The Mercedes-Benz GLC is a compact luxury crossover SUV introduced in 2015 for the 2016 model year that replaced the GLK-Class. According to Mercedes-Benz, it is the SUV equivalent to the C-Class.
Under the vehicle naming scheme used by Mercedes-Benz, SUVs use the base name "GL", followed by the model's placement in Mercedes-Benz hierarchy. The "G" is for Geländewagen (German for off-road vehicle) and alludes to the long-running G-Class. This is followed by the letter "L" that acts as a linkage with the letter "C" to signify that the vehicle is a SUV equivalent to the C-Class.
The battery-electric model is sold as the GLC with EQ Technology.
Like its predecessor, it is assembled at Mercedes-Benz's plant in Bremen, Germany. Since the main GLC production site in Bremen already runs at full capacity, Mercedes-Benz have decided to expand the production capacity by utilizing Valmet Automotive plant at Uusikaupunki, Finland. The manufacturing of the GLC started in Finland during Q1 of 2017.
The first-generation GLC was available in a five-door body style with seating for five. Mercedes also offers a GLC Coupé, with a sloping rear roof design. In mainland Europe, it is available with three diesel engines, three petrol engines, and a plug-in hybrid. In the United Kingdom, only three diesels and one petrol AMG-model are offered.
Power comes from a choice of 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol (same engine combined with the electric engine in the 350e hybrid) and 2.2-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel engines in various power stages mated to a 9-speed (7-speed for the 350e hybrid) G-Tronic automatic transmission. 4MATIC all-wheel-drive is standard in some markets and optional in others. The GLC has a track width of in front and in the rear. Trunk volume is rated at .
In the German home market, the GLC 250 4MATIC petrol version is joined by GLC 220d 4MATIC and GLC 250d 4MATIC diesel versions along with a plug-in hybrid version called the 350e. In North America, only the GLC 300, GLC 43 AMG and GLC 63 AMG are available.
In October 2018, Beijing-Benz introduced a long-wheelbase version of the GLC exclusively for China. The overall length of is longer than the regular GLC, while the wheelbase is extended by to .
The GLC L shares the same engine range as the GLC. Three 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder options are available, with in the GLC 200 L 4Matic, in the GLC 250 L 4Matic, and in the top GLC 300 L 4Matic. All-wheel drive is standard across the range. The standard wheelbase GLC continued to be sold in China alongside the long-wheelbase model.
GLC
Standard features in the US include dual-zone automatic air conditioning; cruise control; Bluetooth System; 8-way power driver and passenger bucket seats; front, front side, side-curtain, and knee airbags.
GLC Coupé
At the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes unveiled the refreshed GLC as a 2020 model. New features include an updated MBUX Operating System that can be activated by saying "Hey Mercedes", new engines, a new steering wheel, and a 12.3-inch digital cockpit.
The Coupé-variant was unveiled at 2019 New York International Auto Show.
Daimler tested a fleet of fuel cell-powered GLC models, dubbed GLC F-CELL, which entered production in 2018. It features both fuel cells and a battery drive which can be charged externally. Apart from electricity, it also runs on pure hydrogen.
The second generation GLC was unveiled in June 2022. Like the first generation, two bodystyles are available, with a traditional SUV and a coupe SUV called the GLC Coupé. Similar to the W206 C-Class, all models are equipped with four-cylinder engines with MHEV tech. Four PHEV models, which consists of three general models, and one AMG model, are available. The X254 GLC is also larger than its predecessor. The mainline GLC 4Matic models and AMG GLC43 continue to use permanent AWD with an open double-planetary type center differential. The two axles are linked by a pre-loaded two plate clutch with a locking action of 50nM. Two versions of Magna's Trumax open center differential transfer case are used. The non-AMG models use the version geared for a 45/55 front-to-rear torque split. AMG GLC43 models are offered with the more rear-biased AMG-Performance Permanent AWD, which uses a center differential geared for a 31/69 front-to-rear torque split. The AMG GLC63 uses the AMG-Performance 4Matic+ AWD. This system replaces the open center differential with an electronically controlled multi-disc clutch which enables stepless coupling of the front axle to the drivetrain. The rear axle is permanently driven. Drive torque distribution to the front axle is infinitely variable throughout the range of between 0 and 50% of total gearbox output torque.
The battery electric version, marketed as Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology, or alternatively "electric GLC", was unveiled at the 2025 Munich Motor Show. It is offered in a sole variant, GLC 400 4Matic.