[Test Drive] "Mercedes-Benz Got Smarter"... Beyond Design and Performance, the 'The New GLC'

The New GLC (Photo by Mercedes-Benz Korea)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Mercedes-Benz has maintained its unshakable number one position in the domestic imported car market for the past several years. However, the reality is that Mercedes-Benz's popularity is mainly driven by sedans, led by the E-Class. In contrast, the brand has not made as strong an impact in the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) segment as it has in the sedan market. Accordingly, as one of its core strategies this year, Mercedes-Benz declared an 'SUV lineup enhancement' and selected the facelifted model of the best-selling GLC as the first vehicle for this initiative.

The newly launched 'The New GLC 300' features a sophisticated and refined design along with enhanced connected technologies, aligning with recent automotive market trends. On the 21st of last month, I had the opportunity to test drive this model over an approximately 120 km route between Cheongdam-dong in Seoul and Gapyeong in Gyeonggi Province.

The exterior of The New GLC presents a sleek impression befitting the Mercedes-Benz reputation. It employs smooth curves throughout the vehicle while retaining the robust character typical of SUVs. However, rather than making extensive changes through this facelift, Mercedes-Benz aimed to incorporate the family look that runs through its recent new models.

The New GLC is equipped with high-performance headlamps featuring the latest LED technology. According to Mercedes-Benz, these lamps improve energy efficiency and brightness to provide a wider field of vision while adjusting brightness according to the surrounding environment.

The interior does not show significant differences from the previous model. The visually perceived luxury is substantial, likely satisfying customers of all ages and genders. The smoothly flowing lines create a simple yet sophisticated interior space, and the control buttons are arranged without excess. No matter where you touch inside, there is absolutely no sense of cheap materials being used.

The vehicle dimensions are 4670 mm in length, 1900 mm in width, and 1640 mm in height. It is shorter in length compared to the recently debuted premium SUV Genesis GV80 (length 4945 mm). However, both the front and rear seat spaces are not cramped enough to cause discomfort.

The instrument cluster features a digital monitor that can be switched to navigation or other displays according to preference. The central display has been enlarged. The navigation system remains somewhat disappointing. Although the graphics are relatively detailed, its intuitiveness is lacking, making it difficult to quickly confirm the correct path at intersections.

Mercedes-Benz's latest infotainment system, 'MBUX,' is quite impressive. By saying "Hello, Mercedes," various functions inside the vehicle can be operated, and it understands commands well enough to make you think it is 'smart.' It successfully executed commands such as "Lower the air conditioning temperature" and "Tell me tomorrow's weather in Seoul." When adjusting the air conditioning, it was interesting to see that the system only adjusted the temperature of the seat where the command issuer was seated.

This GLC is equipped with an inline 4-cylinder M264 turbocharged gasoline engine. It delivers a maximum output of 258 horsepower and a peak torque of 37.7 kg·m. During the actual test drive, the GLC's performance and quietness exceeded expectations. Above all, its forward thrust is excellent. Acceleration performance in sport mode is even better. Stability was maintained even at higher speeds, and the low noise level allowed for comfortable driving. The combined fuel efficiency is 9.8 km/l.

As for safety features, a lane departure prevention package is provided as standard. It sensitively detects and warns of lane departures and collision risks in blind spots during driving. When passing through areas with many nearby objects, such as urban streets or alleys, it sometimes felt overly sensitive.

The premium model comes standard with the 'Driving Assistance Package.' Included in this package is the Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, which supports maintaining distance from the vehicle ahead, automatic speed adjustment, and braking during road driving. Active Brake Assist detects potential collisions with oncoming vehicles in the opposite lane when the driver slows down to enter a corner or signals a turn, providing visual and auditory warnings as well as semi-autonomous braking support.

The prices, including VAT, are 72.2 million KRW for The New GLC 300 4MATIC and 76.5 million KRW for The New GLC 300 4MATIC Coupe. Mercedes-Benz Korea plans to sequentially introduce various models, including the high-performance AMG lineup, diesel, and plug-in hybrid versions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.