Mercedes-Benz GLC - A SUV for keen drivers? - Performance and 0-60
Comfortable on-road and surprisingly capable off it, but a remote driving experience
Performance and 0-60mph time
At the mercy of newer rivals and their more advanced power units, the Mercedes-Benz GLC is still impressive in regards to overall performance. The four-cylinder 2.1-litre diesel units in the GLC 220d and GLC 250d reach 60mph in 8.3 and 7.6 seconds respectively. For context, BMW’s upcoming all-new X3 in 20d form will hit the same in 8 seconds flat.
Both engines perform admirably well on the road, the 250d being particularly brawny, if a little unrefined when strained. The GLC 350d will hit 62mph in a brisk 6.2 seconds. This figure is a little off the pace from other six-cylinder rivals, but has a wide flat torque spread giving the GLC a more relaxed attitude.
>Click here for our review of the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43
The only two petrol engines available in the UK will both bear AMG badges, the first the same 3-litre 362bhp twin-turbo V6 as fitted to other 43 branded AMG models. In the same vein as the SQ5 and X3 M40i M Performance rivals, the GLC 43 is more a halfway house performance model, but will still hit 62mph in just 4.9 seconds.
The slightly unhinged AMG GLC 63, complete with a 469bhp or (507bhp in ‘S’ form) 4-litre twin-turbo V8, sprints from 0-62mph in 4.0 seconds (3.8). The V8 is Mercedes-AMG’s widespread M178 ‘hot vee’ engine that we first saw in the AMG GT coupe, here tuned with the same outputs as the Mercedes-AMG C 63.
