Mercedes-Benz has launched the company’s latest car in GLC series – GLC-Class SUV in India at a starting price tag of Rs. 50.7 lakh (ex-showroom Pune). The GLC-Class SUV comes in both variant – diesel and petrol. The GLC220 (diesel) costs Rs. 50.7 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune) while the GLC300 (petrol) costs Rs. 50.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Pune). Originally, the SUV first showcased at the Delhi Auto Expo and it’s a part of the Mercedes 2016 product launch plan. Mercedes India has planned to launch 12 products in 2016 and already five models launched in country excluding today’s launch. The Mercedes GLC-Class SUV will compete with BMW X3 and the Audi Q5.
Commenting on the launch, Roland Folger, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said:
“We are very excited to launch the GLC ‘Edition 1’, as it is one of the much-anticipated products in the luxury segment in India. The GLC underscores our philosophy of introducing world-class products from our global portfolio for our discerning Indian customers. We have seen a growing penchant for luxury SUVs amongst the luxury car customers in India and the addition of the GLC is going to redefine the segment completely. The GLC gives the customers a sporty, dynamic and a completely new generation SUV to opt for. We are confident that the GLC will cement Mercedes-Benz’s strong presence in the luxury SUV segment in India. The introduction of the GLC also fills the gap in our SUV portfolio, making Mercedes-Benz the luxury car manufacturer with the most extensive range of SUVs, ranging from the GLA to the iconic AMG G 63.”
Adding further, Mr. Folger said:
“The GLC is a unique and versatile SUV that embodies modern luxury, mesmerizing design elements and offers ultimate driving pleasure. The GLC is a highly capable SUV which has proven competencies on both on-road and off-road expeditions. Living up to the safety benchmark set by Mercedes-Benz; the GLC has achieved five stars, giving it the maximum score in the Euro NCAP rating. We are confident that the GLC will replicate its global success in India as well. With the GLC, we have a clear winner of a product and one that the customers have been waiting for.”
The model is imported to India as a completely build unit and will follow Mercedes India usual plans of assembling it in India. it will slot in between the compact GLA & the GLE-Class SUVs in Mercedes lineup. For your information, the Mercedes GLC started its life as the GLK and was available in the Left Hand Drive (LHD) guise. With the new generation, Mercedes GLK emerged as Mercedes GLC SUV and gets new moniker in-line with the new nomenclature & Right Hands Drive (RHD) version. If you can recall, in 2015, the company posted record sales of 13,502 units in India as against 10,201 units in 2014 which is up by 32 percent.
The design is clean and contemporary as the front gets LED headlamps which is similar to the C-Class while the rear reminds the GLE450 Coupe & AMG GT. The Mercedes-Benz GLC gets a wheelbase of 2873mm and it is more than the sedan & enhances the cabin space too. A twin-slat grille graces the front with a chrome finished faux skid plate and surrounded by a good amount of chrome.
As it is paired on the C-Class, the interior looks identical to the sedan and gets the similar equipment as well. The cabin on the Mercedes-benz features 7-inch infotainment screen which gives information like a 360-degree view of the SUV, 20 CD stereo, Garmin-based navigation, 2 USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity and much more. The boot capacity stands at 550-litres and it can be expanded further up to 1600-litres with the rear seats folded down.
Mercedes-Benz comes in both petrol and diesel engine variant on the GLC. The GLC 220d is powered by a 2143cc four-cylinder diesel motor which produces 170bhp & 400 Nm of torque. The GLC 300 petrol variant, uses a 1991 cc four-cylinder unit tuned for 245bhp and 370Nm of torque. Both the engines are paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels via the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system.
Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class SUV comes with safety features like parking assist, attention assist, adaptive brake lights, tyre-pressure monitoring system and even 7 airbags. The SUV also gets multiple driving modes and off-road settings that comprise of off-road, incline and slippery. In addition to this, you also get hill descent control as a standard feature.