2024 Mercedes AMG GLC 43 Coupe review: Real-world sportscar

The Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 is back for a second generation, and the overall proposition remains the same as before. It’s a sister car to the AMG C 43 sports sedan, albeit with the practicality of an SUV and the sloping roof of a coupé. For many Indian buyers, this will likely be the more sensible choice, providing the same heady AMG performance (and style) with enough ground clearance to tackle our typically bombed-out roads. However, being based on the latest C 43 means it comes with one significant change under the bonnet and a much higher price tag compared to the previous version.

Mercedes AMG GLC 43 Coupe exterior and colours

Based on the latest GLC SUV, the new AMG 43 Coupé version inherits its larger, more muscular appearance, albeit with a sloping roof that slams down aggressively aft of the B pillar. Integrating such a roof on a chunky SUV is often tricky, more so the smaller the SUV is, as a certain amount of practicality has to be retained.

Mercedes designers have achieved this by stretching the roof back to the edge of the tailgate, which itself is quite tall. This, combined with the slim LED tail-lamps, does make the rear look bulky, but it’s all part of that sporty, coupé-SUV persona, accentuated by a generous lip spoiler and quad exhaust tips below.

Up front, there’ll be no doubt you’ve got the AMG version, thanks to the chrome-slatted Panamericana grille, but there are subtler touches such as the chin spoiler, aero curtains, and sportier air intake surrounds; they would probably stand out more on a different paint shade. Speaking of which, there are five standard colours – Polar White, Graphite Grey, Obsidian Black, High-tech Silver and Spectral Blue, as well as four optional colours – Patagonia Red Bright, Opalite White Bright, High-tech Silver Magno and the one you see here, Graphite Grey Magno.

The car for India gets the Night Package as standard, which replaces much of the chrome with gloss black trim, and also the high-tech ‘Digital Light’ LED headlamps, which, apart from having a higher-resolution beam, get a 3-slash DRL signature and projector elements, unlike the standard GLC.

While 20-inch wheels are standard, our test car is fitted with a handsome set of optional 21-inch wheels sitting on low-profile 265/40 ZR21 tyres at the front and 295/35 ZR21 tyres at the back. Complementing these are brushed-metal side steps beneath the doors, which are too slim to be functional but wide enough to leave dirt on your calves when you get in.

Mercedes AMG GLC 43 colours, interior and features

The standard GLC’s back seat wasn’t among the best, and expectedly, this coupé version has made more sacrifices still. The seat is upright and has little thigh support, cushioning is firm, and though knee room is good, head room is tight. You also have to duck under the roof to enter and exit, and the windows are tiny, but perhaps all this is passable in what is essentially a high-riding sportscar that’s best enjoyed from the driver’s seat.

Up front, then, you’re greeted by the familiar dashboard from the C-class and GLC, which is no bad thing at all. The waterfall design is attractive, the backlit metallic AC vents are superb, and the high-resolution MBUX screens are a triumph of design, particularly the AMG-specific ‘Supersport’ display, though far too many everyday functions have been moved into the touchscreen.

What the GLC 43’s cabin does excellently, however, is immerse you in its AMG sportiness, with red contrast stitching everywhere, carbon-fibre-like trim, red seat belts and supportive sports seats. There’s a heads-up display and AMG-specific graphics for both screens, but the highlight is the AMG steering wheel. Small in diameter, trimmed in carbon fibre and Alcantara and with context-sensitive rotary dials to change settings on the fly, it really makes you want to get moving, and fast!

On the features front, it’s well kitted out, and highlights include the crisp 360-deg cameras, 64-colour ambient lighting, active parking assist, nine airbags, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charger, heated front seats (albeit not cooled), a 15-speaker Burmester sound system, a fingerprint scanner and a host of electronic safety aids, including some ADAS features.

Boot capacity is listed as 545 litres, but the sloping tailgate does impede. However, it’s worthwhile noting that Mercedes has provided a space-saver spare tyre underneath the floor.

Mercedes AMG GLC 43 engine, gearbox and performance

The big change under the bonnet is a case of downsizing, as the 3.0-litre V6 engine has been swapped out for a 2.0-litre four-cylinder. However, it employs a 48-volt ISG mild hybrid system and the overall result is more power – 421hp, up from 390, but slightly less torque, at 500Nm from 520. That deficit is made up for by the fact you get an additional 14hp and 150Nm of e-boost under hard acceleration.

The e-turbo reduces turbo lag considerably by using an electric motor to spool itself up early, and it’s only when you suddenly punch down on the accelerator in one of the lesser drive modes that you might catch it out and feel some lag. Performance feels incredibly strong, even with the added weight of this SUV over its sedan counterpart, the engine belying its size with a ceaseless pull across the rev range, going all the way to 7,000rpm. The electric motor even fills the torque gaps that typically happen during gearshifts, giving you relentless acceleration almost like an EV! You have to remind yourself this is also a luxurious family SUV.

What you might miss, though, is the distinct AMG V6 sound of the previous car. There are a lot of entertaining whirs, whooshes, pops and bangs, and a growl that’s enhanced through the sound system, but it’s not as loud or sonorous as the previous engine. It’s not as free-revving either, feeling overtly turbocharged, as is often the case with high-specific-output motors like these.

The gearbox is AMG’s now-familiar 9-speed MCT, which, as before, can be a little indecisive and clunky at low speeds but is incredibly effective in high-performance situations. Shifts here are quick and aggressive in Sport Plus or Race mode, and it responds well to tugs at the generous paddles behind the wheel, though it is reluctant to downshift at times.

Mercedes AMG GLC 43 Coupe ride and handling

The drive mode you choose plays a big part, and there are plenty to pick from. A Snow mode, which dulls power, customisable Individual, Comfort, Sport, Sport+ and even Race modes – in an SUV! These adjust engine, gearbox, steering, suspension and noise levels, and can be customised on the fly using the aforementioned steering controls.

Sport Plus and Race felt a bit too aggressive for the average Indian conditions, certainly in the monsoon, with Sport striking a nice middle ground. But it’s less the performance and, instead, the ride that you might want to keep permanently in a softer setting. Even in Comfort, the suspension setup is stiff, and while these optional 21-inch wheels look great, you might want to stick to the standard 20s for their taller tyre sidewalls. Wheel travel is not a lot, and it certainly doesn’t have the same flexibility as its air-sprung bigger sibling, the GLE 53.

The trade-off might be worth it for the handling this suspension affords, which is truly sensational. Body roll is minimal, to the point that – save for the higher driving position – it doesn’t feel too different from a C 43. This includes incredible agility, helped, no doubt, by the rear-axle steering that turns the rear wheels by 2.5 degrees; it doesn’t aid the turning circle too much at low speeds, but you will love it while hammering up a mountain road. The steering, again, might feel heavy compared to a standard GLC, but it is wonderfully sharp, direct and satisfying in the corners.

Mercedes AMG GLC 43 Coupe price and verdict

The GLC 43 is not quite as friendly a daily driver as we’d hoped, with a stiff ride, heavy steering, high-strung engine and small rear seat, but you cannot deny its potency. All that F1 tech has worked a treat to deliver exploitable, usable performance, with sportscar-like handling to match, so much that you’d question the need for a full-on AMG 63 variant in a vehicle of this size; the 43 series is meant to be the mid-range AMG, after all.

However, it’s not mid-range in price; it’s a Top End Vehicle (TEV), which, in Mercedes speak, means it will cost over Rs 1 crore. That’s because, unlike its predecessor, the new GLC 43 is a full import and packs in a lot more tech. At that price, and with the weight the AMG badge carries, there is the expectation to upgrade to a larger engine, even though the performance is considerably higher. If not for the sound, then at least for the bragging rights.

A big advantage it enjoys is that, unlike the C 43, it currently doesn’t have any direct rivals, except for maybe the petrol Porsche Macan, which is rather dated now. The new-gen BMW X3 M50 will likely come to India, but that’s at least a year away. Also, as it’s an SUV and not a sports sedan, it doesn’t come under the same kind of intense scrutiny from performance-car buyers as the C 43 does and, instead, opens up performance driving to a wider, more casual audience. Especially in the Indian context then, the AMG GLC 43 Coupé fits the role of an all-weather family sportscar incredibly well.

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2024 Mercedes AMG GLC 43 Coupe vreview