Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Mercedes GLC hybrid (2020-2022) review

The GLC in both 300 e (petrol-electric) and 300 de (diesel-electric) form, and as a coupe or SUV, offers a different take on the luxury plug-in hybrid formula

Mercedes GLC hybrid
Overall rating

4.0 out of 5

Pros

  • Fast and powerful
  • Company-car-tax friendly
  • Petrol and diesel available

Cons

  • Less agile than BMW
  • Step in boot floor
  • Expensive
ModelElectric rangeFuel economyCO2 emissions
GLC 300 e SUV27-28 miles117-123mpg52-54g/km
GLC 300 e Coupe26-27 miles109-118mpg54-59g/km
GLC 300 de SUV27 miles149-157mpg48-50g/km
GLC 300 de Coupe25-26 miles135-149mpg51-55g/km

The Mercedes GLC is the three-pointed star’s answer to the BMW X3, Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Lexus NX and Jaguar F-Pace. Like all of its competitors, the GLC is available as plug-in hybrid, but is uniquely offered with both petrol-electric (GLC 300 e) and diesel-electric (GLC 300 de) power, and comes in both a traditional and practical SUV or stylish Coupe-SUV body shape.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Of course, this is the previous generation of Mercedes’ mid-size luxury SUV. The new second-generation GLC 300 e and 300 de get larger batteries, an 80-mile pure-electric driving range and technology from the S-Class flagship, among other upgrades.

But company-car users should still be happy with the original GLC PHEV: thanks to low CO2 emissions and electric running potential, whichever version you go for, the Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) contributions are drastically lower than they would be for an equivalent purely combustion-engined model.

The petrol GLC 300 e uses a familiar 2.0-litre petrol-electric setup from elsewhere in the Mercedes range (such as the C-Class hybrid), producing a combined 316bhp. The result is a nippy 0-62mph time of just 5.7 seconds – and on the road, the plug-in GLC feels as fast as those figures suggest.

In its default drive mode, the GLC 300 e will prioritise electric power for nearly 30 miles – as long as you aren’t too heavy with your right foot. Leave it in this setting and the intelligent regenerative braking system will read the road ahead, taking care of all but the most evasive braking manoeuvres – all the while feeding energy back into the battery that would otherwise be lost.

Advertisement - Article continues below

That 13.5kWh battery can be topped up in just over two-and-a-half hours with a home wallbox charger, or you can just use a standard domestic socket and still be done comfortably overnight, ready to go for another zero-emissions commute in the morning.

As is the case with a number of plug-in hybrid models, practicality takes a minor hit – the GLC has a small step in the boot floor. And due to the placement of the batteries, there's no underfloor storage, either – so unless you leave them at home, the car’s charging cables must sit alongside your bread and milk in the boot.

Another downside is that, as well as not being as good to drive as its BMW rival, this version of the petrol-electric GLC isn't as efficient as many of its rivals. It may well be that, as is the case with the E-Class executive saloon – the diesel plug-in hybrid option actually makes more sense, particularly for those who regularly exceed the car's pure-electric range on their journeys. For a more detailed look at the GLC hybrid, read on for the rest of our in-depth review...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Richard is editor of DrivingElectric, as well as sister site Carbuyer.co.uk, and a regular contributor to Auto Express. An electric and hybrid car advocate, he spent more than five years working on the news and reviews desk at Auto Express and has driven almost every new car currently on sale.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Ford Capri review
Ford Capri - front tracking
In-depth reviews

Ford Capri review

This electric SUV’s use of a famous name has been somewhat controversial but don’t let that put you off
4 Nov 2024
​Top 10 best small electric SUVs 2024
DrivingElectric best small SUVs
Best cars

​Top 10 best small electric SUVs 2024

Small electric SUVs are steadily increasing in popularity thanks to low running costs, practicality and more choice. We run down the best ones for 202…
30 Oct 2024
EV Deal of the Day: affordable Dacia Spring for only £126 per month
Dacia Spring - front tracking
News

EV Deal of the Day: affordable Dacia Spring for only £126 per month

In the market for a low-cost, no-frills EV? The compact Dacia Spring could be just the thing at a little over £30 per week
5 Nov 2024

More on GLC

New 2022 Mercedes GLC plug-in hybrid now on sale from £62,210
New 2022 Mercedes GLC
News

New 2022 Mercedes GLC plug-in hybrid now on sale from £62,210

Merc’s BMW X3 rival is offered with two plug-in hybrid powertrains, plus an infotainment setup from the latest S-Class limo
30 Sep 2022
2020 Mercedes GLC plug-in hybrid: prices, specifications and on-sale date
Mercedes GLC hybrid
News

2020 Mercedes GLC plug-in hybrid: prices, specifications and on-sale date

New Mercedes GLC 300 e 4MATIC plug-in hybrid on sale now priced from £49,687
29 May 2020