Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupé has a unique appeal

By Stuart Johnston

There was a time when many of us were predisposed to dislike coupe versions of SUVs.  Surely the whole point of an Sports Utility Vehicle  was “utility” first and “sport” second? Otherwise, you may as well buy a hot-engined estate car!

Well, a few things have happened in the motor industry since BMW first introduced this outlandish concept , going on nearly a decade ago, with its X6. Mainly, so many people would start buying them! Mercedes-Benz logically followed suit with its GLE Coupé, and just under a year ago released the smaller GLC series. This test report is of the GLC 250 Coupé.

A large cross-over?

The GLC 250 in fact, could be termed a large cross-over, as it definitely has the nimbleness associated with an enlarged hatchback, rather than a lumbering SUV. The coupé shape is the reason for this. Starting at the front, it has a windscreen rake that is noticeably sleeker than the normal GLC, making it some four centimetres lower than the straight-up SUV. It is actually longer by eight centimetres than the GLC, but otherwise it is based on the GLC platform. And then there is the sloping roofline towards the rear.

Crucially, for our tastes, the GLC Coupé does not compromise too much on either headroom at the rear, which is reasonable, or luggage space. In fact, luggage room measures out at nearly 500 litres with the seats upright, or 1400 litres folded flat. This is space is more than acceptable, although not as big as on a conventional SUV. But  in the slope-backed GLC Coupé, it is very accessible.

Stylish sex-appeal

The whole point about the GLC Coupé series is style, and this car has plenty of that. We liked the front-end particularly, with its diamond radiator grille carrying the three-pointed star, and the SUV-inspired chromed under-guard.  Oh, and visually we liked the smart black and silver alloys fitted to the test car; you can order 13 different styles of  wheels between 18 and 20 inches in diameter on this car, which has a distinctly sporty set-up.

Part of that sporty setup is the firm suspension configured as standard by the factory. We found it a bit lacking in suspension travel over bumpy roads, particular on spring extension after you’ve traversed a speed bump or similar,  but otherwise the feel of the car is quite good.  Our test car’s large-diameter wheel option meant  it also came with ultra-low profile tyres – great for looks, if not ride-quality!

The GLC can also be ordered with air suspension, which can also lower the suspension by 15 mm when the Sport or Sport+ modes are selected.

Unruffled progress, albeit with a slightly stiff ride

As a matter of principle, we like Mercedes-Benz cars to provide unruffled, effortless progress, because this has always been a cornerstone of the brand. And this the GC 250 generally did, despite the minimal cushioning effect over bumps afforded by the low profile Michelins fitted to the test vehicle.  The shape of the body shell gives it lots of rigidity, and the handling is improved furthermore by standard fitment of the excellent 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system, which is standard on all the GLC Coupé models here.

And when you put your foot down…

How does it go? Very well indeed, in fact, quite sportily too. The 250 is fitted with a petrol-fuelled 1 991cc turbocharged four-cylinder motor, tuned to produce 155 kW and 350 Nm of torque. The already-mentioned all-wheel drive transmission takes power from the engine via the excellent nine-speed automatic gearbox that Mercedes has employed for some time now.

This ‘box shifts effortlessly between ratios and is also very well-programmed to pick up the right gear at the right time when a kick-down is signalled by the accelerator. It contributes largely to the feeling of unruffled progress that we enjoy as a typical Merc-characteristic.

In a straight line “dice”, the GLC 250 Coupé doesn’t fare badly either. The 0-100 km/h time is listed at 7,3 seconds, which is very much in the quick-league for a car with a kerb-weight of 1 785 kg. Top speed, academic as it largely is these days, and in this country, is 222 km/h – more than adequate, one would say.

And if you want more power….

If that isn’t enough for you, there is always the GLC 300 with 180 kW, the 350 d (diesel)  with 190 kW, or the  GLC 43 with 270 kW!

Economy-wise, the GLC 250 is good for a petrol-fuelled car of this size. The EU-rated fuel economy figure for this model is 6,9-7,3 litres/100, so if you are achieving anything under 9,0 litres/100 km in general driving you will be doing well. On the open road at the speed limit you will achieve economy much closer to that rated figure, at the 120 km/h speed limit.

Look ma, no hands tailgate lift

Equipment-wise, the standard GLC Coupé comes well-specced. It has the so-called Easy Pack automatic tailgate lift to enable you carry shopping and open the luggage area “hands-free”. This you do by waving your foot under the rear bumper.  It has the reverse camera, which we would say is an essential on this car, a sophisticated Audio 20 multimedia system, and simulated leather upholstery in a substance called “Artico” that is very smart.

A 360-degree camera for even easier vehicle placement is optional, and Active Parking Assist, which essentially does all the steering in parking manoeuvres automatically, is also an option.

Safety-wise there is collision assistance, attention assistance and cornering assistance. Optionally you can order all sorts of interior trim levels , and also the AMG exterior bits and pieces that give it a cutting-edge look.  And the usual full complement of airbags you would expect from a Mercedes-Benz.

Pricing and summary

The GLC 250 4MATIC sells for R782 600 (before options added), and is in fact the second-cheapest model in the range, which starts at R775 322 for the 220 d and tops out at R1 080 362 for the V6-engined  GLC 43.

On balance, the Mercedes-Benz GLC  250 Coupé is a surprisingly well-rounded model in the Merc range that is very easy to live with. Its performance is delivered unobtrusively and efficiently, and the slightly raised driving position of this SUV-based package eases stress in traffic, even though the Coupé is not particularly tall when compared to some of the larger SUVs out there.

It offers high style and that all-important three-pointed star, so beloved of the upwardly-mobile set.