2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　

What’s new

　　The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe is an all-new model. It's based on the regular GLC-Class but is differentiated by a sloping roof that gives it a profile like that of a coupe.

　　

Vehicle overview

　　A sport-utility vehicle styled to look like a two-door coupe was once an oddity but now is seemingly an inevitability with every new German crossover SUV introduction. This year welcomes a new member to its ranks with the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe. Essentially, the Coupe is a GLC-Class compact luxury crossover SUV that is a bit longer and lower and has a more coupelike profile. It's in the same class as BMW's X4 and it even shares some similarities with the bigger Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Coupe. And yes, it has four doors, not two.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe GLC 300 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$195/mo  for GLC-Class Coupe GLC 300 4MATIC

　　GLC-Class Coupe GLC 300 4MATIC

　　GLC 300 4MATIC 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 9A) (Most Popular) - $45,950 MSRPAMG GLC 43 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 9A) - $59,650 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　It should come as no surprise that the GLC Coupe's sloped roofline results in reduced utility. Adults can fit in the backseat but the trunk is much less useful. If this trade-off is one you can deal with, though, and a sport-utility coupe is what you're looking for, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe seems to be one of the best of the unusual breed.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

　　With stylish looks, excellent interior materials and an impressive powertrain, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe is a standout in its class. But like other "coupe-styled" crossover SUVs, it sacrifices some utility for the added visual flair.

　　

Trim tested

　　zzdcar has limited experience with the new GLC-Class Coupe, but we have done a full test of its sibling, the standard 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 4Matic (turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder | 9-speed automatic | AWD). The following is our take on what's significant about it and what you can expect from the Coupe version of the GLC.

　　

Driving

　　The GLC is a pleasure to drive thanks to competitive performance numbers and an engaging feel. Considering its size, the GLC is easy to control and handling is impressive. Even with the relatively small 2.0-liter engine, it feels quick, and the nine-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly.

　　

Comfort

　　This is one of the quietest and most comfortable vehicles in the class. The front seats provide good lateral support and excellent road-trip comfort, while the GLC's suspension keeps things smooth along the way. The optional adaptive suspension will likely make things even better.

　　

Interior

　　Overall, the Mercedes GLC Coupe's interior quality is excellent. Switchgear and materials such as the MB-Tex synthetic leather are exquisite. There's limited headroom in the rear due to the sloped roof, but legroom is acceptable.

　　

Utility

　　Despite its sporty profile, the GLC Coupe has one of the biggest cargo areas in the class. With the rear seats folded, there's a total of 56.5 cubic feet of storage. But compared to a regular crossover SUV, it still comes up lacking.

　　

Technology

　　Though the COMAND infotainment interface is tough to learn and use, the GLC's optional safety tech works great and isn't obtrusive. Available items include blind-spot warning and assist with rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning and forward collision mitigation with automatic braking.

　　

Which GLC-Class Coupe does zzdcar recommend?

　　With only one trim level available initially for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Coupe (the GLC300 4Matic), it's not too hard to choose which one to buy. Picking from the GLC's wide variety of available options may be a bit more difficult. The Premium packages (1, 2 and 3) are a good place to start because they add some desirable driver safety aids and a few key extras such as satellite radio and heated seats. Stop there if you're looking to manage cost. Otherwise, the air suspension and interior material and tech upgrades will make the most out of your GLC Coupe.

　　

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe models

　　The 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe is a compact luxury crossover SUV that seats five and is currently offered in one trim level, the GLC300 4Matic Coupe. A higher-performance AMG GLC 43 Coupe is expected to debut later in the model year. For the GLC300, all-wheel drive (4Matic) and a nine-speed automatic are standard as is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 241 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. A respectable amount of standard features are included, and many more are offered as options.

　　The GLC300 Coupe comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a power liftgate, power-folding mirrors, a sunroof, automatic wipers, a power driver seat, synthetic leather upholstery, driver-seat memory settings, 40/20/40-split power-folding rear seats, a rearview camera, dual-zone climate control, the Mercedes' COMAND interface (7-inch infotainment display, touchpad and knob controller), Bluetooth connectivity, Mbrace Connect (includes smartphone app integration) and an eight-speaker sound system.

　　From there, you can further equip your GLC300 Coupe with a variety of available options. Most of them are organized into options packages. The main options packages are the Premium 1, 2 and 3 packages. Premium 1 offers blind-spot monitoring, satellite radio, keyless ignition and entry, heated front seats and a 115-volt power outlet. Premium 2 builds on those features with an 8.4-inch center screen, a navigation system, voice controls and illuminated doorsills. The Premium 3 package further adds enhanced blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning and intervention, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning and mitigation (with automatic braking), adaptive full-LED headlights, automatic high-beam headlight control, a cabin fragrance and air purification system, and cargo area storage accessories.

　　Not enough? Other optional features to look out for include the Advanced Parking Assist package (hands-free liftgate access, front and rear parking sensors, an automated parking system and a top-down, 360-degree parking camera system); an adaptive air suspension (Air Body Control); a head-up display; tri-zone climate control; a 14-speaker Burmester premium sound system; a heated steering wheel; heated and ventilated front seats; heated rear seats; rear side-window shades; and various premium leather upholsteries.

　　

2017 GLC-Class Coupe Highlights

Type: AMG GLC 43SUVSUV

　　Trim: GLC 300 4MATICAMG GLC 43GLC 300 4MATIC

　　

Base MSRP	$45,950
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$195/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	18.0 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	all wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles