Mercedes-Benz GLC – a mid-size Merc SUV for local market, finally! SA prices+specs here

The Mercedes-Benz GLC will be the first product from Mercedes in the local mid-size SUV market.

GLK becomes GLC, falls into line

The previous chunky square Mercedes-Benz GLK was only built in left-hand drive, meaning right-hand drive countries like South Africa, England and Japan missed out on Merc’s baby-butch SUV.

The GLC follows the new Mercedes successful curvy design lines, which can be described as a C-Class estate and GLE SUV rolled into one.  GLC also falls into line of the new Mercedes naming structure, where the C in GLC indicates its position as the C-Class of SUVs, if you please.

Is GLC the “first” local mid-size SUV from Mercedes-Benz?

Yes, it is the first, as Mercedes has thus far only offered 3 large SUVs to SA buyers, namely GLE (formerly ML or M-Class) and GL and legendary G-Class, a.k.a. Geländewagen.

GLC for Good Luck Charm

Where BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Porsche Macan have had the mid-size German SUV segment to themselves, so the Mercedes-Benz GLC will from now on fill that spot for the 3-pointed star brand.

The GLC is just the Good Luck Charm the Mercedes dealers and buyers have been waiting for – now a Mercedes-Benz in the mid-size SUV segment can be sold/bought, which will make many people happy.

The trend to get into an SUV shows no signs of abating, so Mercedes will do well by offering their GLC to keen local shoppers.

Local model line-up and spec

The Mercedes-Benz GLC will initially be offered in engines familiar from the C-Class, being the 2.1-litre turbo diesel and 2.0-litre petrol turbo.

In turbo diesel, the choice is GLC220d with 125kW 400Nm engine, or GLC250d presenting 150kW and a strong 500Nm.  On the petrol turbo side, a GLC250 using the 155kW/350Nm engine or the GLC300 with outputs of 175kW and 370Nm form the pair.

All Mercedes-Benz GLC will use the 9G-Tronic automatic, to assist performance, economy and emissions, and GLC will locally be available only in 4Matic 4-wheel drive, which resembles main rivals’ offerings of 4-wheel-only for SA, namely Audi Q5 quattro and BMW X3 xDrive.

Unique in its segment will the big-SUV option of air suspension, which brings the benefits of a smoother ride, self-leveling suspension, and higher ground clearance for off-road driving, which the GLC 4Matic is designed to handle.

Staring into the AMG looking-glass

Sharing so much with the C-Class would almost certainly mean the AMG looking-glass will show GLC450 AMG and Mercedes-AMG GLC63 in the GLC’s prosperous future.  Tasty!  The GLC63 in particular would bring the fight to the Porsche Macan turbo which currently enjoys a monopoly on the high-performance mid-size SUV market, as neither BMW X3 M nor Audi RS Q5 exist.

Priced to sell

The GLC needs to come in at a price bracket well below Mercedes GLE, which starts at around R 860 000, and compete against Audi Q5, BMW X3, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Jeep Cherokee, Volvo XC60 and newer Japanese rivals like Lexus NX.

Prices excluding emissions tax:

Mercedes-Benz GLC220d	R 599 900
Mercedes-Benz GLC250	R 604 900
Mercedes-Benz GLC250d	R 619 900
Mercedes-Benz GLC300	R 654 900

These prices compare well to the competition mentioned above, which mostly operate in the R550k-R750k price range, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class estate (station wagon) like the C250d estate (was C250 BlueTec estate as reviewed here) priced at R 586 400.

For more, go into the mercedes-benz.co.za webpage for GLC.

You can also view cars for sale or used cars for sale.