We Drive the Spunky and Lovable Mercedes GLC300
We took the newly-born 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 for a beautiful (and wet) country drive in rural Wisconsin, and we quickly realized how much better the crossover is than its predecessor.
You might remember the Mercedes-Benz GLK series. At the time, it was Mercedes’ way to fight for market share in the ever-growing crossover segment, but many (including myself) would agree that it never really fit in. In the six years it was produced, the GLK never really “got” pretty, and it also never really drove great. In fact, it never felt or looked like a real Mercedes despite its price tag.
When I first hopped into its successor — the GLC300, I was welcomed by a stunning, award-winning interior derived from the new C-Class. The dashboard and door panels were covered in glossy linden wood, with the rest of the interior wrapped in black carpeting and a rich and expensive looking espresso-brown leather. At this point, I had already realized the GLC was a much better vehicle, and I hadn’t even driven it.
At the push of a button the 2.0-liter inline-4 turbocharged engine comes to life in a subtle manner. The 7-inch color display along with the Burmester speakers bathe the interior with a soft glow and your choice of music, which regardless of the genre will sound amazing — just like the driving itself.
The GLC300 saw a reduction in overall size, especially in length, but Mercedes managed to actually increase interior capacities to offer a more balanced and usable layout. This is something that can easily be noticed by the naked eye, as well as felt when behind the wheel. The GLC300 feels lively, smooth, yet firm and compliant to twisty roads and long stretches of tarmac. The 4Matic all-wheel drive system didn’t blink an eye under acceleration or cornering during a mild rain we experienced during our drive.
It seems that Mercedes-Benz really went back to the drawing board with a big list of refinements and tweaks they wanted to implement on the GLK successor, and it seems they nailed them all. The GLC isn’t just “better” than the GLK — it’s prettier, cooler, more comfortable, and much more fun to drive.
In other words, it’s a real Mercedes, well worth spending $59,155 on.
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>
Looking for a good deal on a new Mercedes-Benz? Get insider information here.