Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Plug-in Hybrid

The Mercedes GLC has always been the go-to luxury SUV for Singaporeans as it combines the benefits of a SUV with the desired luxury feeling. Moreover now the GLC comes with a plug-in hybrid variant which personally, is the better engine choice for the era of electric vehicles we live in today.

One of the reasons for the GLC's success is how spacious it is. The 4.7m car can comfortably offer sufficient space for 5 adults to sit at one time. The rear seats has the legroom comparable to an E-class and a lot of headroom. As for the driving position, it is very good as a tall person myself, I can sit very high and back. However due to the battery pack, its 620 litre boot space has been reduced to 470 litres, which honestly is still sufficient for a shopping trip to Malaysia.

The infotainment system is very similar to the one in C-class, which is the flashy yet intuitive 11.9-inch touchscreen. For me, although I prefer physical buttons, it is still very easy to use, with seamless connectivity and sharp visuals. The ambient lighting definitely uplifts the mood of the cabin, making night drives an uplifting experience. The exterior feels sporty and more muscular, especially in AMG line trim.

The 2.0 litre engine produces 201 bhp and 320 Nm of torque, which is mated with an electric motor with 31.2 kWh battery pack producing 134 bhp and 440 Nm of torque. Surprisingly, although the car weighs 2.3 ton, the car feels punchy and power is always at your disposal. Usually the car can run on electric power but when going at higher speeds, the switching between motor and engine feels seamless and the 9-G tronic gearbox is responsive and quick. The car 'knows' when to switch its powertrain, which enables it to achieve astonishing fuel economy figures. Driving normally with a full charge can give around 3 l/100km. However even if the battery runs out, which has a real-world range of 100km, the car still averages around 8 l/100km, which is not bad. Ride quality is what you expect, soft and comfy, allowing it to go over bumps with ease. The added weight is not obvious until you go over bends, which is probably due to rear air suspension to cope with added weight. Driving is relaxing with steering being light, accelerator and brake also feels easy to press.

Overall, GLC 300e combines efficiency with luxury and utility, which makes it an excellent choice for a premium SUV.

I love the capacity of the battery pack, which gives it a range of approximately 100km, which allows the car to be driven on electric power alone for daily commute. I love the seating position which can be automatically adjusted to the driver's height. I like the way the brakes and throttle feel, which feel responsive but not jerky. I love the exterior styling, especially the AMG trim line with the Mercedes star studded grill. The ambient lighting is phenomenal and the whole interior feel feels luxurious yet sporty. The infotainment system is seamless to connect to and supports android auto and apple carplay. It is also very sharp and bright. I love the amount of torque you get when you press the accelerator. The ride quality is excellent and suspension is natural and soft. It is also very quiet and barely any road noise. I like how the car naturally cruises along the highway with ease and how easy the car is to drive.

The best thing I like about this car is its fuel economy. If used correctly, one can achieve around 3 l/100km, which gives the car a driving range of around 900km, which is insane.

I do not like the rear lights not being one straight bar although the 2 lights are connected. This car does not support DC fast charging and takes 3 hours to be fully charged. The base price of this car is around 420k, which is quite expensive for a GLC. The boot space is compromised due to battery pack, which makes the boot capacity down to 470 litres, which makes the car have a boot capacity not fitting for its size.

Sometimes when trying to do sudden acceleration, there is a small delay due to switching between electric motor and engine. When on engine alone, fuel economy is worse than that of GLC 300, which might be a dealbreaker for a person with no easy electric charger access. When driving around bends, body-roll is expected due to the heavy weight of the car.