2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe

The compact coupe-SUV market segment is not short on talent, and some rivals that compete with the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe on price include like-minded Europeans such as the Audi Q5 Sportback and BMW X4. Perhaps not quite of the same slope-backed coupe proportions of these is the Porsche Macan, which is nevertheless a premium contender with a driver's focus, if lacking the sports-car profile the others try to emulate. While it still cuts a dashing figure and comes with a well-appointed, tech-forward cabin, the current GLC is advanced in years now, having debuted in the USA way back in 2016; it will be replaced with a redesigned car next year. The fact that it still commands respect as a top competitor in this class is a testament to its abilities. There is only one regular GLC-Class Coupe in the range, and that's the GLC 300 4Matic, equipped with a 255-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The other trims are AMG derivatives, which we review separately. With a brand-new Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe just around the corner, is the old car still worth consideration?

In anticipation of the brand-new car due next year, the 2023 GLC-Class Coupe continues into the new model year unchanged except for one thing - the previously optional 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is now standard equipment. At the same time, the previously optional dashcam is removed from the options menu. Since we last reported on the GLC Coupe, its price has increased by $2,200.

The MSRP of the 2023 GLC Coupe is $54,700, up from last year's $52,500, and this increase is only partly accounted for by the new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, which was an optional extra at a cost of $750 last year. It also excludes the $1,150 destination fee. The GLC is fairly well-equipped out of the box, and we wouldn't bother with some of the rather frivolous and expensive exterior styling packages since it looks quite smart enough in standard format. We'd rather shore up the gaps in the standard features list and add the Multimedia package with its navigation and speed-limit assist, the Driver Assistance package with its adaptive cruise control and active lane-keep assist, and the 13-speaker Burmester audio system, taking the total price to around $60k, destination included.

Unlike more modern Mercs, the dashboard of the GLC Coupe looks a bit more old-style traditional, with its separated hooded cluster and free-standing infotainment display, in contrast to the continuous dual MBUX displays in some of the latest models. It's still very elegant, though, and no less modern, just different, with all the latest features included, while the gauge cluster is digital too. The materials are upscale, and the design is modern and attractive, so the car doesn't feel old-fashioned or outdated inside, despite its age. Satin-silver highlighting is used on the steering wheel's spokes, the five round air vents, the window controls, the door-mounted controls for the electric seats, and on various other trim pieces. Despite the$55k price tag, you have to make do with MB-Tex leatherette upholstery, but at least the front seats are heated and power-adjustable as standard.

For something with such a low-profile roofline, interior space is competitive and rear headroom is surprisingly decent, with more on offer than you'll find in an X4 or Q5 Sportback. Thanks to a 113.1-inch wheelbase, rear legroom is acceptable too, but the second row will only really be comfortable for people of shorter stature, though it's far from being the most confining in this segment.

Trunk space suffers due to the downward-sloping rear design, and the 17.6 cu-ft of trunk volume is hardly any bigger than the trunk of the average sedan, never mind an SUV. It's all the more disappointing considering it's also behind the Q5 Sportback and X4, despite their similarly rakish profiles. It's a practical space, though, and you get a lockable under-floor storage compartment in the trunk for smaller items, a side cargo net, and chromed tie-down hooks. The rear seats power-fold in a 40/20/40 split to liberate a maximum of 49.4 cu-ft.

In the cabin, stowage is well catered for, and passengers get access to a glovebox, lidded center-console storage, a place to store your phone (but a wireless charging function costs extra), and large front door pockets with molded bottle holders. The rear passengers get door pockets and cupholders too.

In total, there are five interior colors on offer for the GLC Coupe. You don't get leather upholstery as standard, with MB-Tex leatherette the default choice in black, Silk Beige/black, or Magma Grey/black. You get upgraded to AMG Line MB-Tex at no cost if you take the AMG Line package with ($3,100) or without ($2,700) the Night package, in black, Saddle Brown, or Cranberry Red/black. This is also accompanied by an AMG Line interior that includes sports front seats, a sports steering wheel, and brushed stainless-steel pedals. Black leather is a standalone option at $1,620, but AMG Line leather again requires either of the two AMG Line packages and can be had in black, Saddle Brown, or Cranberry Red/black. The default wood trim is natural-grain Walnut wood, but three no-cost options are available, namely dark-brown Linden wood, natural-grain Grey Oak wood, or a natural-grain black Ash wood/aluminum combination. The steering wheel is trimmed in leather as standard, while the dashtop can be finished in stitched leatherette for $350.

The basic features list is fairly generous and includes a power tilting/sliding sunroof, rear privacy glass, a power liftgate, keyless entry and go, heated power front seats with driver's memory, a garage-door opener, a three-spoke steering wheel with touch-control buttons, dual-zone climate control, remote start, and power-folding rear seats. The front seats can be ventilated for $450, while heating can be specified for the rear seats ($580) and steering wheel ($250).

The MBUX infotainment system comes with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, "Hey, Mercedes" keyword activation, voice commands, Bluetooth audio streaming, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, front and rear USB-C ports, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and a six-speaker FrontBass audio system. MBUX can also be controlled via the console-mounted touchpad controller. Optionally available are navigation with augmented video (part of the $1,300 Multimedia package that also includes live traffic information and speed-limit assist), a head-up display ($1,100), a wireless charging pad ($200), the MBUX Interior Assistant ($250), and a 13-speaker Burmester surround-sound audio system ($850).

The engine of the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder with 255 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, and the only drivetrain configuration available is a nine-speed automatic transmission and 4Matic all-wheel drive. The outputs are average for the class, and performance is swift, but all its competitors are quicker in a straight line, with the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe's 0-60 sprint of 6.2 seconds now anything from 0.2 to 0.5 seconds adrift of its natural rivals. Top speed is of academic importance in an SUV, but it's limited to 135 mph, for what it's worth. Trailering is rather more important, and here again, it's rather middling, with a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, 900 pounds less than the Audi Q5 Sportback.

Handling is perfectly adequate and, for a normal SUV, certainly above average, with a pleasingly sharp turn-in, plenty of grip, and little body roll. The problem is that the sports-car aspirations of the fastback body raise expectations - and the GLC Coupe doesn't handle like a coupe, but instead like a capable and well-sorted SUV. The fact that the driving manners don't match the appearance will mean little to some, but it has to be said the BMW X4 feels appreciably sportier to pilot. Understeer is the eventual result of pressing on too hard, and the rather numb steering reminds you that this is, after all, just a GLC SUV in drag. Still, considering its age, it acquits itself well around corners, even if it fails to set your pants on fire. More importantly, it remains comfortable and quiet, even on indifferent surfaces, not sacrificing refinement for cornering prowess. The nine-speed automatic rarely puts a foot wrong, and the plentiful low-rev torque means the car does not feel flat-footed when booting it out of a corner.

The mpg figures of the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe are no longer competitive in its class. With EPA estimates of 20/26/22 mpg for the city/highway/combined cycles, its gas mileage now lags well behind the competition, with the BMW X4 xDrive30 returning 24 mpg combined and the Audi Q5 Sportback quattro 25 mpg. With a fuel capacity of 17.4 gallons, a range of 383 miles should be possible on a full tank.

There isn't a safety review of the Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe, but the structurally similar 2022 GLC SUV has been tested by both the NHTSA and IIHS, with exemplary results, getting five stars overall at the NHTSA and for all tests except the rollover test, for which it was awarded four stars - a typical SUV result. The IIHS gave the 2022 GLC SUV a Top Safety Pick award. The Coupe should be similarly safe.

Standard safety features aren't as comprehensive as we'd have wished at this price, and while you get driver assists such as driver-alertness monitoring, Merc's Pre-Safe system, a surround-view camera, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, automatic parking, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, forward-collision warning, and automatic brake initiation as standard, we're a bit surprised that full automatic braking and adaptive cruise control are not included as well. These two features, along with active lane-keep and blind-spot assist, lane-change assist, evasive steering assist, speed-limit assist, and various other features, are part of the optional $1,700 Driver Assistance package, while a $1,100 head-up display also costs extra. Of course, the essential federally mandated safety features such as airbags (seven, in this case), ABS, stability control, a backup camera, and tire-pressure monitoring are all fitted. However, side-impact airbags for the rear seats are not - and will cost you $700.

JD Power gives the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe a Quality & Reliability rating of 81 out of 100, which is good enough to beat all its mentioned rivals except the X4. Recent years' recall stats also read well, with only a single recall applicable so far to both 2022 and 2023 GLC Coupes - both for a fuel-pump shutdown that can cause a loss of drive power. It's a big improvement over the 2021 GLC Coupe, which was recalled eight times, not only for the same fuel-pump issue but also for a range of other problems, including headlight failure, a faulty eCall system, loose crash sensors, and an inoperative rearview camera, amongst others.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe's warranty cover is valid for four years/50,000 miles - with the same terms applying to the powertrain warranty. No complimentary servicing or maintenance is included.

Despite being an SUV, the GLC-Class Coupe is not an exercise in practicality but in style. To this end, the rakish profile is dynamic and sporty, with a rear end dramatically sloping away and frameless doors like a sports car. This has an impact on both its cargo capacity and rear passenger space, but buyers are no doubt already aware of these shortcomings and are likely to buy the Coupe mostly on looks. The GLC-Class Coupe rides on five-spoke 19-inch alloys with gray accents, and any of three 20-inch designs can be specified, but only in conjunction with the AMG Line package and other extras such as leather upholstery for several thousand dollars extra. Automatic LED headlights, LED taillights, rear privacy glass, and a power tilting/sliding sunroof are all standard. The AMG Line exterior styling package adds 20-inch alloys, a chrome diamond-block grille, and AMG body styling, while adding the Night package to this blacks out the exterior trim as well. Various options to personalize the exterior include an illuminated grille emblem, aluminum running boards, LED logo projectors, a black or body-color rear decklid spoiler, and additional front chrome trim.

We'd give the 2023 GLC-Class Coupe a miss. The GLC SUV was completely redesigned for the 2023 model year and is a class-leading product, pointing the way for the Coupe, which will similarly be brand-new next year, and showing off the relative age of the current model by comparison. The fact that you pay more for the old Coupe than the new SUV adds insult to injury. It's not the most practical either, with a small trunk, while its driving dynamics don't match its sporty looks. You'll do better with the Q5 Sportback or the sportier X4 - or wait for the brand-new 2024 GLC Coupe.