The Luxury SUV with a Workhorse Heart
First, let me introduce the machine. The GLC 300de isn’t here to be discreet. It rolls on stylish AMG alloys, wears its LED lighting like precision, cut jewelry, and has the sort of road presence that makes you feel you should be wearing a blazer just to drive it. Beneath its polished surface, though, things get serious.
We’re talking about a 2.0, liter, four, cylinder turbodiesel engine good for 197 hp, working alongside a 156 hp electric motor. The numbers combine for a full, system output of 333 hp and 750 Nm of torque. That’s right, seven hundred and fifty. And all that torque is routed through Mercedes’ 9G, TRONIC transmission to all four wheels via 4MATIC AWD.
On paper, it’s a marvel of German engineering. But paper isn’t where cars live. They live on the road, or in this case, a serpentine tangle of mountain asphalt.
Into the Ascent: Climbing Jochberg with Electric Calm and Diesel Grit
Pulling out of the village, I selected Electric Mode, curious to see how far the battery alone would take me. Mercedes claims a pure EV range of 122 km WLTP, and real, world testing backs up around 110 km. On quiet Bavarian roads, that’s plenty. The motor was whisper, quiet. You glide rather than drive. No gears, no sound, just torque.
But as the incline steepened, I needed more. I switched to Hybrid Mode, and it felt like the car took a breath. The diesel woke up, not with a roar, but with the low growl of confidence. The GLC didn’t scramble or whine; it surged. At around 2.4 tons, it’s no featherweight, but the hybrid system handled the added altitude like a mountain goat in Gucci loafers.
Push down on the throttle from 60 to 100 km/h, and it responds in 3.5 seconds. From 80 to 120 km/h, it’s done in 4.5 seconds. These are sports, sedan numbers, and you feel them. The shove is smooth but immediate, like a magnetic pull rather than an explosion.
Suspension and the Dance with Gravity
Jochberg isn’t all straights and curves; it’s also filled with rough patches, quick switchbacks, and the occasional surprise pothole hidden under early frost. Thankfully, my test unit came fitted with the optional AIRMATIC air suspension, and it might be one of the best features of the GLC.
It absorbs bumps like a sponge without feeling floaty. The SUV stays controlled even when I tossed it through sharper corners in Sport Mode, where the suspension stiffens up and body roll tucks in. If you plan to drive it spiritedly, or simply value ride quality, tick the box for air suspension. Trust me.
All, wheel drive helped maintain impeccable traction, and the optional rear, axle steering made tight hairpins feel less like truck maneuvers and more like clever corner slicing. That’s impressive agility for something this heavy.
Tech, Cabin, and the Sweetness of “Hey Mercedes”
Inside, Mercedes has gone full spaceship. Gone are traditional dials; the GLC now runs entirely on digital displays. There’s a driver, oriented center touchscreen that blends into the console and a crisp digital instrument cluster. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless. The MBUX interface is excellent once you get used to it, and the voice assistant remains among the best: just say “Hey Mercedes,” and it listens.
I tried it while negotiating a gentle climb:
“Hey Mercedes, turn on seat heating.”
It did. Without a button press. That’s convenience I didn’t know I wanted until I had it.
The ambient lighting, all 64 colors of it, is more flair than function, but adds charm, especially during foggy evenings when the GLC’s interior glows like a sci, fi lounge.
And the cabin space? Front seats are massive and supportive. The rear has generous legroom, ideal even for tall passengers. The only catch is the trunk, which drops to 470 liters due to the hybrid battery. You feel that if you’re a frequent road, tripper with lots of gear.
Real, world Fuel and Electric Use
I tested the car over roughly 280 kilometers, half in electric, half in hybrid mode. In electric, only driving, consumption hovered around 25.9 kWh/100 km. Not the lowest, but reasonable for the size. In hybrid mode with an empty battery, I saw 6.5 liters/100 km on average. That’s respectable for a luxury SUV this size.
However, don’t expect miracles if you plan to cruise fast on the autobahn: at 7.6 L/100 km, it can still gulp diesel when pushed. But again, it’s better than a petrol, hybrid combo in such conditions.
Charging the 31.2 kWh battery takes about 30 minutes from 10% to 80% using a DC 60 kW charger. At home, on AC, it’s slower, but manageable overnight.
Safety and Off, Road Capability, In Case You Ever Leave the Pavement
The GLC scored five stars in Euro NCAP with 92% in adult protection, and Mercedes doesn’t skimp on safety tech, though you do pay extra for most of it. Brake assist, pedestrian detection, and collision warning are standard, but to get features like adaptive cruise with route, based speed control, you’ll need the Driver Assistance Package.
Still, this is one of the safest feeling SUVs I’ve ever driven.
Interestingly, the GLC even offers real off, road features, including a transparent hood function via its 360° camera that shows obstacles beneath the front axle at low speeds. That’s seriously useful when navigating gravel tracks, even if most owners will never need it. I did try it on a detour near the woods, a patch of gravel, light mud, and the GLC breezed through with excellent traction and slow, speed finesse, thanks to electric torque from zero RPM.
Mercedes GLC 300de Plug, in Hybrid: Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
| Engine Type | Plug, in Hybrid (Diesel + Electric) |
| Engine Displacement | 1,993 cc |
| System Power | 245 kW / 333 HP |
| System Torque | 750 Nm |
| Transmission | 9G, TRONIC Automatic |
| Drive Type | All, wheel Drive (4MATIC) |
| 0, 100 km/h | 6.4 seconds |
| Top Speed | 217 km/h |
| EV Range (WLTP) | 122 km |
| Fuel Consumption (WLTP) | 0.4 L/100 km |
| Electric Consumption (WLTP) | 22.9 kWh/100 km |
| Battery Capacity (Gross) | 31.2 kWh |
| Charging Power (DC) | 60 kW |
| Empty Weight | 2,395 kg |
| Payload | 490 kg |
| Towing Capacity (Braked) | 2,000 kg |
| L x W x H | 4716 x 1890 x 1647 mm |
| Price (as tested) | €84,595 |
Conclusion: A Unique Combination That Works, Almost
After spending two days with the GLC 300de, I walked away impressed, but with a few caveats.
The diesel, hybrid combo genuinely makes sense for people who drive long distances often, but still want city, center EV driving without the range anxiety of a pure electric. It’s incredibly refined, powerful, and versatile. The GLC eats up kilometers in comfort, glides silently in towns, and offers just enough off, road grit to go places most crossovers wouldn’t dare.
But it’s heavy. The trunk is tight. And at over €84,000, it better fit your exact use case, because this isn’t a one, size, fits, all car.
That said, on the slopes of Jochberg, in the heart of Bavaria, it never once felt out of place. It felt right. And sometimes, that’s the best thing a car can do.
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