Mercedes-Benz currently has a huge line-up of cars in the Indian market, selling over 20 models, from which their bread and butter are the E-Class sedan and the GLC SUV. Talking about the GLC, not only in India but was the world’s best-selling Mercedes-Benz model with 3,42,900 units sold in 2022, and there are 2 main reasons behind it first, it is an SUV and second that it provides you the pure Mercedes opulent experience by spending less money, which somehow makes it the luxury SUV king. And this year, Mercedes has revealed the 2nd generation of the GLC, which today Mercedes-Benz India has launched at a starting price of ₹73.50 Lakh (ex-showroom).
The exterior design of the GLC is completely new, but somehow it looks familiar to the old GLC. The front facia has new headlamps connected with a new larger grill and also gets an updated front bumper, which looks fresh yet follows the design language of the old GLC. From the side, the silhouette remains pretty much similar to the old GLC, but the wheelbase is increased by 15mm, and it will now get offered with a new set of 19″ alloy wheels. Now moving to the rear, you will hardly find any difference from the previous GLC, but with some subtle changes, like the taillamps got sleeker and around the exhaust tip surrounds are now finished in chrome.
In terms of powertrain, Mercedes-Benz India will provide the 2023 GLC with 2 powertrain options, a 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder petrol, which pushes out 254hp @5,800rpm and 400Nm of peak torque between 2,000rpm-3,200rpm and a 2.0L turbo 4-cylinder diesel, which pushes out 194hp @3,600rpm and 440Nm of peak roque between 1,800rpm-2,800rpm and both of them are paired with a 9-speed automatic gearbox with 4Matic all-wheel-drive system.
As it is based on the same platform as the C-Class, the interior layout of the new GLC is similar to the C-Class, like you get a new steering wheel with touch-sensitive buttons, an updated fully digital 12.3″ instrument cluster and an 11.9″ infotainment system which includes Apple Car Play and Android Auto as standard and a new off-road mode, which showcases off-road specific functions and data with a camera underneath to give you guidelines to protect the car from any obstacle underneath it, with that for the dash you can choose from wood or aluminium trims, it also gets a huge panoramic sunroof, and the front seats are too similar to the C-Class with automatic, memory and seat ventilation functions and talking about boot space, it has 620L of boot space, which means with luxury there is no compromise on the practicality as well.
As the GLC was the best-selling luxury SUV of the year 2022, the 2nd generation with new upgrades, like more chrome, more up-market interiors and a longer wheelbase, has got a slight increase in its price as compared to the previous generation but if we compare it with the previous Gen GLC, it is a much much better car, and with this price too, Mercedes-Benz is going to top the sales charts again, and it might also outrun the E-Class in terms of sales as well.
