Mercedes-Benz's all-new GLC SUV in India by mid-2016

Here’s the first official look at Mercedes-Benz’ BMW X3 and Audi Q5 challenger – the GLC SUV. The GLC SUV replaces the not-sold-in-India Mercedes-Benz GLK. The GLC’s predecessor, the GLK, was never engineered for right-hand drive, costing the German luxury carmaker valuable sales in a burgeoning area of the market.

The new car will fill that gap. It’s based on the latest C-Class platform – Merc’s Modular Rear Architecture – but features a longer wheelbase than the small executive saloon. The GLC’s chief target is clearly the X3, with Merc’s offering being just 1mm shorter than the BMW, and 9mm wider. It is considerably lower, though.

Despite their similar lengths, the GLC’s wheelbase is 60mm longer than the X3’s. You notice this in the rear cabin, where there’s enough space for four grown-ups to sit in comfort. Headroom and legroom are especially ample.

Globally, the Mercedes-Benz GLC will be offered with two diesel engine options at launch. The 2.1-litre M274 diesel motor will be available in two states of tune – 168bhp for the GLC 220d and 201bhp for the GLC 250d. Both engines will be mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox and will have four-wheel drive as standard. Mercedes is also readying a plug-in hybrid version of the GLC badged the GLC 350e. It will come with a 208bhp petrol engine and a 114bhp electric motor.

There will also be an AMG-tuned variant later on as well, the GLC 450 AMG Sport, with a twin-turbo V6 petrol engine and maybe even a full-blown Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 with the same twin-turbo V8 engine as the upcoming Mercedes-AMG C 63 sedan.

Internationally, two different steel-sprung chassis setups will be on offer on the new Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV – Comfort and a stiffer-sprung Sport setup; expect a version of the former to make it to the Indian car. Air suspension will be offered as an option, and on this version will come the additional option of an off-road pack, with ride height that can be raised or lowered. 

The new Mercedes GLC shares the general look and feel of its interior with the C-Class sedan, and that includes its flowing, single-piece wooden centre console, rotary air vents, hooded instrument binnacle, touchpad, and the latest version of the COMAND Online onboard computer.

Mercedes-Benz will launch the new GLC SUV in the Indian market in the second half of 2016.