Mercedes GLC long term review, 8,700km report

First report: Merc’s updated SUV enters our fleet in oil burner form, and it impresses us with its fuel economy and driving dynamics.

Published on Jul 13, 2024 08:00:00 AM

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Suspension feels too stiff for Mumbai roads.

Pinstripes on dash not to everyone’s taste.

Make : Mercedes-Benz

Model : GLC

After brimming the tank, the trip computer of our long-term Mercedes GLC 220d indicated it had 888km of range. That’s a figure EV owners can only fantasise about. I have to confess that after months of driving noiseless, clean and efficient EVs, it felt good to jump into a diesel car and be reminded of their resilience and just how far they have come. And equally, just how long and far they go between fill-ups.

Nearly 900km possible on one tank of diesel.

The fact is that nothing beats a good diesel SUV for a long road trip. Tall gearing, loads of torque and low fuel consumption still make a diesel car (or SUV) the go-to choice for the highway – more so when you don’t have to worry about finding a fuel pump even in the remotest regions of the country.

So it was only fitting then that the first outing for the GLC 220d after it arrived at the Autocar HQ was on a rather interesting road trip through the Konkan region of Maharashtra. It was drafted in as one of the support cars for ‘Mango Trails’ – a road trip under our Autocar Expeditions banner. We took our readers to – you guessed it – mango country, or more specifically, to the Fern Samali resort in Dapoli, Ratnagiri, a good 220km from our office. The long-legged GLC 220d was in its element on NH66, the old Goa highway.

With no speed cameras to worry about, I made full use of the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel’s 197hp and 440Nm of torque. Overtaking was a piece of cake, and the 9G-Tronic – Mercedes nomenclature for its nine-speed torque converter auto gearbox – played a strong supporting role, especially in manual mode. Playing with the paddles, you can eke the most out of this engine, which, I must say, sounds a bit gruff when revved hard. But you know it’s doing its job when you glance at the speedo and get shocked. Like all diesels after the shift to BS6, the mid-range punch or the sudden surge of power that characterised a diesel engine is sadly missing. That’s not to say the GLC is slow; on the contrary, before you know it, you’ll activate the speed warning gong. And it’s annoyingly loud. The diesel’s linear and smooth power delivery masks the GLC’s speed, as does its brilliant dynamics and unflappable poise. In fact, the one thing that impressed me the most about the GLC is how rock steady it feels at highway speeds while being equally confidence-inspiring on the undulating terrain leading to the coast.

Agile handling is a joy on twisty roads.

Peeling off NH66 onto narrow secondary roads just before Dapoli, the GLC surprised me with its sporty behaviour. You don’t expect a mainstream diesel Merc SUV to be agile and hunkered down on a twisty road, but that’s exactly what the GLC is. I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: modern Mercs have the best steering when it comes to feel and feedback. There’s a wonderful fluidity and precision with which the GLC dives in and out of corners. Body roll is minimal, which, again, is not something you expect from a moderately high-riding SUV. And the last 30km of the drive to the Fern resort was an absolute blast. I was amazed at how smooth the roads in this part of Maharashtra were—in their best possible shape just before the monsoon arrives and destroys them. And when you have something playful and entertaining to drive, why not enjoy it to the fullest? And that’s exactly what I did. So, instead of going home after a weekend of gorging on the juiciest Alphonso mangoes, I took a ‘slight’ detour to the one place that’s a magnet to every new car I’m driving. Yes, Mahabaleshwar. Being just 105km away from Fern, it was too tempting to pass up, especially since the freshly paved Ambenali ghat leading to the hill station was in a spanking shape. Those 40km were an absolute blast, but for the uphill climb, I would have liked a bit more punch that would have complemented the chassis. Hey, Mercedes! Can we have a 300d, please?

A quick blast up to Mahabaleshwar in the GLC too tempting to pass up.

What astonished me was the GLC 220d’s fuel efficiency despite some pretty hard driving. There was no need to visit a fuel station, and I did the 550km Mumbai-Dapoli-Mahabaleshwar-Mumbai loop with a quarter tank to spare.

Downsides? Back in town, the ride feels too firm for Mumbai roads and lacks the pillow-soft comfort that’s always been at the core of the Mercedes brand. Personally, I don’t like the pinstripe dashboard design, which looks a bit cheesy. But when it comes to infotainment systems, Mercedes does it best. I love the graphics, the logical layout, and how easy and intuitive it is to navigate all the functions. But it’s on the highway that the GLC feels best, and I can’t wait for my next Mahabaleshwar drive in it.

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