New Mercedes-Benz GLC family returns with versatility

A Mercedes-Benz GLC 300d overcomes humps during a test drive session at ADAC Off-Road Center Rhein-Main near Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday (local time). Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

By Nam Hyun-woo

FRANKFURT _ After experiencing huge success across the world with its GLC family, Mercedes-Benz has made a number of refinements to its bestselling midsize SUVs, including new engines, improved off-road capacity and tech updates, in a bid to consolidate the brand's position in the booming global SUV market.

The German carmaker showed off the colorful portfolio of the GLC family during a test session near Frankfurt, Tuesday (local time), where respective SUVs showcased how well they can handle rough terrain and be family friendly without losing their style.

Sharing a similar size as the C-Class saloon, the GLC was launched in 2008 as the GLK as a single model and now the number of models has grown to 24, which vary by body type, displacements, powertrains, performance and other functionalities. The new GLC family SUVs will be launched in Germany next month, and will come Korea before the end of the year.

During the period, the GLC family piled up more than 1.5 million units of sales, which Mercedes-Benz Passenger Car Exterior Design Director Robert Lesnik described as one of the best “sales successes” in the brand.

Of those models, facelifted versions of the GLC, the GLC Coupe, the AMG GLC 63 S and the AMG GLC 63 S Coupe were given to reporters from all around the world for test drives covering various laps surrounding the ADAC Off-Road Center Rhein-Main, 19 kilometers southwest to the Frankfurt Airport.

From left are the AMG GLC 63 S 4MATIC+, the AMG GLC 63 S 4MATIC+ Coupe, the GLC 300 Coupe and the GLC 300. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

Though described as facelifts, the models have had major changes on the inside, including new engines. The GLC 300 has a new four-cylinder M274 turbo engine, which was improved in terms of emission cuts and fuel efficiency.

It is a petrol engine yielding 258 horsepower but coupled with a mild hybrid system, which Mercedes-Benz called EQ Boost. During a test on the Autobahn, the motor developed 10 kilowatts of power to cover turbo lag and add fuel efficiency, as well as providing a smoother feel.

Along with external changes to the grill and body contours, highlighting the new GLC 300 was its improved off-road capabilities, which overcame inclines, banks, bumps, log bridges, and mud at the off-road center without requiring too much effort from the driver.

If a customer purchases an optional off-road engineering package, the new GLC allows the driver to select off-road and off-road plus modes, which change the settings suitable for soft and rocky terrain, respectively. At the center, reporters tested the off-road mode.

One of the interesting off-road experiences was the automatic braking system.

When this reporter stopped the GLC 300d in the middle of a 60 degree incline and stepped off the brake, the car held its position for one second and then began to roll back gently. Though it was just one second, this function gives the driver a chance to move from braking to accelerating less hurriedly and provided greater stability in such harsh conditions.

Another helpful feature was the down speed regulation (DSR), in which the system regulates the car's speed below a set speed, providing a stable and safe descent from a steep hill. In this case, differential braking works to put more breaking pressure on the back wheels to prevent the car's tail from slipping.

Except for throttling, breaking and steering, all drivers have to do in clearing the course is setting the off-road mode, turning on and off the DSR and outside camera for a better view, meaning the GLC can provide an exciting experience with a simple touch.

An off-road instructor helped in clearing the course compared the new GLC to the brand's top-tier SUV G-Class, saying the latter has more off-road features and capabilities but the new GLC is far easier to go off-road.

A Mercedes-Benz GLC 300d overcomes humps during a test drive session at ADAC Off-Road Center Rhein-Main near Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday (local time). Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz

The inside of the car also went through several changes, including the design of the steering wheel, the brand's new AI-based infotainment system MBUX and new driving assist technologies. New assists include Distronic, an active distance assist which assists the driver depending on the current traffic situation ― it provides active braking and steer assists, which automatically stops or steers the vehicle to prevent accidents, and active parking assist.

The GLC family also includes the high-performance AMG GLC 63 S 4MATIC+, which stands as the fastest SUV around the Nurburgring with 7 minutes and 49.369 seconds. The monstrous acceleration takes 3.8 seconds to go from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour and extreme stability easily allows the driver to go up to 280 kilometer per hour on the highway with no hesitation.

The GLC F-CELL Korea Times photo by Nam Hyun-woo

Another interesting variation of the GLC family was the GLC F-CELL, which the brand said is the world's first SUV to combine a plug-in hybrid and fuel cell system.

With Germany's plans to increase the number of hydrogen stations from 70 to 100 by the end of this year, Mercedes-Benz' fuel cell engineer Holger Richter said the car, released in November last year, is drawing “good responses from customers, because it has advantages in both small and big applications by using both battery and hydrogen.” The brand plans to launch the GLC F-CELL in Japan as early as August, citing the country's fine hydrogen infrastructure.

The GLC family has multiple roles including being a family car, an excellent SUV and sometimes a wild off-roader. All of the models carry out these roles with finesse, while extra strong points differ between models. The SUVs were versatile and will fit almost everyone who can afford the price.