Mercedes-Benz has been selling the GLC in big numbers for years, so when the company says it has re-engineered the mid-size luxury SUV from the ground up as an EV, it's worth paying attention. The GLC, of course, introduced a decade ago, has been the German brand’s global bestseller last year with 64,163 units sold in the U.S. alone, a 58 percent jump year over year. It again leads the pack through much of the first half of 2025 with strong sales, and that track record is why this electric version matters so much.
It also comes at a moment of heightened competition in this highly lucrative segment for automakers, as the GLC EV arrives hot on the heels of BMW’s all-electric iX3, which debuts the Neue Klasse era, unveiled a few days ahead of the IAA Mobility show in Munich, Germany. While BMW showcased the iX3 first on Friday, Mercedes has been teasing its new GLC for several weeks now. We saw the redesigned illuminated grille over a month ago, then the interior with its 39.1-inch Hyperscreen just yesterday. Now, with the full reveal staged for Munich, Mercedes has put all the pieces together.
One of the big highlights is the design, in line with the brand’s Sensual Purity design language, first seen on the next-gen CLA concept. The new GLC debuts Mercedes’ updated front end, with a boxier illuminated grille and three-pointed star, framed in chrome with 942 pixelated LED dots laid out in horizontal slats that convey width.
Mercedes says this will become the new face of all its upcoming electric models, an attempt to carve out a recognizable and traditional identity as the brand transitions away from combustion. What you make of this new front-end is subjective, but compared to earlier EQ designs, it’s more upright and stately. The Digital Light micro-LED headlights with the three-pointed star motif are another upgrade, offering 50 percent more efficiency and a broader beam that swivels dynamically with cornering. The rear features a distinctive blacked-out panel with four circular LEDs that house more three-pointed stars.
When it comes to performance, Mercedes will offer multiple electric GLCs. The GLC 400 4MATIC packs a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup with 483 horsepower and 596 pound-feet of torque, good for 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The GLC 300+ runs a single rear motor making 369 horsepower and 372 pound-feet, hitting 60 in 5.9 seconds. Both employ a 94 kWh battery pack on the new MB.EA platform with an 800-volt system, with charging maxing out at 330 kW, adding about 160-188 miles in 10 minutes. European WLTP range tops out at 443 miles, with EPA estimates closer to 376 miles for the AWD version.
For comparison, the gas-powered GLC 300 4MATIC makes 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet from its 2.0-liter turbo four. It’ll hit 60 mph in 6.2 seconds and return 25/32 mpg city/highway. Its range with a 17.4-gallon tank is around 490 miles, but it can’t match the EV’s torque or towing ability. The GLC 400 4MATIC is rated for 5,291 pounds of towing, whereas gas models max out at 3,500 pounds, so the EV is the stronger choice if towing matters. However, you will have to consider the impact of towing on the overall range.
Mercedes also lets you reserve charging spots at some stations through its MB.CHARGE app. You’ll also get bidirectional charging, meaning it can power your home or even send energy back to the grid if you have the right setup. Adaptive air suspension borrowed from the S-Class and rear-axle steering should make it feel smaller in tight spaces. Off-road, a transparent hood view stitches camera feeds together to reveal obstacles, paired with a TERRAIN mode that adapts steering, drive, and brakes for gravel.
The new One-Box braking system blends regen and friction seamlessly, recovering energy in over 99 percent of stops. If you live in colder weather, you will appreciate the standard heat pump, which uses waste heat to warm the cabin efficiently.
Step inside, and the big highlight is that aforementioned, pillar-to-pillar 39.1-inch Hyperscreen that stretches across the dash. It uses more than 1,000 LEDs and patent-pending backlight tech that can dim in zones, keeping critical info visible without glare. Temperature and climate changes even trigger color flashes in the vents. Above, the optional SKY CONTROL panoramic roof can switch between clear and opaque in nine zones. At night, 162 illuminated stars turn the ceiling into a light show.
The infotainment runs on MB.OS, Mercedes’ new AI-driven operating system, with chips capable of 254 trillion operations per second. Over-the-air updates should keep it fresh. Practical touches include up to two wireless charging trays, tactile hard-key controls, and a vegan-certified cabin. The seats carry AGR ergonomic certification, and Mercedes has reintroduced rollers and rockers for volume and cruise control after criticism of haptic-only inputs. Wellness features go further with ENERGIZING Comfort programs that now integrate with 3D and 4D animations.
Also, as an EV, the wheelbase has now increased by 3.3 inches, freeing up an extra 1.8 inches of rear legroom and nearly two inches of rear headroom. Cargo capacity is up to 20.1 cubic feet, opening to 61.4 cubic feet with the seats down. You also get a front trunk with 4.5 cubic feet of storage. The gas-powered GLC 300, meanwhile, offers 19.4 cubic feet behind the second row and 56.5 with the seats folded, and no frunk. Safety is equally ambitious: the MB.DRIVE suite ties together 10 cameras, 5 radars, and 12 ultrasonic sensors into an MB.OS, with all active safety systems standard and updates available later via over-the-air software updates.
So if you’re shopping midsize luxury EVs, the GLC looks like a solid contender. Compared with BMW’s iX3, the Mercedes offers more range and space, though the BMW should undercut it on simplicity and price, expected to start at $60,000. Compared to Audi’s Q6 e-tron, which starts at $63,800, the GLC leans into comfort, while Audi shares its bones with the Porsche Macan Electric, underpinned by the versatile PPE platform. Volvo’s EX60, due soon, will compete on sustainability, but likely most won’t match the GLC’s towing or rear-axle steering. Mercedes hasn’t announced U.S. pricing, but expect the base model GLC 400 4MATIC to start north of $70,000.
Finally, it’s also worth remembering why European automakers keep pushing EVs even as U.S. demand has slowed. Strict emissions rules at home and the rise of Chinese brands like BYD and Nio make electrification non-negotiable. For Mercedes, BMW, and Audi, the fight isn’t just with Tesla now, as it's now about holding ground against a new wave of competition.
Source: Mercedes-Benz
