The Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Expertise has been revealed as a contemporary new mid-size electrical SUV from the three-pointed star model, able to tackle the BMW iX3 and Audi Q6 e-tron.
It’s launching in Europe through the first half of 2026. We’ve contacted Mercedes-Benz to substantiate Australian timing.
A lot as the brand new iX3 has successfully the identical identify because the combustion-powered X3 however a distinct platform, the GLC with EQ Expertise makes use of separate underpinnings – the devoted MB.EA electrical car (EV) platform – to the combustion-powered GLC.
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It additionally has a distinct look to the GLC however, extra importantly, a dramatically completely different look from Mercedes-Benz’s slow-selling Electrical Car Structure-based fashions just like the equally sized EQE SUV.
It’s headlined by a brand new “brand-defining chromed grille”, that includes a thick chromed body and a “smoked-glass look mesh construction”. It may be had in illuminated guise – with an illuminated central star, relying available on the market – which options 942 polycarbonate backlit dots.
Down again, there are star-shaped parts to the tail lights, paying homage to the E-Class.
It rides on wheels as much as 21 inches, and options LED headlights with next-generation Digital Gentle that guarantees a better high-resolution lighting subject however 50 per cent decrease power consumption for the lighting module.
Extremely Vary high-beam is now included into the cornering lights, permitting it to swivel dynamically. The cornering lights additionally use digicam data and map knowledge to find out their changes.
Regardless of trying extra upright than the EQE SUV, the drag coefficient is barely fractionally worse – 0.26 versus 0.25Cd for its blobbier showroom-mate.
Right here’s how the GLC with EQ Expertise and the common GLC measure up:
| GLC with EQ Expertise | GLC | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 4845mm | 4722mm |
| Width | 1913mm | 1890mm |
| Top | 1644mm | 1634mm |
| Wheelbase | 2972mm | 2888mm |
Mercedes-Benz says the longer wheelbase interprets to 13mm extra entrance and 47mm extra rear legroom, with entrance and rear headroom up by 46mm and 17mm respectively.
Boot house is 570 litres, increasing to 1740L once you drop the 40:20:40 rear seats. There’s additionally a 128L storage compartment underneath the bonnet.
The brand new mid-size electrical SUV has been revealed in flagship GLC400 4Matic guise, with an extra 4 variants to observe together with single-motor rear-wheel drive configurations.
The twin-motor all-wheel drive GLC400 4Matic makes use of a 94kWh (usable) lithium-ion battery offering it with 713km of vary on the WLTP cycle.
Claimed power consumption is between 14.9 and 18.8 kilowatt hours per 100km. Notice these WLTP figures are preliminary.
An 800V electrical system helps DC fast-charging at as much as 330kW, by way of which 300km of vary will be added in 10 minutes, says Mercedes-Benz. The usual AC cost fee is 11kW, with 22kW AC charging elective.
A DC converter additionally permits the GLC400 4Matic to be charged at 400V fast-charging stations, whereas in some markets the brand new SUV will help Car-to-Residence (V2H) and Car-to-Grid (V2G) charging.
The GLC400 4Matic produces 360kW of energy, good for a 0-100km/h time of 4.3 seconds (claimed). A torque determine hasn’t been revealed.
There’s a two-speed gearbox positioned on the rear. First gear has a ratio of 11:1, which is meant to ship sturdy acceleration and effectivity and a excessive towing capability – Mercedes-Benz claims the GLC400 can tow as much as 2400kg, and it options Trailer Manouevuring Help.
Second gear has a ratio of 5:1 for sturdy energy supply and effectivity at excessive speeds.
You’ll be able to toggle between Eco, Consolation, Sport, Particular person and Terrain modes, and 4 completely different ranges of regenerative braking together with a one-pedal mode. As much as 300kW of brake recuperation is obtainable.
Mercedes-Benz says it has additional lowered the proportion of cobalt used within the battery, and has centered on ease of accessibility and alternative – the battery cowl is screwed on fairly than glued, for instance.
A warmth pump makes use of waste warmth from the electrical motors and battery to warmth the cabin.
The GLC with EQ Expertise contains a four-link axle on the entrance and a multi-link rear axle.
Airmatic air suspension with clever suspension management and rear-axle steering are included in an elective know-how bundle.
The clever suspension management features a Automotive-to-X perform which Mercedes-Benz has developed and utilized to patent, whereby damping will be electrically adjusted primarily based on info from a Mercedes-Benz car driving forward despatched in real-time.
The Airmatic air suspension additionally makes use of Google Maps knowledge to maintain the car as little as potential for so long as potential to enhance power consumption.
Rear-axle steering sees the rear wheels flip by as much as 2.5 levels in the identical route because the entrance ones at speeds above 60km/h, whereas beneath 60km/h they’ll steer in the other way by as much as 4.5 levels.
The characteristic is meant to make the GLC EQ stabler at excessive speeds and nimbler at decrease ones, and general it reduces the turning circle by 90cm to 11.2m.
There’s a spread of synthetic propulsion sounds present in different Mercedes-Benz EVs, however becoming a member of the vary is Fractal Fusion which “embodies a hedonistic, futuristic life-style, mixing nostalgic Nineteen Eighties arcade-game tones and synthwave music with trendy, vibrant synth textures”.
There’s additionally Granular Fuzz, which “gives an expressive, natural fashion that emphasises individualism and adventurousness, combining fats guitar riffs, epic orchestral soundtrack parts, nature samples and expansive digital results”.
You may as well select between two completely different sounds for the exterior Acoustic Car Alerting System (AVAS).
Inside, there are the spherical metallic air vents and door-mounted seat controls we’ve come to anticipate from Mercedes-Benz automobiles.
Mercedes-Benz says it has responded to buyer suggestions and launched a brand new steering wheel, reintroducing a rocker change for the cruise management and a curler for quantity management.
The opposite type of rock ‘n roll will be loved via an accessible Burmester 4D {surround} system with chrome steel speaker grilles.
Ambient lighting is obtainable, together with in the usual panoramic glass roof the place it will probably illuminate 162 stars.
The glass roof can also be accessible with switchable glass, that includes Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal know-how, that includes 9 zones.
There’s a selection of consolation or extra closely bolstered sport entrance seats, and all seats have the seal of approval from Aktion Gesunder Rücken (Organisation for Wholesome Backs).
Heating is normal with reminiscence elective, and you may specify a Vegan Package deal the place all inside supplies are licensed by The Vegan Society… or go the opposite route and have the seats and doorways upholstered in Nappa leather-based.
You may as well select between a raft of various inlays, from wooden to carbon-fibre, metallic-blended material, and Mercedes-Benz’s “ship deck” trim in black with aluminium inlays.
The headline act, nevertheless, is a gigantic 39.1-inch MBUX Hyperscreen accessible which makes use of over 1000 particular person LEDs.
It’s comprised of a ten.3-inch digital instrument cluster, 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 14-inch passenger show, the latter of which can be utilized to entry over 40 apps plus video streaming together with by way of Disney+.
Autos with out the Hyperscreen go with out the passenger show, and as a substitute there’s a “digital ornamental aspect” on which you’ll select to show both a private photograph or one in all 12 predefined photos.
If the inside digicam sees the driving force trying on the passenger aspect of the Hyperscreen for a sure interval, some content material is routinely dimmed, whereas Mercedes-Benz additionally makes use of a “particular algorithm” within the graphics driver software program to enhance the readability of the show in daylight.
Operating the fourth-generation MBUX working system, Mercedes-Benz claims the GLC EQ’s in-car infotainment system is the primary to combine AI from Microsoft and Google, utilizing a Multi Agent Strategy which is like “speaking to a buddy”.
The MBUX Digital Assistant has a “residing avatar” within the type of the Mercedes-Benz star, which turns inexperienced once you thank it and even “exhibits pleasure” when telling a joke. It’s the type of cutesy stuff turning into more and more frequent in Chinese language automobiles.
It’s not even the one avatar within the GLC EQ.
There’s additionally a “human-like avatar, which emerges from a condensing cloud of stars [which] embodies intelligence in a technologically futuristic approach” and LittleBenz which “with its expressive face, permits for a fair stronger connection on a private stage – its vigorous kind invitations inspiring interplay”.
Naturally, the GLC EQ helps over-the-air updates for all car software program.
As much as 10 cameras, 5 sensors, 12 ultrasonic sensors energy the GLC EQ’s suite of lively security and driver help know-how.
There’s adaptive cruise management with lane centring, and this might be joined at a later level by Lane Change Help Plus which permits automated lane modifications in city areas once you activate the indicator.
Mercedes-Benz can also be launching MB. Drive Help Professional within the US and China first, which “permits a seamless and secure point-to-point driving expertise, even in dense city site visitors”.
Different options embrace semi-autonomous parking help and surround-view cameras with a clear bonnet perform, offering an outline of what’s beneath the entrance of the automotive.
The GLC EQ might be inbuilt Bremen, Germany alongside combustion-powered automobiles. Mercedes-Benz says it delivers a two-thirds discount in carbon footprint throughout its total lifecycle in comparison with the combustion-powered GLC.
