The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC 4Matic SUV

More Luxurious Than Entertaining and No Detail Has Been Overlooked

While the Mercedes-Benz GLC has been in around in name only since 2015, it actually dates back to 2008, when the GLK-Klasse SUV was introduced.

The GLC nameplate is part of the automaker’s current SUV nomenclature, under which GL stands for Geländewagen, or off-road vehicle, and the C reflects the vehicle’s place in the pecking order, in this case, the SUV equivalent of the C-Klasse.

The GLK moniker didn’t fit into the updated Mercedes nomenclature because ‘K’ stood for Kompakt and the GLK was in fact Stuttgart’s compact SUV.

The GLK’s design was heavily influenced by the C-Klasse as was the GLC’s when it came out.  A facelift of the GLC was introduced in 2019 as a 2020 model.  New features included the updated “Hey Mercedes” MBUX Operating System (it can be activated by saying “Hey Mercedes,” new engines, a new steering wheel, and a 12.3” digital cockpit.  For 2022, Mercedes added new standard features including automatic high-beams, parking damage detection (the Mercedes me app will alert the owner if someone bumps into his parked car, the app will report where and exactly at what time the incident occurred), USB ports for second-row passengers, and a USB-C adaptive cable. Ordering the premium package will get passive hands-free entry, which allows one to use the virtual kick pedal under the trunk to open the lid.

Buyers will find a very well-equipped vehicle indeed and the only – or perhaps the biggest – question that one must consider when purchasing the 2022 GLC300 is whether to stick with the standard rear-wheel drive layout or opt for the $2,000 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. Otherwise, it comes down to personal taste: MBTex or real leather upholstery, standard heated seats or ventilated  front seats, perhaps a heated steering wheel (something I consider mandatory in colder climes such as where I have lived, namely Munich and New York, and a variety of driver-assist tech options.

While the second generation of the GLC was unveiled in June of last year, the redesigned GLC is not yet in the press fleet so we thought we would take one last look at the outgoing model.

On an extraordinarily warm February morning, a black Mercedes GLC SUV arrived at our garage for an extended stay of 20 days.  Here are our findings.

INSIDE THE 2022 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC 4MATIC SUV

Open the driver’s door and a well-appointed and Teutonic-looking cabin awaits.  This is not your father’s GLC (or GLK for that matter).  The materials – from rich leather to soft plastics – are nothing short of magnificent and the technology is unparalleled in its class.  In the elegant, high-tech cabin, LED lighting abounds, complementing the polished trim and natural-grain wood, and real aluminum switches.

The hand-fitted AMG Line Cranberry Red and Black leather upholstery is  paired with Natural Grain Black Ash and aluminum trim, resulting in a very appealing interior with not so much red that one would ever tire of it.

In the rear of the cabin, the roomy, 40/20/40-split rear seat -folds down with the touch of a button. The power liftgate reveals a rather spacious cargo area when open and underfloor storage adds to what one can stow in the back.

DRIVING THE 2022 MERCEDES-BENZ GLC 4MATIC SUV

Under the hood  – while we still have cars with an engine there – one will find a 2.0-liter turbocharged four banger that develops 255 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque.  While this may not sound like much, it’s enough to propel the GLC with all-wheel drive from a standstill to 60 mph (100 km/h) in 6.1 seconds.

Once seated, it’s immediately apparent that the GLC has a fairly high seating position (it may be worth mentioning that my typical daily driver could include  a BMW 535i or Mercedes C280 sedan, so I am not used to sitting in the equivalent of a children’s high chair).  Nonetheless, I happily adjusted to the raised perch although I continue to bemoan the encroachment of A, B, and C pillars on visibility.  While it’s all in the name of safety, it does make one recognize how important driver-assistance systems such as lane-departure warning are today versus when we could actually see what was next to us.

The GLC’s 10.25” central touchscreen with Apple CarPlay on the display

Before getting underway, let’s look at the new Mercedes-Benz User Experience, which Mercedes shorthands as MBUX (“UX” is a common abbreviation for “user experience”). If you know how to use a smartphone, you already know how to use almost everything in the vehicle.  Plugging in my Apple iPhone 14 Pro  Max launched Apple CarPlay effortlessly, although I was disappointed that the car did not offer wireless access to CarPlay, something I’ve grown used to in recent years.

One of the most notable things Mercedes has done is virtually eliminating the need to learn specific voice commands in order to use your vehicle to its full potential.  Commands start with “Hey, Mercedes” and can range from “Hey, Mercedes, lower the temperature” to “Hey, Mercedes, find me a Biergarten.”

It’s important to note that summoning Mercedes doesn’t replace summoning Siri. While Siri can’t change the cabin temperature in the vehicle, she can look up facts and figures online.

Once underway, a 10.25” central touchscreen responds to your touch on the console, the steering wheel, or itself. Digital gauges flank a reconfigurable color multifunction display.

The GLC offers smooth and mostly responsive acceleration, which generally worked well with the 9-speed automatic, although the steering lacked any significant road feel.  The all-season tires from Pirelli provided a respectable grip, even in hard cornering, and added to the SUV’s excellent stopping power.

Despite the notably quick acceleration, the GLC does lack a certain je ne sais quoi in terms of driving excitement, perhaps best described as élan.

Fuel economy was unremarkable and, as is typically the case with petrol engine vehicles, we didn’t’ come close to the EPA rating of 21 mpg (13.5 l/100 km) in city driving and 27 (10.5) on Autobahnen.

BOTTOM LINE

The outgoing GLC is a true luxury crossover, no detail has been overlooked.  Ultimately, it is suited for the driver who wants a driving experience that is more luxurious than it is entertaining, although Mercedes-Benz dealers have the far more entertaining and g-force inducing AMG GLC-Klasse SUVs standing by for those who require extra vivacity.

THE DETAILS

(Photos: Accura Media Group)