A Coupe version of a flash Merc SUV

Introduction

It used to be that SUVs-turned Coupes were an oddity, something reserved for the fussy crowd that simply must have a “Victoria Beckham-designed” Range Rover Evoque. And some may still argue that the age old saying, a camel is a horse designed by committee, comes into play here.

But over the last few years, Coupes with SUV DNA have become increasingly commonplace. Following the success of the likes of the Evoque and BMW X4, SUV Coupes have become a must for many manufacturers, in a similar way to the crossover hype.

The Mercedes GLC Coupe looks to challenge the aforementioned models and offers those who’ve fallen in love with luxurious Merc SUVs something a little sportier to ponder. There’s a sloped back-end, standard fit sports suspension and a Christmas list of optional extras.

But can the GLC Coupe serve up added style and replicate the German carmaker’s supreme quality?

Performance

There are two 2.1-litre diesel engines to choose from in the GLC Coupe – the 220d and the 250d. We tested the latter, more powerful 250d derivative with an output of 201bhp.

This 2.1-litre diesel may be rather old now, but it stills delivers ample performance with a hefty 500Nm of torque and a zero to 62mph sprint time of just 7.6 seconds. And that sprint time feels fast too.

The nine-speed automatic gearbox it comes mated to is responsive as well, smoothly shifting its way up the gears, even under harsh acceleration.

Ride and Handling

The air suspension really is a must if you want to get the most out of the GLC Coupe.

A lot of the GLC Coupe’s mannerisms on the road are dependent on whether you go for the optional air suspension set-up. As all GLC Coupe models come fitted with a lowered and stiffened sports suspension as standard, the ride can be rather firm – not ideal if you’re after trademark Mercedes comfort. However, opt for the £1,500 air suspension and the GLC Coupe becomes much more compliant with changing road conditions.

Constantly adapting to lumps and bumps in the road, the GLC’s Air Body Control air suspension delivers a series of adaptable driving modes that alter the firmness of the ride, weighting of the steering and throttle responsiveness, so you can have the best of both worlds when it comes to sportiness and comfort.

Throw the switch into Sports mode and the GLC offers greater body control in the corners. Alternatively, if you’re finding the ride too firm, change to Comfort mode for a more serene driving experience. The air suspension really is a must if you want to get the most out of the GLC Coupe.

Aside to its suspension, the GLC Coupe’s 4Matic permanent all-wheel drive system aids composure too, offering abundant grip and finesse when cornering. Think of it as an agility-enhancement in the bends rather than a tool for mud-plugging.

The only real area where the GLC Coupe lets itself down is the steering. Although the steering is responsive and offers enough feel for eager drivers, it doesn’t feel as entertaining or flexible as something like a Jaguar F-PACE. Also, the steering has a strange lightness to it at a three-quarter turn – not ideal when blasting through bends at speed.

Refinement all-round is great, with wind and road noise hushed even at motorway speeds. The ageing, grouchy diesel engine is rather vocal however, particularly around town, but it mellows at motorway speeds.

Did you know?

The optional fragrance package in the Mercedes GLC Coupe comes with a sleeve of handheld perfumes.

Interior And Equipment

Inside, the GLC Coupe offers a familiar Mercedes set-up, with a smart, minimalistic layout of buttons that revolves around a large centrally-mounted infotainment screen. The only real network of buttons to speak of is the climate control strip along the fascia of the centre console. The quality of the materials used all-round are impressive, with chrome, leather and ash wood look aplenty. There is a slight whiff of cheaper materials, although most of these won’t compute as they are tucked away.

The heart of the car’s tech is the dual controller system mounted on the centre console. With both a rotary dial and a touchpad – as well as a multitude of shortcut buttons surrounding them – it can take a while to get used to and is not as intuitive as BMW’s iDrive system.

Equipment wise however, the GLC Coupe is top draw, with everything from a large, detailed TFT display behind the steering wheel, to a 360-degree parking camera, and a comprehensive sat-nav system to quirks like self-tightening seat belts. There are a few interesting optional extras too, including a glovebox fragrance flask, which emits a scent throughout the car, and a brilliant Burmester sound system, which comes with in-depth menus to manipulate its sounds.

Storage compartments are aplenty too, with two large centre console cubbies and good-sized door bins.

Although the Coupe’s USP is a chiselled rear design, there is still plenty of space inside for rear passengers, with enough head and leg room, even for tall passengers. The leather seats in the rear are lovely and comfortable too and make long journeys more tolerable.

The rear seats manage to fold completely flat via a simple switch which is located in both the rear seats and boot. And speaking of the boot, with 500 litres of storage space on offer, it is highly flexible and even has lockable under floor storage. There is, however, a high loading lip, which makes loading heavy objects a bit tricky.

Cost

Fuel economy wise, the GLC Coupe is impressive, with an average of 50mpg certainly being achievable and CO2 is quoted at just 143g/km.

The premium of having the rakish GLC Coupe over the SUV is around £5,000, coming out at an entry price of around £41,000 – or over £50,000 for our highly-specced AMG Line model with the likes of its optional air suspension (£1,500), Burmester sound system (£1,800) and fancy glovebox air freshener (£350).

Even the base model GLC Coupe is a large chunk more expensive than its key rivals, irrespective of optional extras. But when you start to price up those rivals, things start to balance out higher up the spectrum, so depending on what optional extras you are likely to go for, it may end up balancing itself out.

Fuel economy wise, the GLC Coupe is impressive, with an average of 50mpg certainly being achievable and CO2 is quoted at just 143g/km.

Our Verdict

The GLC Coupe does exactly what a Mercedes should do – and then some. It has a luxurious interior, gorgeous exterior, comfortable drive and comes with arguably unnecessary, but nevertheless intriguing, options.

Its high list price is likely to put some people off, but those who want the prestige of the Mercedes badge will probably find solace in its slightly unachievable affordability.