Listen up luxury car lovers. There鈥檚 a brand new Mercedes-Benz in town. Meet the latest addition to the Mercedes-Benz line-up, the GLC300. The GLC300 joined the Mercedes-Benz fleet to replace its GLK, but you wouldn鈥檛 know it if you looked at the vehicles side by side. While the GLK was angular, the GLC300 has a much softer look that fans insist is much more modern. Its rounded profile is more refined than the boxy GLK, if a little conservative. It鈥檚 also markedly larger than the GLK it replaces. While it could never be accused of being bulky, it鈥檚 around 5 inches longer and 2 inches wider than its predecessor. This adds more rear passenger space and cargo room without compromising maneuverability. Despite being larger than the GLK that came before it, the GLC300 is surprisingly lightweight. Its new composite aluminum and high-strength steel chassis has helped it weigh 176 pounds less than its predecessor.

Listen up luxury car lovers. There鈥檚 a brand new Mercedes-Benz in town. Meet the latest addition to the Mercedes-Benz line-up, the GLC300. The GLC300 joined the Mercedes-Benz fleet to replace its GLK, but you wouldn鈥檛 know it if you looked at the vehicles side by side. While the GLK was angular, the GLC300 has a much softer look that fans insist is much more modern. Its rounded profile is more refined than the boxy GLK, if a little conservative. It鈥檚 also markedly larger than the GLK it replaces. While it could never be accused of being bulky, it鈥檚 around 5 inches longer and 2 inches wider than its predecessor. This adds more rear passenger space and cargo room without compromising maneuverability. Despite being larger than the GLK that came before it, the GLC300 is surprisingly lightweight. Its new composite aluminum and high-strength steel chassis has helped it weigh 176 pounds less than its predecessor.

With less weight to drag around, the GLC300 is really fuel efficient. Environmental Protection Agency figures show it gets 22 miles per gallon in the city and 28 miles per gallon on the open road, so you鈥檒l spend less time at the pump. The Mercedes-Benz GLC300 is powered by a 2-liter inline four-cylinder motor that delivers 241 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. That might seem like a downgrade to people who loved the GLK鈥檚 V6, but the GLC300鈥檚 lighter body ensures it feels just as spritely as the car it has replaced. Its impressive nine-speed transmission also makes the most of the power available. The attention to detail Mercedes-Benz has shown when designing the GLC300鈥檚 interior is something to behold. The seven-inch Audio 20 infotainment system takes pride of place. With a radio and CD player, SD slot and USB ports, as well as Bluetooth connectivity, the system is ideal for modern motorists and old school music fans alike. Elegant touches like metal screens over the speakers and high-end door inserts and dashboard accents make the interior feel special. There鈥檚 plenty of room for self-expression too, with five different upholstery themes and three different wood tones to choose from, as well as Sport and Night packages. Mercedes-Benz prides itself on its exemplary safety record, and the GLC300 lives up to this reputation with the addition of several innovations as standard. Attention Assist recognizes drowsy driving and sounds a warning before an accident can occur. The Collision Prevention Assist Plus system could be another lifesaver. A visual and audio alarm activates whenever you鈥檙e too close to the vehicle in front. It also slows the vehicle, and even stops it, to prevent rear-enders. Blind-spot monitors with cross-traffic assists, a rearview camera, and a variety of airbags for drivers and passengers help up the Mercedes-BenzGLC300鈥檚 safety credentials.

The SUV's 2.0-liter inline-4 puts out 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque, improvements of 14 and 0, respectively, over the pre-refresh GLC. A nine-speed automatic transmission is the only cog-swapper on offer. My time with the GLC300 is spent on sinewy forest roads around Frankfurt, Germany. My tester is equipped with optional air suspension, and hoo boy, it makes for quite the chill existence. Whether rough or smooth, the road's annoyances are all but eliminated, leaving the cabin feeling like a pillow floating down the road. It's not so soft that it feels floaty or otherwise aloof, but it's one of the best rides I've experienced in this segment. Like before, the GLC300 is available in both standard SUV and the fastback Coupe variants, with the latter commanding a bit more money for fashion while eating into cargo space. On a drive around the Frankfurt area, the only GLC300 variant on offer was the "regular" one, which I prefer. Not only does it keep that traditional long-roof shape, it offers superior rearward visibility and slightly more cargo space, which is clutch for long trips with friends or family.

The additional rear-seat headroom is a boon for my 6-foot frame, too. Modern SUVs might not always have ruggedness in mind, but the GLC300 packs a surprising amount of capability off the beaten path. Mercedes-Benz put together a pretty complicated off-road course, and even with the stock all-season tires equipped, the GLC proved more capable than most buyers will ever need. Equipped with the optional off-road package and air suspension, the ute will provide up to 9.6 inches of ride height, although higher suspension levels are limited to speeds under about 12 miles per hour. It can handle 35-degree banks and 70% grades, competently crawling through dirt and mud at angles that left me wondering if today would be the day I finally tip over a utility vehicle. For a bit of gamification, MBUX offers a specific off-road screen that shows individual wheel articulation, slope and tilt angles and throttle position. Suffice it to say, it's more than most buyers will ever need.