Mercedes-Benz GLC300 4Matic SUV 2024 review

There's only one model for the GLC SUV but you can customise yours with additional packs.

The price tag is a little steep compared to its rivals at $103,370, before on road costs, and that's before you add any extras. The BMW X3 xDrive30 M Sport has it beat (just) at $104,300 but both the Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60 manage to slide in under $93K.

You get a fair bit for your change though and as standard, it's fitted with the 'AMG Line' interior and exterior packs.

It’s downright sexy with its 20-inch alloy wheels, chrome accents and twin exhausts. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

The exterior pack gives you 20-inch alloy wheels, intake vents at the front and rear plus larger brake discs at the front. You also get some neat design elements, like the repeated Mercedes star pattern in the grille and LED lights.

The interior pack includes front sports seats, Nappa leather sports steering wheel, AMG sports pedals, synthetic leather trims, AMG floor mats, black headliner, a panoramic sunroof and a 360-degree view camera system.

Our model has been fitted with the 'Premium Package', which is an extra $5307.50 but I like the additional features it gives you – like the laminated front windows which muffle external noises and insulates the interior.

The interior has a curvy dash headlined by an 11.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

The satellite navigation gets an upgrade with an augmented reality feature, which is a fancy way of saying there are dynamic instructions overlaid on a video feed.

You also get hands-free keyless entry, a collision notification system, stolen vehicle tracking, adaptive high-beams and the premium Burmester sound system.

As well as all of the above, there are heated front seats, a 'kinetic movement' feature on the front seats (think gentle stretching), 64-colour ambient lighting and something Mercedes calls 'Digital Light' – which is LED HD adaptive projector-like headlights.

I love the attention to detail with the repeated Mercedes star treatment in the grille, wireless charging pad and LED exterior lights. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

They also do a cool little light dance when you turn the car on. Guaranteed to get you second looks.

Phew! Like I said, you get a lot for your money.

The cabin looks airy and light-filled because of the massive panoramic sunroof but the front sports seats tuck you in snugly which makes it feel like a cockpit.

There's still plenty of leg and headroom so you'll never feel claustrophobic and all of the buttons and dials are well-placed.

The synthetic leather sports seats are electric with lumbar support, heating function and extendable under-thigh support.

They're already comfortable but they also feature a relaxing kinetic function. Think – relaxing stretching rather than massage but very nice to have on a long trip.

The cabin looks airy and light-filled because of the massive panoramic sunroof. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

The back seats are cushioned but firmer than the front seats and don't offer the same level of under-thigh support. There's ample leg and headroom in this row and the doors open wide for easy access.

The amenities in this row are also not what I was expecting. You get reading lights and directional air vents but miss out on items which would have added more comfort for older passengers, like climate control or heated seats.

Individual storage options are decent in each row but front passengers enjoy the most with two cupholders, two drink bottle holders, a dual-opening middle console and a good-sized glove box.

The front sports seats tuck you in snugly which makes it feel like a cockpit. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

Plus, I like the extra utility section that's housed with the cupholders. The backseat enjoys two cupholders, two drink bottle holders and map pockets.

The boot space is a fantastic size and up from the previous model at 620L. You can bump it to 1680L if you pop the back row down.

The back row has a practical 40/20/40 split and there are electric buttons to fold them from the boot. The floor is lockable and there's a temporary spare tyre underneath it.

It's great that Mercedes installs some extra safety items back there – like a reflective triangle, first aid kit and a reflective vest, to help keep you visible on the road for whatever reason.

The back seats are cushioned but firmer than the front seats and don’t offer the same level of under-thigh support. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

The hands-free powered tailgate was great to have this week and I like the massive aperture – makes it handy to fit in bulkier items!

The technology looks great and once you get used to it (it only took me an afternoon) it's intuitive to muck around with.

The 11.9-inch touchscreen multimedia system takes centre stage and deservedly so. It has wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto and satellite navigation with that fancy augmented reality feature I mentioned before.

The boot space is a fantastic size and up from the previous model at 620L. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

There's also a finger print reader which can lock away your driving profile and sensitive data (saved home address for example) underneath your unique print.

The digital instrument panel is customisable and can be linked with your driver's profile. Certain selections also change the ambient lighting, creating a very cohesive driving experience.

In terms of charging, you get two USB-C ports and a wireless charging pad in the front row but the passengers in the back seat will be squabbling over the single USB-C power outlet.

This has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with a maximum power output of 190kW and 400Nm of torque. It has a great amount of power which makes it a pleasure to drive on the flats and hills.

It's an all-wheel drive and has a nine-speed auto transmission which is delightfully smooth. This is an all-rounder for me – it's got the power and the poise.

This has a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine with a maximum power output of 190kW and 400Nm of torque. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

The official combined fuel cycle is 7.7L/100km and my real-world usage came to 9.1L. I've done a healthy mixture of open-road and urban driving this week, so that is a respectable figure for a turbo.

Based on the combined cycle fuel figure and 71L fuel tank, you should be able to get driving range of 922km.

Mercedes recommends a minimum 98RON petrol to be used.

The safety features on the GLC are extensive and I like the 'pre-safe' systems.

In particular the pre-crash audio that transmits through the speaker system when an imminent collision is detected. It elicits a reaction from your inner ear that dampens sound for when the accident actually occurs.

The collision detection monitor is also a cool highlight. It will alert you via the Mercedes-me app and record images if there is an attempt to tow away the vehicle or if the sensors detect someone trying to break in.

There are ISOFIX child seat mounts in the rear outboard seats and three top-tether anchor points but two seats will fit best. (Image: Glen Sullivan)

Other features that come standard are LED daytime running lights, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping aids, lane departure warning, intelligent seat belt reminders, front and rear parking sensors, 360-degree view reversing camera, traffic sign recognition, driver fatigue monitoring, and adaptive cruise control with stop and go functionality.

It also has rear AEB, stolen vehicle tracking, interior monitor, remote emergency key deactivation and an emergency SOS call button.

It has autonomous emergency braking with car and pedestrian detection which is operational from 7.0 - 80km/h (up to 250km/h for car detection).

This has a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating from 2022 and it has eight airbags, including the newer front centre airbag.

There are ISOFIX child seat mounts in the rear outboard seats and three top-tether anchor points but two seats will fit best.

It was super easy to fit my seat and there's a good amount of room for front passengers when a 0-4 rearward facing child seat is installed, too.