Mercedes-AMG GLC63 S Coupe review (2020): A muscle car that can double as family transport

SUVs are big business these days, and with the meteoric rise of these high-riding machines, a new niche has emerged during the past decade or so, the performance SUV. There is a performance-based version of almost all premium SUVs and crossovers out there, meaning that there is market and demand for fast cars that have the ability provide driving excitement while looking like something that could take the kids to school, or tackle a mild gravel road.

The AMG brand has an illustrious history, creating muscle cars with a decidedly Germanic theme to them. With the fate of the V8 engine all but sealed, the opportunity to drive an AMG fitted with the impressive M177 engine was something I could not pass up. The fact that this engine is fitted to an SUV with a sloping roofline only made the test more interesting, as I discovered.

Styling

It is safe to say that the designers at Mercedes hit the nail on the head with the GLC Coupe, especially in AMG guise. The test unit features massive 21-inch wheels finished in black, which matched its dark exterior hue. The flared wheel arches and more prominent front and rear bumpers certainly create a visual statement, too.

The darkened exterior of the press car suits the coupe silhouette that attracted admiration from fellow road users during the five-day test period. It is also hard to ignore the inclusion of the brand's Panamericana grille up front, which looks fantastic while at the rear, AMG models get a duck-tail spoiler.

Interior and space

The GLC is not the most modern Mercedes product from an interior perspective. Despite benefitting from a digitised instrument cluster and the latest MBUX infotainment software, the design of the interior is aged compared with that of the more modern Mercedes products such as the E-Class, A-Class and indeed, the new S-Class, to name a few.

The tablet-style mounting of the infotainment system is less attractive than the newer products that feature a large rectangular slab design, however, the system still works well, providing the voice-activated Mercedes personal assistant as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The 63 S also features the AMG performance application, called Track Pace, which allows you to load your selected racetrack and have detailed telemetry of your track session while also offering a timer for 0-100km/h tests, among other functions.

The infotainment system and digital instrument cluster are customisable, offering a variety of themes that alter the look of the interface dramatically while the ambient lighting provides various options when it comes to the interior look and feel.

Despite the interior options, if you are paying over R2.0-million for a new car, it should not feel dated nor feature areas with questionable quality trim inside, which after experiencing some of its rivals and stablemates, the GLC most certainly does.

In terms of practicality, the Coupe version of the GLC suffers because of its sloping roofline, losing 50-litres of boot space, now measuring 500-litres while dropping an additional 200-litres with the seats folded, offering a maximum of 1 400-litres, which is comparable to a BMW X4. The rear occupant headroom is still acceptable, with passengers over 1.8-metres tall reporting having enough room. The boot opening is narrow, though, making it acceptable for a few bags and the shopping run, but not very convenient for much else.

Related: Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé has a unique appeal

Performance and driving impression

As an AMG, the performance is one of the most important aspects of the GLC. With a bi-turbo 4.0-litre V8 that produces 375 kW and 700Nm of torque that is sent through all four wheels via a 9-speed automatic gearbox, there is a lot of performance to exploit in this car, despite it tipping the scales at nearly two-tons. The 0-100 km/h dash is dispatched in around 3.8 seconds thanks to a launch control function while top speed is 280 km/h.

The GLC is more than the sum of its figures though, which is saying something because performance SUVs are often one tricks ponies, possessing the ability to hurl occupants towards the horizon at an alarming rate, but then lacking driver appeal in terms of engagement and overall dynamics.

With what Mercedes-AMG call 4Matic+, the GLC benefits from an all-wheel drive system that can send power to individual wheels, but more importantly, it rather enjoys sending power to the rear, endowing the GLC with a grin-inducing amount of sideways action which is matched by a phenomenal soundtrack when the active exhaust system is switched on.

The point and squirt nature of the GLC's performance is evident when attempting to manipulate the car with minor inputs, which it does not care for, instead, it prefers to be sent on a certain line, where it will then grip, hard, sending you through a given corner before launching you out with absolute pace.

Comfort and convenience

There is almost always a trade-off for dynamic prowess. In the case of the GLC63 S, it comes in the form of a decidedly hard ride quality considering how high you find yourself from the ground. Despite featuring air suspension, in all modes besides 'Comfort', the road required needs to be buttery smooth to yield any comfort. The various driving modes, which include 'Comfort', 'Sport', Sport+', 'Race' and 'Individual' provide a variety of options. I found the configuring the car in Individual mode was the only way to go, setting the exhaust system to 'powerful', the suspension to its softest and the engine and gearbox to a sporty setting.

Safety

In 2015 the GLC range was subjected to the new car assessment programme run by EuroNCAP. It fared well during its crash test, scoring a 5-star rating which included 95% for adult occupant safety, 89% for child occupants, 82% for pedestrian safety and 71% for its safety assist systems. The product comes with seven airbags as standard with the option of nine while niceties such as adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitor are fitted to the press car.

Fuel economy

Being powered by a V8, the GLC is not what I would call economical, however, as with many a performance car, its consumption varies according to how liberal you are with the use of the accelerator. My five-day stint with the car resulted in a consumption figure of 16.2 L/100km, which is a fair bit heavier than the 12.3 L/100km claim.

Pricing

The press car was rather well specified; however, its basic list price is R2 140 480, making it the most expensive within its segment when comparing it with the likes of the BMW X4 M Competition, the Porsche Cayenne GTS and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio.

Verdict

The GLC63 S Coupe is easy to dismiss at first glance, however, the way that the automotive world is shifting may have vehicles of this type taking a more prominent role within the market versus traditional performance cars. The shift to SUVs means that those after a car that can do a little bit of everything may see them looking at options such as the GLC, which offers the sound and straight-line performance of its C-Class sibling, but provides the raised ride height, styling and improved practicality of an SUV.

With its coupe-esque sloping roofline, respectable road manners, playful all-wheel drive system and pure muscle car soundtrack, the AMG GLC proved to be a far more enjoyable vehicle to drive than I had anticipated. While its higher centre of gravity and near two-ton kerb weight blunts its driving dynamics versus the likes of a C63 S, it compares favourably with key competitors. If you are shopping for a performance SUV within this segment, the GLC should feature in your top three, but consider the regular model over the Coupe.

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