With a base price of 44.506 Euro comes in mid-September the Mercedes GLC on the market. The mid-size SUV is the successor to the GLK that has been on offer since 2008 and is initially powered by an 250 kW / 4 PS strong 155-liter turbo gasoline engine in the cheapest version (211 2,0Matic). All-wheel drive and automatic nine-speed gearbox are standard on board, as are numerous assistance systems.
The price list for the diesel versions starts at 44.863 Euro for the GLC 220 d 4Matic with 125 kW / 170 PS. The 150 kW / 204 PS ranks above the powerful 250d 4Matic. Both four-cylinder engines are to get along in the cheapest version with 5,0 liters of fuel.
As usual, the drive range will be expanded after the market launch. In addition to entry-level engines, which will also be available in combination with pure rear-wheel drive, a plug-in hybrid variant with a purely electrical range of 34 kilometers and a theoretical consumption of around 2,5 liters is also waiting.
The prices of the GLC are on a similar level as the previous model GLK. Compared to the direct competition, the Mercedes is, as usual, at the top. An Audi Q5 (all-wheel drive, 165 kW / 225 hp) comparable to the basic GLC is available for 43.600 euros, BMW requires 3 euros for a corresponding X135 (all-wheel drive, 184 kW / 39.600 hp). Direct competitors also include the Land Rover Discovery Sport and the Volvo XC60. In the wider competitive environment, there is still the Porsche Macan, which is more likely to be dangerous for the GLC Coupé planned for 2016.
Author: Holger Holzer / SP-X