Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Mercedes GLC review - MPG, CO2 and running costs

The GLC is one of very few cars available with a diesel plug-in hybrid set-up, which is great for efficiency

MPG, CO2 and running costs rating

4.4

How we review cars
RRP
£25,049 £121,450
Find your Mercedes GLC
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Fuel consumption of 51.4 to 52.3mpg consistently means that the Mercedes GLC 220d is an excellent choice for private buyers, especially as it’s also the cheapest model in the range. The engine uses mild-hybrid assistance, which means there’s a small electric motor that boosts efficiency seamlessly – it’s nothing like the true hybrids in the range that can drive on electric power alone.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The GLC 300d is a bit less economical than the 220d, retuning between 47.9 to 49.6mpg according to official figures. This is still decent for a large, heavy family SUV and the engine is a bit more powerful, so might be worth considering. The GLC 300 petrol returns 36.7 to 37.7mpg, so isn’t ideal – the plug-in hybrid models are far better suited to short trips, while the diesels are great for long ones, so this model doesn’t really excel when it comes to running costs.

There are two plug-in hybrid models available here and they both use the same 31kWh battery and 134bhp electric motor. However the GLC 300e uses a petrol engine to supplement this, while the GLC 300de uses a diesel motor. This is a rare combination as most plug-in hybrid cars use petrol, but it’s fantastic for efficiency and those who mix long trips with shorter ones.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

GLC

2022 Mercedes

GLC

24,304 milesAutomaticDiesel2.0L

Cash £27,635
View GLC
GLC

2019 Mercedes

GLC

66,685 milesAutomaticDiesel2.1L

Cash £18,148
View GLC
GLC

2019 Mercedes

GLC

67,159 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £20,103
View GLC
GLC

2019 Mercedes

GLC

47,647 milesAutomaticPetrol3.0L

Cash £26,197
View GLC

Usually plug-in hybrids are pretty rubbish for fuel economy on long trips, as they carry extra weight in batteries and so aren’t very economical once battery charge is depleted. The diesel engine in the 300de means that while it’s not as efficient as the non-hybrids when the battery is empty, it still should keep bills down on longer trips.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Both plug-in hybrid models have some crazy fuel economy numbers: 706mpg in the diesel and 565mpg in the petrol. These, like all plug-in hybrid official economy numbers, are not a reflection of reality unless you charge religiously and almost never use the combustion engine.

Electric range, battery and charging

Both the GLC 300e and 300de have a range of around 80 miles on electric power only, which is excellent as most PHEVs can’t even manage 50 miles. For example, the plug-in Jaguar F-Pace P400e will cover 40 miles at most before its battery is out of juice.

You can charge the Merc's 31kWh battery in two hours and 45 minutes using an 11kW home wallbox or public charging point (it’ll take longer on a typical 7kW charger). Driving is quiet and smooth on electric power, so you’ll want to use it as much as possible.

The best reason to choose the plug-in models, though, is the company car tax benefits. At the time of writing, a GLC 300d will cost a higher-rate earner well over £8,557 to tax this year, while an equivalent GLC 300de will cost just £1,408. That’s a huge difference and over a few years will help to make up the purchase price difference (of about £9,000).

Insurance

Insurance group ratings for the latest GLC start at group 40 for the GLC 220d and go up to around 47 for the top-spec plug-in hybrid 300e. The mid-range diesels fall in between this at around group 44, which is on par with most of its rivals. This is a high rating, as you’d expect of a luxury SUV like this, so expect fairly hefty insurance costs to drive a GLC.

Check if your car needs an MoT and view its complete history with our MoT History Checker...

Depreciation

The latest Mercedes GLC should retain around 55 per cent of its list price over three years and 36,000 miles of ownership, with the mild-hybrid petrol GLC 300 projected to hold onto the most value when it comes time to trade-in.

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our valuation tool...

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Mercedes GLC

Mercedes GLC

RRP £53,175Used from £19,795
BMW X3

BMW X3

RRP £50,185Avg. savings £2,770 off RRP*Used from £19,200
Mercedes GLE

Mercedes GLE

RRP £61,475Used from £33,920
BMW X1

BMW X1

RRP £36,430Avg. savings £3,145 off RRP*Used from £25,800
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal
Volkswagen ID.3 Pure Match - front

New Volkswagen ID.3 Match 2025 review: attractive price boosts EV’s appeal

The value-focused Volkswagen ID.3 Match performs well and is easy to live with
Road tests
28 Apr 2025