Bearing witness to the birth of a crossover in the automotive market has begun to excite us as much as watching a two-bit musical soiree playing a Rihanna cover (the world loves Rihanna and we hate ourselves for loving her in secret, behind closed doors) and downing a mocktail on a Sunday night.
Yet, for reasons that we have chosen to ignore, these types of vehicles are flying off production lines faster than cans of Campbell during a natural disaster. As such, car manufacturers are constantly formulating new variations and revamping existing ones to attract buyers from all walks of life.
Mercedes-Benz is one of them and the German automaker is having another go for a piece of the pie with its new GLC-Class. The GLC replaces the GLK-Class, which never came to Singapore because Mercedes never made any in right-hand drive.
As we explained in the GLE-Class Coupe GLE450 AMG review, Mercedes' latest name game would theorise that the GLC is the C-Class' off-road cousin and also Stuttgart's response to the Audi Q5 and the BMW X3.Exterior
Compared to the stumpy GLK, the GLC sports a well-rounded physical structure and gently sculpted sheet metal surfaces that will remind one of a GLA on growth hormones.
The GLC's city-slicking good looks are a result of Mercedes' design philosophy, which favours sensual purity and modern aesthetics over the classic off-road look.
The new car doesn't just outshine its predecessor in the fashion department. Built on the W205 C-Class' Modular Rear-wheel drive Architecture (MRA) platform, the GLC is also lighter, 120mm longer and 50mm wider than the GLK.
Interior
The GLC's modern extrinsic suavity is echoed charmingly by its well-appointed quarters - a design language and build that uphold the standards set by the larger and more expensive GLE.
Characterised by a fluidic dash architecture and sweeping centre console that houses all the control buttons and switches, Mercedes has managed to keep the cabin looking neat and free of clutter.
Not only does the interior look good, it feels rich in character and taste. Fit and finish isn't just a major improvement from before but a cut above its aforementioned competition.
In contrast to the outgoing model, overall occupant and paraphernalia space have also increased. In other words, you get more legroom at the back and more elbow and shoulder room all around.
Another prioritised factor of comfort is the ability for occupants to enter and exit the GLC with ease. In this respect, entry and exit foot space has been increased by 34mm - which may not seem like much but will come in handy when kids rush in and out of the car.
The Drive
The GLC ticks all the right boxes so far but more importantly, how does this 1,735kg luxury cruiser feel on our roads?
For starters, the turbocharged 2.0-litre ticker under the hood supplies the car with just enough power not to feel slow but the real magic is made by Mercedes-designed nine-speed automatic gearbox. We usually feel that any gears more than six, maybe seven, are unnecessary and usually a recipe for disaster but this one's an absolute game changer.
Even under our inconsistent stop-start traffic conditions, cog swops are sublime and you barely realise when the car has decided to make a gear change.
As with the other cars in Mercedes' stable, the GLC comes standard with the Dynamic Select system.
If there is one thing that the GLC does extremely well, it would be the levels of comfort it provides. Suspension, although firm, isn't invasive and new heat and noise-insulating acoustic glass in the front doors translate into a drive so tranquil, even a howling infant will manage to find peace.
It may seem, then, that the GLC is without faults. But where it shines in comfort, it lacks in engagement. The car cruises confidently down a straight line but things get a little dead when you drive in a cheekier fashion. Steering tactility, for one, is numb and the car doesn't quite inspire you to chuck it around corners.
To be fair, none of that driving mambo-jumbo is going to deter anyone who's in the market for one of these cars from ordering one.
In all other sane senses, if the GLC's asking price of $220,888 (as of 28th March 2016) is right in line with your budget, we'd say go for it.
Conclusion
Cars like the GLC-Class GLC250 risk being another statistic on Singapore's luxury crossover-saturated roads but spend some time with it and Mercedes' notorious attention to detail begins to shine.
In our humble opinion, this is the car that will shake up the segment and give the Bavarians a good run for their Euros. Us, too, have slowly fallen victim to the GLC's refined charm, and we secretly hate ourselves for loving it.
