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Tested: This 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Is as Quick as a Mustang

Strange, but true: A 255-hp Mercedes small luxury SUV could match a 310-hp Mustang muscle car in a drag race. OK, speed isnt the top priority of 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 buyers, but clearly this 2017 SUV of the Year still has tricks up its automotive sleeve. In fact, the updated-for-2020 GLC 300 smokes all but one of its competitors to 60 mph in MotorTrend testing. Thats cool, but can the GLC keep up with the class in more important luxury SUV metrics? The GLC may look the same as it always has, but Mercedes best-selling model enters 2020 with minor visual updates, standard LED headlights, a 10.3-inch infotainment screen on every model, and 14 more horsepower. We never felt the pre-update GLC needed more power, but the new 2020 model feels responsive even when youre not testing its 5.4-second 060 time. As we noted in our First Drive , thats not just true from a stop but with midrange power, too. The 2020 GLC 300 is the latest in a growing list of base-engine cars that makes leaping to a more powerful model harder to justify. The GLC 43 and GLC 63 may entice some, but the GLC 300 will satisfy most leadfooted drivers even if it doesnt sound all that appealing. --> And that brings us to one of the 2020 GLC 300s performance issues. Every now and then, the Mercedes would emit an unrefined grumbling noise during acceleration at low speeds. Just like the turbo-fours of a few competitors, the GLC 300s engine can be a little clattery at idle, as wellat one point, my husband asked if the Mercedes was a diesel. Hard to argue with that swift acceleration, however, or its superb panic-braking test results. Braking from 60 mph in just 110 feet, the 2020 GLC 300 stops short of its competitionand we mean that in the best possible way. Associate road test editor Erick Ayapana noted that the GLC had good brake feel and decent bite from its summer tires. Those tires helped provide a competitive figure-eight time of 26.4 seconds at 0.64 g (average), too. Unique to MotorTrend, the figure-eight course measures limit cornering, braking, and acceleration plus the transitions in between. After road test editor Chris Walton tore around the course, he complimented how stable and trustworthy the GLC was under braking but said he could have used more feedback from the steering. Those impressions hold true on the street, but those seeking a more luxurious experience may appreciate the subtle sense of isolation it provides. On the track, Walton said the GLC's AWD system does a great job of putting the power to the pavement as you're exiting a turn. When driven on a closed course with the right steering input, he found that this luxury SUV can be coaxed into a crazy controlled four-wheel drift. The GLC 300s EPA-rated fuel economy of 2122/2829 mpg is in line with many others in the segment. If you have extra cash and want greater efficiency, look for hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the GLC, Lexus NX , Audi Q5 , BMW X3 , and Volvo XC60 . Riding on attractive 20-inch wheels, our GLC 300 tester rode just like a C 300 sedan we tested last year : firm but not brittle. Im not sure Id have the willpower to avoid selecting one of Mercedes 20-inch wheel options, but sticking with 18s or 19s might yield a slightly softer ride. No matter which option you choose, watch out for the engine stop/start system on slight inclines. Although the system is admirably unobtrusive, the car unsettlingly rolled back a tad on hills before reengaging. More sensitive drivers and passengers may also occasionally notice that the nine-speed automaticwhich otherwise provides smart responseshas trouble bringing the car to a stop smoothly. It may sound like were nitpicking here, but that becomes acceptable when youre paying as much as $55,000 or more for a well-equipped small luxury SUV. Our tester carried an MSRP of just under $52,000, which doesnt sound too bad in this class before you consider it lacked a sunroof of any kind, ventilated front seats, real leather seats, Mercedes comprehensive active safety package (beyond the already standard automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring), or a 360-degree camera system. Most small luxury SUVs also lack one or two choice options at this price, but the one with the three-pointed star is definitely on the pricey end of the segment. On the practical side of the SUV picture, the 2020 GLC 300 gets a passing grade. The Mercedes will swallow 19.4 cubic feet of your stuff with the rear seats in place. Thats probably enough for most buyers but less than many competitors offerthe Acura RDX can handle a startling 50 percent more cargo behind its rear seats. Fold down the GLCs rear seats using convenient pull tabs in the cargo area, and the Mercedes will accommodate 56.5 cubic feet of goods. Thats no better than Mercedes own GLB, a smaller SUV that boasts more cargo space with two rows of seats in place. The GLB cant compete with the GLC on looks or interior noise levels, but they both share infotainment issues. With the GLC, its most glaring issue is the sad way the standard 10.3-inch touchscreen displays Apple CarPlay. With CarPlay centered in the display, theres tons of wasted space on the edges showing almost nothing but the inside-air temperature. Beyond some of the criticisms weve made against Mercedes latest infotainment controls on recent models, this one is most frustrating for a CarPlay fan like myself. We hope Mercedes can figure out an alternate solution in the future. The Lexus NX shows CarPlay across the entirety of its 10.3-inch display, and even though the Acura RDXs solution needs work , it smartly adopts a split-screen approach with its 10.2-inch display. What potential buyers are more likely to notice in the showroom is how everything in the cabin feels like its built to a high standardyou know, exactly what most of us expect from the Mercedes brand. Finding the inside-air circulation button requires extra time while youre driving (the up/down button looks like all the other up/down toggle buttons), but theres no mistaking that dash as belonging to a luxury car. One quick note, though: We wish the inside of the door pullssomething you feel every time you close the doorwere covered in a soft material, but Lexus has a better handle on that detail. Despite a handful of issues, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 remains competitive in a crowded segment. Years removed from its SUV of the Year win, the GLC has grown a few warts, but every small luxury SUV in this class has imperfections. If a top luxury badge is important and you like the idea of driving a surprisingly quick SUV ( this is the other 5.4-second competitor ), give the GLC 300 a try. The Mercedes has room for improvement, but its well-rounded performance overall makes it worth considering. 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 (4Matic SUV) BASE PRICE $45,495 PRICE AS TESTED $51,820 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV ENGINE 2.0L/255-hp/273-lb-ft turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4 TRANSMISSION 9-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 3,893 lb (52/48%) WHEELBASE 113.1 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 183.8 x 74.8 x 65.5 in 0-60 MPH 5.4 sec QUARTER MILE 14.1 sec @ 97.9 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 110 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.88 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 26.4 sec @ 0.66 g (avg) REAL MPG, CITY/HWY/COMB 25.4/33.0/28.3 mpg EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON 21/28/24 mpg ENERGY CONS, CITY/HWY 160/120 kW-hrs/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB 0.82 lb/mile The post Tested: This 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Is as Quick as a Mustang appeared first on MotorTrend .

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/mercedes-benz/glc-class/2020/2020-mercedes-benz-glc300-first-test-review-small-luxury-suv/

 

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