2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 Review: Is It a Good Small Luxury SUV?

Strange, but true: A 255-hp Mercedes small luxury SUV could match a 310-hp Mustang muscle car in a drag race. OK, speed isn’t 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. That’s 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 you’re not testing its 5.4-second 0-60 time. As we noted in our First Drive, that’s 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 doesn’t sound all that appealing.

And that brings us to one of the 2020 GLC 300’s 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 300’s engine can be a little clattery at idle, as well—at 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 competition—and 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.”

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. I’m not sure I’d 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 automatic—which otherwise provides smart responses—has trouble bringing the car to a stop smoothly.

It may sound like we’re nitpicking here, but that becomes acceptable when you’re 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 doesn’t 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. That’s probably enough for most buyers but less than many competitors offer—the Acura RDX can handle a startling 50 percent more cargo behind its rear seats. Fold down the GLC’s rear seats using convenient pull tabs in the cargo area, and the Mercedes will accommodate 56.5 cubic feet of goods. That’s no better than Mercedes’ own GLB, a smaller SUV that boasts more cargo space with two rows of seats in place.

The GLB can’t 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, there’s tons of wasted space on the edges showing almost nothing but the inside-air temperature. Beyond some of the criticisms we’ve 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 RDX’s 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 it’s built to a high standard—you know, exactly what most of us expect from the Mercedes brand. Finding the inside-air circulation button requires extra time while you’re driving (the up/down button looks like all the other up/down toggle buttons), but there’s no mistaking that dash as belonging to a luxury car. One quick note, though: We wish the inside of the door pulls—something you feel every time you close the door—were 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.

Looks good! More details?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