New Mercedes GLC Coupe: premium SUV gets sporty variant

Given that the GLC is Mercedes’ most popular model globally, it’s no surprise that the second-generation version retains the option of a coupe SUV bodystyle. A quarter of the old Mercedes GLC’s sales were accounted for by the GLC Coupe variant so there’s a lot riding on this new car. 

Mercedes has taken the approach of making lots of mild improvements to the outgoing GLC Coupe’s powertrain efficiency and on-board technology, rather than completely revising it. As with the standard GLC SUV, the coupe’s design is certainly an evolution of the old car rather than anything too groundbreaking. Mercedes says the new GLC Coupe will hit European markets from July 2023.

Mercedes GLC Coupe: exterior and interior design 

The Mercedes GLC Coupe is unchanged from the SUV at the front, with the big changes predictably coming at the rear. That sloping roof gives the coupe a more rakish side profile, but the rear lights, boot lid and bumper are unique to the coupe as well. Unlike the SUV, the GLC Coupe has a staggered wheel set up, too, with wider rims at the back for a more aggressive look. 

The GLC Coupe is 47mm longer than its SUV sister. The sloping roof does hurt boot space, but capacity is still 45 litres up on the old model’s, at 545 litres. This drops to 390 litres in the plug-in versions.

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UK buyers are likely to be only offered the sportier AMG Line trim. Standard kit should include 18-inch light-alloy wheels, wireless phone charging, and heated front seats.

That interior is essentially the same as the SUV’s at the front, but to counter the small windows in the back there’s a separate sunroof for rear occupants which lets more light in but also helps with headroom. 

Mercedes GLC Coupe: powertrain

There are four mild-hybrid diesel options, plus two pure-diesel and two pure-petrol versions. However, Mercedes’ 200 4MATIC petrol engine doesn’t feature here on the GLC SUV, so it’s unlikely we’ll see this entry-level engine in the UK on the Coupe.

The 220 d and 300 d diesels use a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder motor with mild-hybrid tech, offering 197bhp and 269bhp respectively. The quickest of the mild-hybrid GLC Coupes is the petrol 300, with a 0-62mph time of 6.3 seconds, while the 300 d takes 0.1 seconds longer.

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There are also three plug-in-hybrid powertrains, all using a four-cylinder engine and featuring a 31kWh battery that can power the GLC by itself for an electric-only range of up to 81 miles.

The petrol 300 e has 313bhp and 550Nm of torque, while the diesel 300 d e ups this to 335bhp and 750Nm. The range-topping model is the 400 e, with a total of 381bhp and 650Nm, but given that it’s not offered on the regular GLC in the UK, we’re not expecting to get it in the Coupe. A six-cylinder mild-hybrid diesel engine has been confirmed but specifications haven’t been revealed yet. 

All of the PHEVs get an 11kW AC charger as standard, but an optional 60kW DC set-up can complete a full recharge in around half an hour.

We’ve seen AMG versions testing already; expect these to follow the lead of the latest C 63 in using four-cylinder-hybrid power, for a total of around 671bhp.

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