2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 SUV Review

Intro
First introduced in 2016, the Mercedes-Benz GLC class has been one of the company’s best selling SUVs in Canada. Slotting between the GLE class and the GLB class, this compact luxury SUV is perfectly for small families. 

While the GLC has been on the market for a little while, it did receive some mid-cycle upgrades. They include a refreshed exterior, a state-of-the-art MBUX infotainment system, upgraded driver assist functions, minior interior material upgrades, and additional standard features. 

Thanks to Mercedes-Benz Canada. I had the chance to test drive the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 for one week to find out if it can still compete with the best in the segment. Below is my unbiased review.

Exterior

I really like the exterior of the GLC 300, especially with the Brilliant Blue Metallic paint and the night packages our tester comes with. With the Night Package, Mercedes-Benz equipped the GLC with black roof rails, tinted rear glasses, black under-guards, and a diamond grille that features two gloss black louvers with chrome inserts.

While some people might find the look of the GLC to be a little too delicate, the optional 20" AMG 5-Twin-Spoke Bi-color wheels that our tester comes with make the GLC look much more masculine and proportional, well worth the $750 price tag in my opinion. 

The rear profile of the GLC 300 features striking LED tail lamps and a prominent apron. The apron houses a large air diffuser in the middle and two rectangular tailpipes on the sides. I actually prefer the tailpipe design of the GLC 300 over the twin-round tailpipe design of the GLC 43 AMG.

The exterior design of the GLC has a timeless quality. 5 years into the production cycle, the GLC still looks as fresh and modern as any of its competitors. 

Interior

The interior of the GLC 300 is warm, classy and spacious. I love the cream white color scheme as well as the optional brown ash open-pore wood trims. They make the interior of the GLC feel much more upscale and cozy. 

Unlike the latest Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the GLC does not come with the spanning dual-screen infotainment setup. Instead, a 10.25” floating touchscreen is positioned above the center stack, and a 12.3” digital instrument cluster is positioned directly in front of the driver. Other prominent features include turbine jet inspired round air vents and solid aluminum inlays. 

The leather front seats are plush and supportive. The seat extender provides additional comfort for taller passengers. Front seat warmers come standard, but a heated steering wheel will cost you an additional $250 CAD.  Be thankful that you can get one because heated steering wheels are unavailable with some AMG models. 

The rear seats of the GLC offer great legroom and decent headroom. If you want the rear passengers to enjoy the same luxury as the front passengers, rear seat warms are available for $550 CAD. We are starting to see a trend here. Behind the center console are dedicated air vents and charging ports for the rear passengers. The dual-panel panoramic sunroof is massive. It really adds to the sense of spaciousness of the cabin, especially for rear passengers. 

Infotainment

Despite not having the latest dual-screen setup, the same excellent Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system has been implemented in the GLC. Like I have introduced in previous reviews, this infotainment system is one of the most advanced in the industry. 

The new steering wheel design provides unparalleled controls of various car functions right at the driver’s fingertips. The touch control buttons are similar to the trackpads of older blackberry phones. The left one controls the 12.3” digital instrument cluster display, and the right controls the 10.25” touchscreen above the center stack. I love the fact that you never have to take your hands off the steering wheel to access all functions of the infotainment system. Apple Carplay and Android Auto are available with the Premium Package. If you want the 64-color LED ambient lighting and the 360 camera system, be prepared to spend another $2100 for the Premium Plus Package.

Another way to control many of the car functions is via the LINGUATRONIC voice assist. It is a natural language smart assistant that behaves like Apple Siri or Google Assist. Simply say "Hey, Mercedes", or press the voice command button, and you can ask the GLC 300 to make a phone call, plot a new navigation route, or close the roller sunshade. The system is equipped with artificial intelligence to understand natural language commands like "I am cold" or "I am hungry", and responses by raising cabin temperature, or finding the closest restaurant.

Safety and Driver Assistance

The GLC 300 comes with the following standard safety features:

  • Active Brake Assist
  • In-vehicle, one-touch calling features
  • ATTENTION ASSIST
  • Crosswind Assist
  • Blind Spot Assist
  • Rearview camera
  • PRE-SAFE
  • PRE-SAFE Sound
  • Adaptive braking technology
  • Brake Assist (BAS)
  • Tire Pressure Loss Warning System

The following features are optional:

  • Active MULTIBEAM LED Lighting System
  • Adaptive Highbeam Assist
  • Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
  • Active Steering Assist
  • Active Blind Spot Assist
  • Active Lane Keeping Assist
  • Active Lane Change Assist
  • Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function
  • Evasive Steering Assist
  • Congestion Emergency Braking
  • Active Emergency Stop Assist
  • Enhanced Stop-and-Go
  • Traffic Sign Assist
  • Active Speed Limit Assist
  • Route-based Speed Adaptation
  • Active Parking Assist
  • 360 camera
  • PRE-SAFE PLUS
  • Trailer Stability Assist

Many of the advanced functions are included in the Intelligent Drive Package. 

The GLC class receives a Top Safety Pick rating from IIHS and a 5-Star overall safety rating from NHTSA.

Driving

The GLC 300 is powered by a 2.0L turbocharged 4 cylinder engine that produces 255hp of power and 273 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. While you wouldn’t expect AMG performance out of this drivetrain, 0-100km/hr happens in just 6.2 seconds. Not bad for a family SUV and on par with rivals like Audi Q5 and the BMW X3. 

The 4Matic all-wheel drive system of the GLC 300 does a fantastic job of optimizing tire traction on slippery roads and over challenging terrains. The SUV is also able to tow up to 1588kg. The 4-wheel independent suspension is on the firmer side. This improves vehicle handling in corners but allows larger road disturbances to make their way into the cabin. If you prefer a softer ride, a smaller set of wheels will help soaking up the bumps more effectively. Other than that, the GLC 300 is a pleasure to drive. The cabin is quiet, and the steering is easy but precise. 

The GLC 300 is rated at 11.5L/100km city and 9.1L/100km highway. Our one week mostly city test drive observes a fuel economy rating of 12.3L/100km.

Cargo Space & Storage

While not class-leading, the GLC 300 is a very practical SUV. Behind the rear seats is 550L of cargo space. With the 40/20/40 rear seats folded, that number is increased to 1600L. There a mesh pocket on the side of the trunk to store smaller items. The rear seats can be folded electronically via toggle switches inside the trunk. I am pleased to report that under the trunk floor is an actual spare tire. Along with the spare tire, you will find an emergency kit and all the tools required for a tire change.  

In-cabin storage options are great. The glove compartment is decently sized, so is the center console storage bin under the bi-fold armrest. The front side door pockets can handle multiple water bottles, and additional storage trays can be found inside the rear folding armrest.

Verdict

It is no wonder that the GLC 300 remains one of the company’s best selling vehicles. The GLC ages incredibly well with its timeless exterior styling and modern interior design. It may not share the latest side-by-side dual-screen setup as newer Mercedes-Benz vehicles, but the individual screens are powered by the same excellent MBUX infotainment system. The GLC is also a great all-rounder, offering decent performance and good utility. 

The only frustrating thing about buying a GLC is the way packages are arranged. At the base price of $49,900 CAD, the GLC 300 offers great value. But by the time you have selected all the optional features you want, the price tag shot up dramatically because many of the desirable features are only available in separate packages. It is worth spending an extra minute to decide which features are truly important to you when it comes to making the purchasing decision.

Test Vehicle

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 4MATIC SUV

MSRP

$49,900 CAD base, $63,190 CAD as tested

Color

Brilliant Blue Metallic

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