if we want to listen to our favourite SiriusXM stations, we must choose the Premium Plus package, which requires the Premium Package, for an investment of more than $7,000. Geez.
A lower roofline also means less rear-seat headroom and less cargo space. Two occupants can squeeze in the back seat just fine, although the third seat belt should be used as a decoration only. The cargo area of the GLC Coupe is rated at 500 litres, or only 50 less than in the regular GLC. When the rear seatbacks are folded down, volume rises to 1400 litres in the Coupe, down 200 compared to the GLC. That’s the sacrifice to make for extra sportiness.
The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC Coupe starts at $49,900 before freight and delivery charges, while the AMG GLC 43 is listed at $63,200. That’s a few thousand dollars more than the regular GLC, and smack in the middle of its competitors’ pricing. Piling on the various option packages can easily jack the price up by another $20K. Some options such as the Sport Package and the heated steering wheel are no-brainers, while the aluminum running boards are definitely something we’d skip.
The GLC Coupe is definitely a strange kind of vehicle. It has sports-car pretentions, but can still pose as a trendy SUV. Its reduced versatility is compensated by extra like-it-or-hate-it style. It’s hard not to be smitten by the Coupe’s fusion of performance, utility and uniqueness, but the regular GLC remains a more rational choice. Then again, buying a $60,000-plus luxury SUV is anything but rational.
