The 2016 Mercedes GLC is the new GLK. What do you need to know before you buy a GLC? Don’t worry, we’ll tell you everything right here in our Buyer’s Guide.
In another step to adjust their brand nomenclature to “avoid customer confusion,” Mercedes is replacing their GLK with the all new 2016 Mercedes GLC. The new CUV looks a lot rounder than its predecessor, it sits on a 4.6-inch longer wheelbase and it’s about 150 pounds lighter.
Mercedes says the new CUV “combines the ultimate in driving comfort with a sporty touch, impresses on the road and – more than ever – off it as well...”
So, the new GLC is rounder and supposedly better off-road than its forbearer, but what Mercedes is also very proud of is the laundry list of standard safety and infotainment gadgetry.
Gadgets, off-road capability, ride comfort and a bit of sportiness? Sounds good.
What’s New About The 2016 Mercedes GLC
The Mercedes GLC is all new for 2016 and will reach dealership showrooms in late 2015. The car takes the old GLK’s styling and puts a grinding wheel toall the sharp edges, resulting in a vehicle that looks a bit “softer” than its predecessor. It still looks handsome, but the old boxy GLK looked like a wagon. And we here at Jalopnik love wagons.
Mercedes says their new design “favors sensual purity and a modern aesthetic over the classic off-road look.” We agree with that, though we probably wouldn’t use the term “sensual purity.” That’s PR-speak.
But the exterior styling isn’t the only thing that changes for thew new model; there’s also a fresh new interior and a 2.0-liter turbo inline-four that cranks out 241 ponies at 5,500 rpm and 273 lb-ft of torque at a low 1,300 revs. Mated to that new mill is a nine-speed auto that replaces the old GLK’s seven-speed.
Mercedes says the new GLC, with its fancy air suspension and 28 degree approach and departure angles, has the goods to really kick butt off-road. While we’re sure it’s fine in gravel and snow, its suspension doesn’t seem to offer much in the way of wheel articulation, so uneven terrain will probably get a bit hairy.
But the GLC isn’t really an off-roader, it’s a soft, luxurious CUV filled with gadgets to satisfy our inner nerds.
Which One We’d Buy
For 2016, the GLC comes in two versions, GLC300 and GLC300 4MATIC, so there’s really not much to choose from, here. All GLCs get 4-wheel multilink suspension, electric power steering and ventilated disc brakes.
We haven’t driven the GLC yet, but after a gander at the configurator, we’d probably grab the all-wheel drive model. The GLC 4MATIC comes standard with a slew of fancy features: 2.0-liter turbo I4 with Start/Stop, nine-speed auto, all-wheel drive, active damping, drive mode select for throttle response, shift points and steering effort, 18-inch alloy wheels, wood interior trim, Attention Assist, Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Crosswind Assist, Pre-Safe, rearview camera, seven airbags, rain sensing wipers, SmartKey with keyless start, power liftgate, power driver’s seat with memory, dual-zone automatic climate control, power folding 40/20/40 rear bench, power folding side mirrors, dual high-resolution screens, touchpad controller, and plenty more.
We might tack on air suspension for $1,900 and maybe the $1,850 interior package, which gets us ventilated leather front seats. But that interior package doesn’t actually cost $1,850, because it requires us to buy the $650 stitched upper dash and the $720 Premium Package, which adds heated seats, satellite radio and proximity keyless ignition. Oh, but that $720 Premium Package requires us to buy the $550 Blind Spot Assist. These packages all seem to require other packages, so they end up costing much more than advertised.
At the end of all this confusion, we’d end up dropping $47,545 including destination on our leather-equipped GLC 4MATIC.
We’ll let you know if it’s worth the cost when we get our hands on one.
Important Facts At A Glance:
MSRP: $38,950-$40,950 Top Speed: ~130 MPH
Acceleration: 6.5s to 60 (estimated)
MPG: Not Yet Rated
Engines: 2.0-liter turbo I4
Max Horsepower/Torque: 241 hp/273 lb-ft [2.0L]
Curb Weight: ~4,000 pounds (estimated) IIHS Rating: Not Yet Rated
Transmissions: 9-speed automatic
Drivetrain Layout: Front engine, RWD/AWD
Photo credit: Mercedes