Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class vs Alfa Romeo Stelvio

What's the difference?

The GLC43 will inevitably remain one of AMG's more popular models, given Australian apetites for performance cars and the popularity of the mid-size SUV segment.

While the GLC doesn’t move the game forward massively aside from its new engine - which is a huge plus for the SUV - BMW has a new generation of X3 on the way, which will undoubtedly feature a performance variant.

And keen drivers should keep in mind that Porsche’s impressive Macan SUV is available in sharp-driving variants like the GTS for not much more, or even an S for notably less. And chances are, they’ll be more satisfied on a winding or twisty road. However stock of the ICE Macan will run out soon.

But the AMG offers a balance between convenience, comfort, and performance that will suit plenty of customers, rather than excelling in one particular area.

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio Veloce is the car you get when you want a sports car but happen to have a kid or two. Its ride comfort is on the lower end but it has heaps of power and enough features that it manages to slide into its price tag without feeling too cheeky. The back seat’s size will limit this to smaller families, though. And I would prefer to see better tech at this grade level, so this gets a 7.1/10 from me.

My son didn’t spend much time in this one but he liked the red paintwork. My mum, however, loved the power and sexy packaging. She gives it an 8/10.

The AMG GLC43, as you’d expect, has a few immediate give-aways that it’s no regular GLC300.

The vertical grille slats, the lower part of the apron featuring covered-up intake-style designs, and a different set of 20-inch AMG wheels are the easiest things to spot.

But the aforementioned Night pack, which adds black trim to the performance SUV, as well as the quad-exit exhaust tips instead of dual-exit on the GLC300 might be the most quantifiable way to explain the differences to the uninitiated.

In terms of dimensions, the GLC43 is now 67mm longer for the SUV, or 43mm longer in Coupe form. Both have an 11mm wider wheel track, and a 15mm longer wheelbase.

Inside, it’s quite similar to the 300, save for the AMG steering wheel and elements like the contrast stitching in the leather upholstery.

While other - especially more luxury-focused - Mercedes models have moved to a new interior design language with features like the Superscreen or Hyperscreen spanning the dash, the GLC’s interior still looks and feels suitably premium, and hasn’t dated much since being introduced.

The same can be said for its exterior, following relatively small changes over the still good-looking previous generation.

While the Veloce has had a facelift, the changes are so minor I would dare to ask, why bother?

The daytime running light signature has been tweaked but only die-hard Stelvio fans will notice it. I do like the larger 12.3-inch digital instrument display but surprisingly the multimedia screen remains on the smaller side at 8.8 inches.

Otherwise, there’s no denying the Veloce looks like an Alfa Romeo, staying true to its Italian heritage. It’s solid, with a 1903mm wide stance, but so robust that it moves away from words like 'sleek' or 'sexy'.

The black grille, 20-inch alloy wheels and red brake calipers make it look sports car mean and hint at what's under the bonnet.

The interior looks well made and it's got a bat cave element with the black headliner and panoramic sunroof. There's a plethora of soft touchpoints throughout and the circular air-vents found in both rows add some flair.

Overall, though, the interior is understated and if you’re looking for something as flashy as the exterior, you may be disappointed.

The GLC’s interior feels more spacious than in its predecessor, and its ergonomics have been improved a little with the removal of elements like the touchpad control for the multimedia.

The software itself is quite easy to use on the touchscreen itself, removing the need for a physical control, and it’s rather customisable. 

Users are able to even adjust what order the drive modes appear in, and change what the two AMG Dynamic Select control dials on the steering wheel display or change.

The wheel itself is comfortable to hold, but its two-tier rows of controls and the lack of distinct physical buttons is a downside.

There is however plenty of storage, the central cubby and glovebox have space for all your assorted bits and pieces, and the door cards are able to accommodate even the biggest of bottles.

In terms of seats and comfort, the GLC’s cabin doesn’t feel cramped at all, with the seat itself supportive and adjustable to an impressive extent.

Space in the second row is comfortable rather than massively generous, but feels more spacious thanks to plenty of light via the sunroof.

The Coupe’s rear seat also does a decent job of accommodating average-heighted adults.

Behind that, 620L of boot space in the SUV and 545L in the Coupe are 40 and 45 litres more than the previous models, respectively.

The front row benefits the most in terms of space and features. I have stacks of headroom and legroom in the front seat and didn’t feel like I was too close to my passenger this week.

I like the comfortable electric seats and the fact you can adjust the side bolsters and under-thigh support.

Individual storage options are on the slim side throughout the car and it was something my mum and I found annoying on our road trip because there aren’t a lot of spots to put your little items up front. Think snacks, sunglasses, lip balm etc.

The two cupholders are really drink bottle holders because they’re too large to fit a small takeaway cup without popping the lid off but I like the large storage bins in each front door.

It's a tight squeeze in the back seat for my 168cm (5'6") height and that’s behind my driving position! It could feel a tad cramped back there for those with longer legs.

It’s also a bit awkward getting in and out of the back seat because of the large wheel arches.

The storage bins in the doors are too small to hold a drink bottle but the middle armrest has two cupholders and a phone holder.

Charging options are fantastic up front with two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, a 12-volt socket and a wireless charging pad to choose from. You even get an 'aux' jack, too.

The amenities in the back seat are okay and you get a couple of net map pockets, reading lights, a USB-A and C port, as well as directional air vents.

This Alfa has a no-nonsense approach with the other tech, though. I usually don’t mind that but the touchscreen multimedia system is a little too no-nonsense for this spec-level.

I found it to be laggy and too small. It also regularly turned itself off and rebooted. This happened a few times while needing satellite navigation directions, which was annoying.

Also on the sat nav, you can’t search for a general name of something, like a business, you have to input an address which meant using my iPhone anyway. It’s great that you get wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though.

The digital instrument panel looks upmarket but isn’t properly customisable and I was disappointed the ambient lighting package only meant that there are lights in the footwells and a tiny overhead light. Adding some extra lighting would have transformed the night-time driving experience.

The boot is the highlight for me because you get a decent capacity at 499L. The load space is level and I like the back row's 40/20/40 split-fold. We had plenty of room on our road trip for luggage and shopping.

You get a temporary spare tyre and a retractable cargo blind. The latter is stiff enough to double as a shelf which is handy and a handsfree powered tailgate comes standard, as well.

There are three models for the Stelvio and ours is the mid-spec Veloce grade, which will cost you $82,950, before on-road costs. The pricing should make it competitive compared to its rivals but the features list isn’t as robust as it could be.

The interior gets most of the big-ticket items with leather upholstered sports front seats, extended leather trim on the doors and dashboard as well as a heated steering wheel.

Both front seats are electric with six-way power adjustment, powered side bolsters and four-way adjustable lumbar support. They also feature a heat function and extendable under-thigh support.

The luxury items continue with the panoramic sunroof, real aluminium accents throughout and a premium Harman Kardon sound system that boasts 14 speakers.

Other standard features include full LED adaptive 'Matrix' headlights, aluminium sports pedals, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, push-button start and a handsfree powered tailgate.

It's the technology that lets the Stelvio down but I'll go into that later.

This is where the AMG version of the GLC really outshines the ‘standard’ GLC300, and starts to justify the extra ask over its $103,370 sticker price.

Like the GLC300, the AMG GLC43 has a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission sending drive to all four wheels.

But unlike the 300, the AMG GLC43 borrows its engine from the likes of the AMG A45S, the M139 engine which puts out 310kW and 500Nm thanks to some seriously impressive engineering - and a lot of turbo pressure.

AMG’s one builder, one engine policy (they call it “One Man, One Engine”) means each engine in a GLC43 has been built by a sole expert engineer who has been certified to a high degree.

A 48-volt ‘mild-hybrid’ system is also present in the GLC43, which helps keep the turbocharger spinning (at up to 175,000rpm) to be more responsive, eliminating turbo lag.

The nine-speed auto is also slightly higher-tech than the GLC300’s, a wet start-off clutch replaces the traditional torque converter, which AMG says is lighter and more responsive - also featuring a double de-clutch function for faster shifts.

The AMG Performance version of the 4MATIC all-wheel drive system permanently diverts power to all four wheels with a 31 to 69 per cent front-rear distribution.

Mercedes-AMG claims the GLC43 is able to hit 100km/h from stand-still in just 4.8 seconds.

For reference, the old GLC43 (with a turbocharged inline six) made 287kW/520Nm and was a 4.9sec to 100km/h car.

The Veloce has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine that gives a maximum power output of 206kW and 400Nm of torque. It’s an all-wheel drive and has an eight-speed auto transmission which is very smooth. 

Checking out the specs I didn’t think this would be as powerful as it is. But it’s really fun when you need to put your foot down! I mean, it can go from 0-100km/h in just 5.7 seconds.

Mercedes-Benz says the AMG GLC43 consumes 9.7 litres for every 100km travelled in an SUV, or 9.9L/100km in the Coupe version, We were unable to properly test both of these figures on the launch.

Both have the same 62-litre fuel tank, and require premium RON 98 fuel.

CO2 emissions are rated at 219g/km for the SUV and 223g/km for the Coupe.

On test, after an hour of driving the GLC43 quite dynamically, the fuel consumption displayed on the trip computer sat around 15L/100km, so regular driving is sure to return a figure closer to Mercedes’ claim.

The official combined cycle fuel economy figure is 7.0L/100km and my real-world usage came to 8.4L/100km.

I drove our test model hard but did A LOT of open road driving - 2051km to be exact - so I was happy with the average but I would expect it to be higher in the city.

Based on the official combined cycle number and 64L fuel tank, you theoretically should be able to get a driving range of around 914km but my real-world tests see that figure come in closer to 700km.

Alfa Romeo recommends a minimum 95 RON petrol be used for the Stelvio.

A long drive loop that consisted of limited sections of tight twisty roads meant getting to know the GLC in an intimately dynamic sense proved tricky, but what stands out about the mid-size SUV from Affalterbach is how much its ability in cornering belies its size.

The rear-wheel steering makes a big difference for the otherwise sizeable SUV, and even though the it weighs 1976kg (53kg more than before; the Coupe is 94kg heavier than before at 1998kg), the 4MATIC all-wheel drive keeps the GLC’s purchase on the road in check.

Suspension is relatively stiff for a family SUV even in Comfort, though adjustable, as one of the many aspects able to be customised through the multimedia screen menu or even steering wheel dials.

Steering itself can be adjusted, though is probably fine to leave in Comfort depending on personal preference.

But the hero of this - and any - AMG is the engine, and the M139 works surprisingly well in the big GLC.

Where it turns the A-Class hatchback into a proper supercar fighter, it makes the GLC a relatively muscular yet responsive family hauler.

The 310kW and 500Nm outputs are probably the sweet spot in terms of the GLC43 not feeling like there’s too much for anyone to handle, while still being quick enough to keep a keen driver happy.

On calmer roads, highways and gentle winding country roads, the GLC is comfortable enough with everything set up in the appropriate drive mode, though don’t expect to feel immensely refreshed after hours behind the wheel - it’s still set up for relatively dynamic driving.

Noise and road surface imperfections make their way into the cabin to some extent, though it’s not egregious, while one of the cars on test had a small creaking sound present in the dash, set off by road bumps and corners.

The Veloce is downright fun to drive because of how damn responsive it is. There is plenty of power, so much so, that you’ll look forward to hitting the open road. 

The sporty steering makes for sharp handling and the car moves decisively. I have felt confident all week that it would do what I wanted it to do. It's wide stance also makes it hug the road like an old friend.

However, the suspension is also sporty, aka firm! The padded seats help soften the impact when you hit a bump but you’ll still know it when you hit one. There's also a resonating 'ker-thump' in the cabin, in case you didn't feel it.

The big thing that marred the driving experience for me, at least for a longer trip, is how loud road and wind noise are at higher speeds. It’s loud enough that you need to raise your voice to talk, which I didn’t enjoy.

The Veloce earns back points with how easy it is to park and it handles those stupidly small hotel car parks extremely well.

I don't rate the reversing camera, though. The quality of the image is terrible for this grade-level.

The Stelvio has most of the major items that I like to see on a family car and the standard safety features include adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, driver attention monitor, traffic sign recognition, lane keeping aids, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera, daytime-running lights, front and rear parking sensors, and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

It's important to note though that the safety systems only scored a 60 per cent with ANCAP.

It has autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and car detection and is operational from 7.0 - 200km/h.

The Veloce has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating but it was done ages ago in 2017, which means it will expire this December. It also only has six airbags, which is low for a family car but the curtain airbags cover the back row.

There are ISOFIX child seat mounts on the outboard rear seats and three top tethers in the second row but two seats will fit best.

You can just squeeze a 0-4 rearward facing child seat in but it will encroach on front passenger comfort.

Mercedes-Benz Australia’s warranty is a relatively standard five-year/unlimited kilometre offering, level with rivals like BMW.

Servicing intervals are every 25,000km or 12 months, whichever comes first.

Mercedes’ servicing costs can be covered in packs and for the first three services of a GLC43 SUV it will cost $3445, four for $4552 or five for $6935. These prices are as listed in December 2023, and are subject to change.

The ongoing costs aren’t too shabby on the Stelvio because it comes with a five-year/unlimited km warranty and you also get five years roadside assistance.

It’s a 24/7 complimentary service that covers a host of items but check out the terms and conditions for more information.

There’s capped priced servicing for five years or up to 75,000km, whichever occurs first.

Services cost an average of $573, which is competitive for the class and servicing intervals are good at every 12 months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.