The test of the Mercedes GLC Coupé 300 de 4Matic, plug-in diesel hybrid. This is the medium SUV of the House of the three-pointed Star, the one that today often chooses those who until a few years ago would have bought the C-Class: one in three, more or less, opts for this because it is taller, more practical and, in this case, also with a sportier look. Among the best-selling of the high-wheeled ones of the Stuttgart-based company, it is proposed with a very rare technical solution: a diesel engine combined with an electric one.
DESIGN AND DIMENSIONS
The German SUV was updated two years ago but with a restyling that has not upset the lines, also because when a car likes, changing it is always a big risk … The design has remained typically Mercedes, with a balanced style. In front came the “pan-American” grille, the one that opens downwards, and a new internal structure of the High Performance LED headlights.
What has changed? It has more personality and it is distinguished from the previous version for that… look, which has become one of the most characteristic features of this model: now it is more decisive and gives it a more “bad” look. Looking at it from the side, the soft lines that have decreed its success have remained. The chrome plating has also increased, and here unfortunately those who follow me and know know that I do not love them very much, but they give it an even more elegant look. In fact, they are among the few: the majority like the cars of the Star just like that.
Behind it has been retouched the style of the LED lights, now square but not too much, with an internal texture of bright squares. It changes the design of the exhausts and also the appearance of the redesigned bumpers, now a little more massive. Overall, it now has a slightly more aggressive look that, on this model, is underlined by the AMG wheels and footpegs, which are a bit offroad but also help to get on board those who are not “spilungone” like me.
Here are the dimensions: length 4,731 mm x width 1,890 mm x height 1,622 mm, with a wheelbase of 2,873 mm. It is large but not too much (maybe in the city it is not really ideal), just enough to offer good comfort on longer trips.
HABITABILITY AND INTERIOR
Even inside it is in line with what awaits us from a Mercedes of this level, it does not disappoint: the materials, finishes and assemblies are of a good level. You can see that it is made with care. On the occasion of the restyling they rejuvenated it a little, without changing it too much but where it was needed. The setting is the classic one but the arrival of the now famous MBUX has changed a few things: there is no dual tablet layout but it is proposed in a more traditional way, with the central 10.25″ infotainment monitor and that of the 12.3″ digital instrumentation, inserted in a more classic “eyelid”.
The central tunnel has also been revisited, with the arrival of the touchpad to manage infotainment as if it were a smartphone and other keys arranged in the middle of the front seats. Instead, some physical keys have disappeared, for example those to activate and deactivate some driver assistance systems, forcing you to distract yourself a little to look for them in the infotainment menu, and that’s not good. New multifunction steering wheel, which then turned out to be very effective, comfortable, there is everything at your fingertips. You just need to get used to it a bit.
There is no lack of space: in four you travel comfortably, in five so-so, but the lucky four can enjoy the comfort of the seats, in front and even behind. The trunk, with the battery of our plug-in hybrid loses some of the load capacity compared to the others in the range, but it is inevitable: almost 470 liters (in the other versions they are 500). It has a wide and flat load compartment, but it cannot be exploited in height if the overhead bin remains in place. For the needs of a family with small children, perhaps the older strollers are a bit ‘hard to make them stay, but it is forgiven with other features that increase their versatility.
There is the button to break down the seats, which are not sliding or reclining, and the tailgate is electrically operated. Fortunately, the Modo 3 cable, to recharge it at the wallbox or at public charging stations, finds its place in a small case that is put in the double bottom and does not steal space from luggage.
