Mercedes-Benz has launched the all-new GLC Electric at Rs 78.5 lakh (ex-showroom). It is being locally assembled in India and has become the new entry point to the brand’s electric SUV line-up. Despite what its name suggests, the GLC Electric is not even remotely related to its combustion-powered cousin – it’s based on a brand-new electric platform with 800V architecture and promises a range of 711km (WLTP-certified). It also gets the largest single-piece infotainment screen fitted to any vehicle in India.
Mercedes says it has already raked up over 1,000 bookings, and the SUV is sold out till March 2027. Deliveries are set to commence just in time for Diwali.
- GLC Electric gets a 94kWh battery good for a claimed WLTP range of 711km
- Interior features a single-piece, dashboard-spanning 39.1-inch Hyperscreen
- Gets an illuminated grille with 914 pixel lighting elements; AMG Line styling pack is standard
Mercedes GLC Electric exterior design
The biggest talking point about the GLC Electric’s exterior design is its grille, which comes with 914 individual pixel lighting elements – these animate different patterns when the car is parked, switched on or switched off. It’s also meant to resemble the long, vertical chrome grilles of Mercedes cars from yesteryear, such as the W114 and W108. Also eye-catching are the three-pointed stars for the LED daytime running lights (DRLs) in the headlamps and tail-lamps.
The India-spec GLC 400 comes with the AMG styling pack as standard, and that brings 20-inch alloy wheels and sporty-looking AMG-spec front and rear bumpers. The rest of the bodywork is characterised by smooth, flowing lines and curved surfaces, giving the SUV a rather elegant look. It’s also not overdone with body cladding, thereby retaining an understated look. At the back, the wraparound gloss-black panel housing the tail-lamps and the Mercedes logo is also a neat touch.
In terms of dimensions, the GLC Electric is larger than the combustion-powered GLC in every metric – it’s 140mm longer, 23mm wider and 12mm taller. The wheelbase, too, has gone up by 84mm to 2,972mm. Mercedes is offering the GLC Electric in six paint shades, namely Sheer Blue, Lavender Silver, Obsidian Black, Opalite White Bright, Patagonia Red Metallic and Alpine Grey Solid – the last three are Manufaktur options.
Mercedes GLC Electric interior and features
The biggest party trick of the GLC Electric is on the inside – a massive 39.1-inch Hyperscreen that stretches the width of the dashboard. In fact, the screen itself is the dashboard, and it’s not merely a triple-screen setup; it’s one continuous panel without any bezels or partitions. The flip side, however, is that there are barely any physical controls, including for HVAC operations. Thankfully, though, the screen itself is super slick to operate, and the graphics are clear, legible and super high-definition.
The rest of the interior gets the usual wood, metal and leather appointments – there’s use of black open-pore wood on the centre console, the AC vents get a beautiful knurled metallic finish, and even the speaker grilles for the 15-speaker 3D Burmester sound system are exquisitely finished. Being the AMG Line spec, it also gets Mercedes’s sporty four-spoke steering wheel. There’s a choice of three colour options for the interior: Black, Beech Brown or Ivory Beige.
Screen aside, some of the other equipment highlights include a panoramic glass roof with illuminated stars, two wireless chargers, ambient lighting, AI-enabled functions, a powered tailgate, power-folding rear seats, Level 2 ADAS with eight cameras and five radars, auto parking assist, a 360-degree surround-view camera, nine airbags and more. The panoramic glass roof doesn’t get a sunshade, but the opacity can be electronically controlled, and the 39-inch screen also gets 11 preset themes to customise the display. Lastly, the front seats get massage and heating functions, but unfortunately, no ventilation. As for cargo capacity, the GLC Electric gets a 570-litre boot, along with a 128-litre frunk.
Mercedes GLC Electric powertrain and specifications
The GLC Electric has arrived in India in the 400 4Matic guise. This brings a 94kWh battery that energises two electric motors (one at the front and one at the back) for all-wheel drive. Combined output stands at 490hp and 800Nm, and Mercedes says it will do the 0-100kph sprint in 4.3 seconds – that’s plenty quick for nearly a 2.5-tonne family SUV. Notably, it even gets a 2-speed gearbox – one for acceleration, and the second for efficiency.
The GLC 400 has a certified WLTP range of 711km. As standard, Mercedes is offering a 22kW AC charger, but using a 330kW DC charger, 300km worth of range can be topped up in just 10 minutes. The India-spec GLC 400 does not get rear-wheel steering or air suspension; it rides on passive dampers instead.
At launch, the GLC Electric does not have any direct rival in India, though it will soon be joined by the BMW iX3, which is due to arrive in the country next year. The GLC Electric has been priced surprisingly close to the ICE-powered GLC range, commanding a premium of just Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 50,000 over the petrol and diesel variants, respectively. So it could be a genuine alternative to the ICE range, as it offers more space and a lot more tech.
Dipan Sur
Viraaj Bhatnagar
Uday Singh
Suraj Viswanathan
Hormazd Sorabjee
Kiran Murali
