2018 GLC300: Review and Recommendations


1. performance: excellent acceleration, 0-60 in 6.5sec. In Sports mode you feel like you ride on a tiger, even without AWD. Love the steering feel.
2. fuel economy: I was truly impressed, so far 23mpg overall for a brand new car, and I drive Los Angeles, which is the worst traffic in America, and the worst drivers in the world. Highway I get over 30mpg.
3. electronics: I strongly recommend the smart phone integration package. It works great with google or siri, excellent voice recognition. Why bother with antiquated systems like Command which need constant updates from Benz?
4. luxury: MBtex is awesome, easy to clean and feels just like leather. The interior wood trim looks sleek, I get comments all the time from passengers. Very comfy seats.
5. reliability: I am perplexed with the Consumer Reports rant about the brakes noise. There is a fix for the older models. This is nuisance, not something that strands you on the highway. Thus it has nothing to do with "reliability" per se. CR has screwed up on this.
6. if you're thinking about other cars like Lexus or Acura: don't. Get the GLC instead. It costs less, is a better value, and more fun overall.
While I do love the vehicle, I do have some negatives. My negatives are: cheap looking real wood (looks fake), overly complicated instrumentation, whether programming a radio station, retrieving a text, making phone calls, etc., there are to many needless steps. Other negatives are mediocre map graphics, not showing Grace Notes album covers when using media, not showing contact pictures when using the phone, and the somewhat “low rent” appearance of dashboard gages. Features, such as these, are found even in econobox type vehicles, such as Honda Civics, Buick Encore, Hyundai's, etc. Interior lighting options, foot operated automatic tailgate and auto braking anti-collision features should be standard.
Last edited by carnutt; Jan 7, 2018 at 05:44 PM.
My only complaint is that the standard brakes on the 18" wheels are underpowered. Had them checked out when the turn signal was fixed but came back with no problems found. Didn't notice this during the test drive but it's a real issue I haven't seen mentioned on any of the forums.
Steering is also a bit sloppy even in Sport mode but not a big deal for this type of SUV. Acceleration is great which is a major plus.
Overall it's a nice machine for the money and I'm happy with the purchase so far!
Last edited by brady; Jan 7, 2018 at 04:17 PM.
Now for some stuff I expected more out of MB ( compared to the other 2013 C300 , which is even more fun to drive and not so fun to drive 2018 Kia).
The GLCs Premium driver assistance package which includes steering pilot and active lane keeping - both of which do not work as well as in my 2018-way-cheaper Kia; does a much better job - honestly); and I'm already wondering after reading about excessive tire wear issues -if the steering pilot and lane assist have anything to do with it - due to differential braking.
The blind spot warning does a pretty good job though.
The smart key works well - except I have'nt figured out how to get the passenger doors unlocked without physically using the key and double press. My Kia has a button on the door handle and a double press there does the job handily.
The voice recognition for the phone and navigation etc - absolutely frustrating and quite useless so far - again the Kia scores way higher ,unfortunately.
Some quirks ...if anyone else has seen this ....many times when I switch the airflow ( say from leg only to hands or some other mode etc.) I hear a knocking sound from the right side ( 8 rapid knocks.almost like a woodpecker) could be coming from the right side Brumster speaker ?...
Also I hear a fairly loud click from somewhere inside the dash when the steering pilot disengages and engages ( happens quite a lot with the snow and salt on the road )
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While I do love the vehicle, I do have some negatives. My negatives are: cheap looking real wood (looks fake), overly complicated instrumentation, whether programming a radio station, retrieving a text, making phone calls, etc., there are to many needless steps. Other negatives are mediocre map graphics, not showing Grace Notes album covers when using media, not showing contact pictures when using the phone, and the somewhat “low rent” appearance of dashboard gages. Features, such as these, are found even in econobox type vehicles, such as Honda Civics, Buick Encore, Hyundai's, etc. Interior lighting options, foot operated automatic tailgate and auto braking anti-collision features should be standard.
agree with you on the electronics / bav. resolution could be better and not terribly intuitive. tailgate/auto brake / etc as standard agreed 100%
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
On the Keyfob ....press and hold both the "lock" and "unlock" buttons for about six seconds, until the battery check light flashes twice.
This action should change the default lock/unlock to 'all doors'.
To restore the setting repeat above ...now first press of unlock will open driver's door and fuel filler ...second press will open passenger doors.
your option as to which setting to have. Note it also modifies the unlocking via the door handles if you have Keyless-go option.
The voice recognition for the phone and navigation etc - absolutely frustrating and quite useless so far - again the Kia scores way higher ,unfortunately.
I have not driven another car with these functions , so have nothing to compare to ...can you expand on how the Kia is better??


My only complaint is that the standard brakes on the 18" wheels are underpowered. Had them checked out when the turn signal was fixed but came back with no problems found. Didn't notice this during the test drive but it's a real issue I haven't seen mentioned on any of the forums.
Steering is also a bit sloppy even in Sport mode but not a big deal for this type of SUV. Acceleration is great which is a major plus.
Overall it's a nice machine for the money and I'm happy with the purchase so far!
Also surprised about the steering being “a bit sloppy”. I have about 3,500 miles on my ‘18 GLC300 and while my driving style is certainly not aggressive, for those considering a GLC300, I would describe the steering as crisp and quite responsive. It’s a real pleasure to drive around town in traffic. I should probably mention an evasive maneuver I had to make to avoid a potential accident at 60 MPH was accomplished with no loss of control and a big sigh of relief.
Not trying to diminish Brady’s concerns here. Just wanted to share my experiences FWIW.
I wish you you could turn off the Auto Stop/Start function and have it STAY off. I don’t like it and find it annoying and turn it off every time I start my car. My wife’s X3 remembers that it was turned off last time it was driven, so problem solved. I think I could set up a customized driving mode with that function turned off, but again, I believe you’re required to select that mode each time you start the car. Since I’m happy with the driving modes available, I may as well just press the button to turn off the Auto Stop/Start function. My displeasure with this feature comes from having driven a Highlander Hybrid and a Prius for 11 years. Being hybrids, they by definition have an Auto Stop/Start function that works flawlessly and quietly.
Now my solution to another annoyance.....I saw a discussion somewhere about how annoying it can be when you wash your GLC to have the doors lock and unlock and the mirrors fold up as you wash around door handles. The simple solution is to leave your key fob in the car (maybe in a drink holder in the front lift up compartment) when you wash your car. It doesn’t do a thing then because it “knows” the key is inside and will not lock the car. I tried leaving the key on a porch next to my driveway and even further away and it would still lock and unlock incessantly.
Hope that helps someone!
- from say foot only to hand or defrost - any change you make with that adjustment. All of this was during fairly cold weather 15-25F.
MB service says the airflow distribution valve ( its buried inside somewhere behind the glove compartment) is faulty and they have to replace it. But first they have to see if lubricating that mechanism fixes it - so that required a day at the shop - but that did not fix it.So it appears the next visit will get the distribution valve replaced.
Another issue : from time to time I would get a red warning message ( "parking brake - refer to the manual " - or something similar ). Turns out the parking brake auto release was not fully working and would not release all the way so as to tell the sensor that it's disengaged...and that triggered these warning messages. Same problem with my C300 except there, only symptom was the parking brake light would not go out. In both the cases the parking brake mechanism had to be replaced. I think this is a cold weather problem with stuff that is 'sticking'.
1. performance: excellent acceleration, 0-60 in 6.5sec. In Sports mode you feel like you ride on a tiger, even without AWD. Love the steering feel.
2. fuel economy: I was truly impressed, so far 23mpg overall for a brand new car, and I drive Los Angeles, which is the worst traffic in America, and the worst drivers in the world. Highway I get over 30mpg.
3. electronics: I strongly recommend the smart phone integration package. It works great with google or siri, excellent voice recognition. Why bother with antiquated systems like Command which need constant updates from Benz?
4. luxury: MBtex is awesome, easy to clean and feels just like leather. The interior wood trim looks sleek, I get comments all the time from passengers. Very comfy seats.
5. reliability: I am perplexed with the Consumer Reports rant about the brakes noise. There is a fix for the older models. This is nuisance, not something that strands you on the highway. Thus it has nothing to do with "reliability" per se. CR has screwed up on this.
6. if you're thinking about other cars like Lexus or Acura: don't. Get the GLC instead. It costs less, is a better value, and more fun overall.
Great utility vehicle for us and the dog.
For fun, drive my '18 AMG c43 coupe I just got. Both are German made and appear high quality vs some remarks I have seen pertaining to 'bama built cars, ie C43 sedan.
Both of these cars, IMO, offer great value for what you get vs competition.
Is the '18 GLC 300 still made overseas?
1. performance: excellent acceleration, 0-60 in 6.5sec. In Sports mode you feel like you ride on a tiger, even without AWD. Love the steering feel.
2. fuel economy: I was truly impressed, so far 23mpg overall for a brand new car, and I drive Los Angeles, which is the worst traffic in America, and the worst drivers in the world. Highway I get over 30mpg.
3. electronics: I strongly recommend the smart phone integration package. It works great with google or siri, excellent voice recognition. Why bother with antiquated systems like Command which need constant updates from Benz?
4. luxury: MBtex is awesome, easy to clean and feels just like leather. The interior wood trim looks sleek, I get comments all the time from passengers. Very comfy seats.
5. reliability: I am perplexed with the Consumer Reports rant about the brakes noise. There is a fix for the older models. This is nuisance, not something that strands you on the highway. Thus it has nothing to do with "reliability" per se. CR has screwed up on this.
6. if you're thinking about other cars like Lexus or Acura: don't. Get the GLC instead. It costs less, is a better value, and more fun overall.

Fortunately they finally did come out with a fix. Though the occasional shriek does still emanate.
1. Ride with the 18 inch standard wheels and tires is smooth and quite. Just be sure to adjust the tire pressure to the factory recommended 32 psi. When It was delivered from the dealer it had 40 psi all around!
2. Very quite at highway speed and no wind noise but I opted out of the Panorama sunroof and glad I did.
3. I have the Multi media package and It is a vast improvement over my 2009 ML350. Since I was used to that system, I find the new system easy to use, voice commands work well, presets for radio vastly improved, navigation system works smoothly, even when using voice command
4. I’m getting 25.6 MPG overall which is more than I was expecting and have gotten 29.9 MPG on the highway.
5. Wipers were a little jittery when I first received the car but a windshield treatment of RainX solved that problem.
6. I ordered the Premium Driver Assistance Package and recently took a 700 mile trip from Pennsylvania to South Carolina, arriving refreshed in spite of traveling in heavy traffic down I95. The adaptive cruise control, lane centering and steering assist took the stress out of the trip.
5. The only annoyance is the Auto Stop/Start system. But that was solved by shutting it off on the Individual Driving Configuation. So, I start the car and three flicks of the toggle switch eliminates the issue.
6. Run Flat tires are of no concern and I’m glad to know I will never again have to change a flat on the side of the road.
After owning a number of high end and sports cars, including BMW and Mercedes Benz, this is proving to be one of my favorites! But you need to build it with the right options. Stay away from things that look good but do nothing to improve drivability, like 20 inch wheels and Panoramic sunroofs that are heavy, noisy and could shatter.


