Overview
Horsepower and torque are in good company these days, especially in the Mercedes-AMG GLC-class Coupe, where this pair is joined by a heapin’ helpin’ of luxury. These performance-minded compact luxury SUVs deliver gobs of acceleration, but with interiors that soften the blow. The 416-hp GLC43 Coupe serves as the entry point to this bombastic lineup. Powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder, the GLC43 Coupe’s sporty fastback roof does sacrifice some cargo space, when compared to the boxier GLC-class SUVs reviewed separately, but at least it looks good. The plug-in-hybrid GLC63 S E Performance also uses a turbocharged four-cylinder but pushes output to a maddening 671 horsepower with the help of a beefy electric motor. That’s big power in a compact package, one that’s thick with high-quality materials and dazzling digital displays. Both versions use a nine-speed automatic transmission and come with standard all-wheel drive.
What’s New for 2025?
The 671-hp GLC63 S E Performance plug-in hybrid joins the lineup for 2025, following the less-powerful GLC43 Coupe that debuted for 2024.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Yes, the GLC63 S E Performance’s 671 horsepower is crazy, but the prescription cost to wield such a diagnosis is wilder yet. We’d stick with the 416-hp GLC43 Coupe. Its turbocharged inline-four makes plenty of power. Outside of the AMG-specific performance bits, the GLC43 Coupe has a long list of standard features, such as LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, a power liftgate, and a nearly-all-digital dashboard. It also comes with a wide array of driver-assistance features, including blind-spot monitoring, automated emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The GLC43’s powertrain is a snarling 416-hp turbocharged inline-four with 369 pound-feet of torque. A nine-speed automatic (with a clutch pack in place of the torque converter shifts gears) and all-wheel drive are both standard. The updated inline-four offers a 31-hp upgrade from 2023’s V-6-powered GLC43. The torque split between the axles is rear-biased, providing 39 percent to the front and 61 percent to the rear. We haven’t sampled the GLC43 with this beefier powertrain yet, but AMG claims its good for a run to 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds. They also claim the wilder GLC63 S E Performance can reach 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Thanks to a larger turbocharger and help from the rear-mounted electric motor, output increases significantly to 671 horsepower. Adaptive dampers and active roll stabilization help keep these mighty compact SUVs glued to the road. But just as all good things must come to an end, eventually it comes time to slow down, and large front brake discs promise to make safe work of that. Since there’s a whole lot more speed to shed, the GLC63 Coupe wears larger brakes than the GLC43 Coupe. For those with devilish curiosities, the top speed of the GLC43 is limited to 155 mph, while the GLC63 S E Performance bumps that up to 171 mph.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA hasn’t published its estimates for the 2025 GLC43 or GLC63 S E Performance Coupe, but we’ll update this space when that information is available. The previous and less-powerful GLC43 Coupe earned an EPA-estimated 18 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. On our 200-mile highway fuel-economy loop, the 2023 GLC43 Coupe managed 26 mpg. For more information about the GLC-class’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The AMG GLC offers the luxury and comfort you’d expect from a Mercedes. The seating surfaces are supportive, and the front buckets are highly adjustable. High-quality materials abound, and the center console is topped with an enormous vertical infotainment touchscreen. One drawback of the Coupe styling is that the pitched roofline digs into passenger space. People in the front seats have plenty of headroom, but second-row passengers may feel a bit cramped up top. Cargo space has increased over the last-gen GLC Coupe, but only slightly. And compared with the squareback GLC, which holds seven carry-on suitcases behind its second row, the Coupe holds only five.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The GLC’s MBUX infotainment system is displayed on a dash-mounted touchscreen that’s massive and vertically oriented, but there’s a bit of a learning curve to operate it with ease. If you’d rather not use its touchscreen capability, you can try the touch-sensitive pad near the center armrest or the steering-wheel controls. The GLC-class Coupe has SiriusXM satellite radio and Bluetooth connectivity. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration also come standard.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The GLC Coupe comes with a plethora of safety and driver-assistance features. For more information about the GLC-class’s crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking
- Standard blind-spot monitoring
- Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The warranty offered by Mercedes is right in line with what’s offered by rival manufacturers such as Audi and BMW. Jaguar, however, provides longer coverage than Mercedes.
- Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
As more information becomes available, we’ll update this story with more details about:
- Range, Charging, and Battery Life
Source: www.caranddriver.com