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

​The new Mercedes GLC is now available to order for UK buyers, with the petrol plug-in hybrid GLC 300 e starting from £62,210. It’s available in three trim levels, and will later be joined by a diesel-powered GLC 300 de in the near future.

Because most buyers chose the AMG Line trims on the previous GLC, this version only comes in AMG Line flavour. But there are three trim levels with ascending levels of equipment. The standard car comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights with auto high beam, wireless phone charging, heated seats, two-zone air conditioning, 64-colour ambient lighting and sat nav.

AMG Line Premium adds 20-inch wheels, augmented reality sat nav, blind-spot assist, keyless entry, a 360-degree camera and electric front seats. Top-spec AMG Line Premium Plus gains a panoramic sunroof, four-zone climate control, a head-up display and a 13-speaker Burmester sound system. Each of these trim levels is £5,000 more than the one before it.

There’s no pure electric version of the new GLC planned; the EQC SUV is set to remain in production for some time yet. But every GLC model is now electrified, with 48-volt hybrid technology on base cars, while a pair of plug-in hybrid powertrains (one petrol, one diesel) sit at the top of the mid-size SUV’s line-up.

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All PHEV models use a 31.2kWh battery, which feeds an electric motor that produces 134bhp and 440Nm torque. According to Mercedes, each model can cover up to 80 miles on battery power alone – very impressive for a PHEV – with a top speed of 87mph in EV mode.

The plug-in petrol option is the GLC 300 e 4MATIC, which uses the aforementioned electric motor coupled with a 201bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine for a total power output of 309bhp and 550Nm. Zero-to-62mph takes 6.7 seconds.

The GLC 300 e emits just 12g/km of CO2. That, combined with its electric driving range, places it in the 5% Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) company-car tax band for 2022-23. For comparison, both the BMW X3 and Audi Q5 plug-in hybrids attract a 12% BiK rating.

The second option, due later, is a diesel plug-in powertrain. The GLC 300 de 4MATIC pairs a turbocharged 2.0-litre diesel engine with the same battery and motor tech as Merc’s petrol-electric offerings for a total of 242bhp and 750Nm. In terms of efficiency, Mercedes claims 564.9mpg and CO2 emissions of 13g/km – qualifying the diesel for an 8% BiK tax band rating.

All GLC plug-in hybrids come as standard with a Type 2 charging port and a maximum charging speed of 11kW. Using a standard 7.4kW home wallbox, it should take around four hours to fully replenish the 31.2kWh battery. Mercedes says optional 60kW rapid charging capability cuts the recharge to just half an hour – ideal for longer journeys. However, given that C-Class PHEVs sold in the UK aren’t available with DC rapid charging, we expect the same will apply to the plug-in GLC.

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All GLC plug-in hybrids come as standard with a Type 2 charging port and a maximum charging speed of 11kW. Using a standard 7.4kW home wallbox, it should take around four hours to fully replenish the 31.2kWh battery. Mercedes says optional 60kW rapid charging capability cuts the recharge to just half an hour – ideal for longer journeys. However, given that C-Class PHEVs sold in the UK aren’t available with DC rapid charging, we expect the same will apply to the plug-in GLC.

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As well as the new line-up of hybrids, the GLC has also grown in size, and features refreshed styling. However, while the regular GLC boasts 600 litres of boot space, that’s not the case with the plug-in hybrids – the GLC 300 e’s powertrain and large 31.2kWh battery robs a whole 200 litres of luggage capacity.

But it’s the cabin where you’ll find the biggest differences between the first and second-generation GLC. All versions of the new GLC come as standard with an 11.9-inch portrait-oriented central touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital driver’s display running the latest version of Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system. The GLC also gets the 'Hey Mercedes' virtual assistant, can receive over-the-air (OTA) updates, and features a fingerprint scanner for drivers to access their personalised profiles.