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

The latest plug-in hybrid version of the Mercedes GLC mid-sized SUV, first shown at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, is on-sale now. Prices start from £49,687 for the standard car, while the sleeker Coupe version kicks off at £52,562.

The GLC 300 e 4MATIC uses a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and a 119bhp electric motor mated to Mercedes’ latest 9G-TRONIC transmission for a combined output of 316bhp. This gives it a 0-62mph time of 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 143mph (or 81mph in electric mode).

On battery power alone, the GLC can travel 24 to 26 miles, while combined fuel-economy and emissions figures are 118mpg and 54g/km of CO2. When plugged in to a home wallbox, the GLC hybrid will fully charge in 90 minutes, and from a conventional domestic socket in five hours.

Mercedes GLC hybrid interior, design and technology

The car’s infotainment system is programmed with charging-point locations and a natural speech function lets you to simply ask the car to find you a nearby point. Through the Mercedes me Charge servers, drivers of the brand’s plug-in hybrid models have access to vast charging network and can pay for it through the app – albeit only in continental European markets for now.

The GLC 300 e 4MATIC debuts some small design changes, to bring it in line with the rest of the facelifted GLC range. There are now LED High Performance headlights as standard, which are smaller and flatter for a more pronounced front-end look, plus all-new LED lights at the back. There’s also a piece of chrome trim that runs from the front of the car to the rear, and a heavily contoured radiator grille.

Boot space for the hybrid decreases slightly compared to a regular GLC; the integration of the battery pack means capacity drops from 550 to 395 litres with the rear seats in place, or from 1,600 to 1,445 litres with the seats down. 

Specifications

The GLC 300 e is offered in four variations on the 'AMG Line' trim level, with the entry-level car getting 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, the MBUX infotainment system, a sports steering wheel in black Nappa leather, AMG bodystyling and AMG sports seats in Artico man-made leather as standard.

For an additional £3,500, AMG Line Premium models include 20-inch alloys, multibeam LED headlights, a 12.3-inch digital cockpit display, ambient lighting, augmented-reality navigation, AMG sports seats in leather and wireless smartphone charging, plus Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

AMG Line Premium Plus is available for an extra £3,750. It adds a panoramic glass sunroof (SUV only), a sliding sunroof (Coupe only), a Burmester surround-sound stereo and the 'Memory Package', which includes power-adjustable front seats and steering column. The range-topping AMG Line Ultimate costs an extra £2,745; it adds its own design of 20-inch alloy and 'Air Body Control' air suspension.

The GLC 300 e 4MATIC joins the GLE 350 de 4MATIC diesel plug-in hybrid, also revealed at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show, and heralds the start of a hybrid revolution at Mercedes, with 20 models planned by the end of 2020.