2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC-class

2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC-class

Put the C-class sedan on stilts and you get the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC-class, a competent luxury crossover that also features the style and panache of its sedan sibling. It, along with the rakish GLC-class coupe, fills the hole in the Mercedes-Benz SUV lineup between the subcompact GLA-class and the mid-size GLE-class. A refreshed GLC-class is due for 2020 that should adopt styling that aligns the brand's compact SUV with more modern offerings such as the A-class and CLA-class sedans. The 2019 GLC300 has a 241-hp 2.0-liter four that pairs with a paddle-shifted nine-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive; all-wheel drive is optional. If a plug-in hybrid is what you're after, the GLC350e keeps the turbo four-cylinder and adds an 85kW electric motor for a combined 320 horsepower. It sounds great until you do the math: buying the plug-in hybrid nets the buyer only 1 mpg better in the EPA's city/highway combined metric than the GLC300 and just 10 miles of electric-only driving per charge.

We haven't had the GLC350e at our test track, but the all-wheel-drive GLC300 4Matic managed a brisk 5.9-second run from zero to 60 mph. The GLC's ride is stiff; bumps and humps in the road communicated themselves easily into the cabin of our test vehicle. Our advice: Resist the urge to order the 20-inch wheels; your backside will thank you. Where the GLC-class outshines its rivals is in the cabin, which feels truly special, and with the right option boxes checked it can feel downright lavish. The seats are comfortable, the interior quiet, just like a real Mercedes. A 7.0-inch infotainment display is standard but the optional 8.4-inch display is larger and more preferable, as its extra screen real estate makes it easier to view from the driver's seat. Other features that buyers in this class expect are unfortunately optional, though, such as navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and onboard Wi-Fi.

There is of course a dual-zone automatic climate control system, and you鈥檒l find a large panoramic sunroof overhead. Because of the roof鈥檚 shape, the glass panel will pop up and out before it slides back - obviously that never looks great from the outside. My review vehicle had some very solid driver assistance technology - adaptive brake, attention assist, collision prevention assist, crosswind assist, active park assist with front and rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring and of course a backup camera. We really enjoyed the dressy little analog clock and the LED ambient lighting, both of which added a modern, luxurious touch to our surroundings. The coupe鈥檚 twin rear seats are divided by a console and frankly, they are not comfortable for adults. There is not enough head room for me (at 5鈥?0鈥? I had to sit with my head angled) and there wasn鈥檛 enough leg room either when seated behind my own driving position. I found it quite claustrophobic as well. There are two sets of ISOFIX child seat anchors and although we no longer use these, two of our kids were very happy with the room back there.

Rear passengers get some cupholders, a 12V plug, the all-important ashtray and adjustable air vents. I liked that Mercedes allows me to remove the cupholder 鈥渙rganizer鈥?in the console to leave me with a big, rubberized storage bin. That鈥檚 useful flexibility. Mercedes carpets the space under the armrest鈥檚 clamshell lid, and you鈥檒l find a couple of USB plugs there as well. The C300 has a power trunk lid that opens to expose a smallish 400 litre trunk. The rear seats split 40/20/40 for some flexibility, and that allows you to continue using the seats while transporting longer, skinnier items. The all-wheel drive coupe is motivated by a turbocharged 2 litre 4-cylinder that cranks out 241 HP and a very impressive 273 lb.ft of torque at only 1300 RPM! The power makes its way through a 7-speed automatic transmission. Mercedes rates the C300 at 10.4 L/100 km (23 US mpg) in the city and 8 L/100 km (29 US mpg) on the highway.