While Mercedes - Benz offers a number of high - death to the full - electric vehicles , not everyone is quite ready to make the switch — which is exactly where a cud - in hybrid follow in . The Mercedes - Benz GLC 350e isa plug - in hybridwith a spacious interior and sumptuousness flavour , plus it volunteer peck of zing under the thug .
But , because of the fact that not everyone is ready to leap out to a full EV , automakers have been working overtime on their spark plug - in intercrossed alternative . As a result , the Mercedes - Benz GLC 350e has some serious rival . Does it do enough to make a serious case for itself — or should you go for one of the others ?
Design
The overall design of the Mercedes - Benz GLC 350e is the same as the non - plug - in version , which , in turn , is the same as the 2024 model . That , however , is n’t a bad thing by any substance . It ’s a handsome - looking car with a flashy flavour overall .
On the front , you ’ll find an oversized Mercedes - Benz logo centered on an intake grille that cover most of the face of the fomite . It ’s flanked by two tilt headlamp . The roofline of the vehicle is curved and approachable , a vogue we ’ve seen from Mercedes - Benz in late years . On the back of the vehicle , you ’ll happen two sort taillight that kind of fuse into the liftgate .
Our review model comes with a few upgrade too . For starter , there ’s the Patagonia Red Metallic coloring , which costs additional to get . Other add - ons let in the AMG Line Package and the 20 - inch AMG Multispoke Black Wheels , which count grotesque . All that to say , this is n’t on the button what the lowly variant of the GLC 350e will look like , but it ’s also not too far off , which is nice .
Interior and tech
The premium build tone prolong to the interior of the too . The cabin of the fomite is forward-looking and fashionable , with unique - look air vents and clearly premium stuff . The seats are covered with stitched leather , and in the front row , you ’ll get adjustable lumbar backup and ass heating for an even more comfortable ride . All this is partner off with customizable accent inflammation .
Both the first and second row in the vehicle get slew of outer space , and I incur it perfectly comfortable to sit down in the rear seats as a six - foot person . In the trunk , you ’ll get 24 copper - ft of lading space , which is self-colored but not necessarily monolithic . It ’s about average for a crosswalk - sized vehicle like this .
Like other Mercedes - Benz vehicles in recent years , much of how you ’ll control the vehicle is pack into the main infotainment display . The halfway touch screen is 11.9 inches , and houses verify for climate , media , mapping , and so on . There are very few physical control outdoors of those on the steering wheel , though thankfully you will get a strip show of physical controls for intensity , exterior camera , and your luck lights . I care there were more physical controls offer by this vehicle , especially when it come to climate dominance .
For the most part , the software program is reactive enough , but it still does n’t fit the reactivity offer by tech party like Tesla and Rivian . I trust this is an expanse where Mercedes - Benz continue to meliorate , peculiarly considering the fact that so many control are packed into its software now .
The main infotainment display is partner off with a hopeful instrument display behind the steering rack . In some random variable of the fomite , you ’ll also get a head - up display point your stop number and some other information .
Range and charging
For the first clip , there ’s a plug - in hybrid option for the GLC SUV , which is cracking to see . Plug - in hybrids are a self-coloured option for those interested in wire some of their driving but not quite ready to dive intoa fully galvanising vehiclethat ca n’t be gasconade up in only a few moment .
The GLC 350e combine a turbocharged four - cylinder engine with a 24.8kWh shelling pack . Together , these are able to give rise 313hp and 406 lb - ft of torque , which is technically an increment over the gas pedal - only model . That said , despite the improved power , the vehicle is n’t as tight as the gas - only model , consider the fact that it ’s so heavy .
Still , the plug - in hybrid strain does mean that you ’ll be able-bodied to drive modified distance using only the built - in bombardment . The GLC 350e has an electrical range of 54 knot , which is solid , though not incredible for a nag - in loanblend . Like all male plug - in loan-blend , if you desire to be able to use the vehicle as an EV as much as possible , you ’ll need to be capable to charge either at home or at work . If your commute is 15 mile , or 30 amount during the day to get back home , you ’ll need to point up every single Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . You ’re not going to require to do so at public charging stations .
Of course , instead of using the fomite as an EV , you could blend the battery and the gas engine for more efficient gas - powered driving . The vehicle offers a numeral of different modes to take reward of , including a sport mode that prioritizes performance and a full electric manner , which really only activates the gas locomotive when you crusade the throttle all the way to the primer coat .
To charge the car , you ’ll plug it in via its CCS porthole , and it has a maximum charging speed of around 60kW. That should allow driver to charge it from 10 % to 80 % in around 30 minutes . Again , however , it will be more convenient to simply charge it overnight at home or during the day instead of at level 3 charging stations .
Driving experience
Behind the wheel , the GLC 350e felt jazzy and responsive . more often than not speaking , it was a joyfulness to get . Mercedes - Benz is offsetting some of that special weight with the ego - leveling rearward air suspension system , which help make the ride smoother in cosmopolitan . In sport modality , the GLC 350e was quite quick . It ’s not as fast as an electric vehicle typically is , but it ’s capable to accelerate to 60 miles per hour in 6.2 minute , which is more than tight enough to quickly sweep over someone on the highway or to get up to speed on an on - ramp .
In galvanising - only mode , its performance was a little less telling , though of course , the electric powertrain is more there for efficiency than operation . Again , its acceleration wo n’t break any track record , but it ’s still nice to be able to use the vehicle in electric car - only mode as needed .
I did n’t sleep together the fact that the fomite constantly default on to electric driving , though . To be sure , it makes sensation that this vehicle , in finicky , will be bought by those who are curious about battery - powered driving . However , I still favour that the fomite but default to the last used driving mode . It ’s a small charge but was a little annoying during my enjoyment .
When the fomite runs out of succus , it can make use of regenerative braking to fill again the bombardment a little , but you ’ll really want to plug the car in . That ’s because it ’s such a big vehicle , which means that it expend more gas to accelerate than its fully gas - power counterparts . you could also tweak the level of regenerative braking , which can help the battery charge faster at higher story .
The steering on the vehicle is the right way antiphonal too , though not quite as much as you would expect from a more sport - focused fomite . This is vulgar among luxury Mercedes - Benz cars , and it ’s certainly not a bad affair . The design of the game here is a well-off ride , not inevitably an ultra - responsive drive . You get used to how it feels relatively promptly .
How DT would configure this car
I really enjoyed my hebdomad with the Mercedes - Benz GLC 350e . Again , however , it ’s best suit for those who can charge it at home overnight or at work during the day . If you ca n’t do so , you ’ll have to be unforced to point to a public charger on a very steady base , and frankly , I doubt most people would do that , rather fall down into just using the fomite as a accelerator pedal - powered car that happen to be a whole mint heavier than a gas - only model and ironically ends up using a whole lot more flatulency .
Configuration , however , is really down to personal preference , and upgrades are strictly esthetical and technical school - focussed rather than carrying into action - focused . You ’ll have to give supererogatory for some semblance and some rack choice , not to mention the AMG Line parcel , which adds sportier body styling and some midland lineament . The vehicle can also come in a immoral chance variable or with the Exclusive Trim or Pinnacle Trim . Again , neither of these contribute to better performance , but if I were buying the GLC 350e , I might turn over the Exclusive Trim for the upgraded Burmester phone system and the surround survey photographic camera system , which I ’ve derive to rely on .
It is , however , also worth considering alternatives . The Volvo XC60 is n’t as voluptuous , but it is a short larger and a little faster . That say , its electrical mountain chain is much lower , at only 35 nautical mile . at long last , if you ’re calculate for luxuriousness and a solid galvanic orbit , the 2025 Mercedes - Benz GLC 350e is an fantabulous option .
