Presentation of the Mercedes GLC EQ: Conservative to success?

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Let's start the presentation of the GLC EQ brutal – with a look back. Mercedes' previous attempts to achieve global success with electric cars are almost euphorically euphemistic when it comes to describing them as "not very successful". The EQC and EQE  SUVs were by no means bad cars in technical terms, but they clearly did not appeal to customers. Now Mercedes is venturing a new beginning with the GLC EQ, which is intended to play at the top in terms of technology and at the same time convey the classic values attributed to the brand. The E-SUV is therefore facing major challenges.

Massive instead of sleek

The GLC EQ does not replace the GLC with combustion engine, which has been built since 2022, but complements the range. The platform-based C-Class and the GLC will be revised in the coming year and not discontinued. Instead of a very smooth front end, the electric GLC will be given a massive grille. The face of the brand has been "redefined" by reinterpreting and preserving one of the "most iconic design elements in automotive history", says Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Mercedes. Well, opinions will certainly differ on this. As with one of its main competitors, the new BMW iX3, the rear lights on the GLC EQ have grown faster than the aesthetics could keep up – This is, of course, just a personal view of things.

Compared to the GLC with a combustion engine, the e-SUV has grown in the area where the customer benefits: between the axles. It has gained eight centimeters there and thus measures 2.97 m. That should be enough for princely space. The trunk holds 570 to 1740 liters, which is roughly the same as a Skoda Enyaq that is around 20 cm shorter. There is also a compartment under the front hood with 128 liters. Maximizing the amount of space was therefore not the top priority in the specifications for the Mercedes, but there is hardly any reason to complain. The towing capacity is 2.4  tons, which should also cover many requirements.

"Roller blind-like staging"

The first images of the interior show just one of numerous design options, including a vegan interior. The almost one-meter-wide screen will be an optional extra; there are no pictures of the basic equipment yet. A glass roof, which can be upgraded with a few colorful LEDs for an additional charge, is included at no extra charge. Electrochemical shading is always included: when a voltage is applied, crystals align themselves so that the roof becomes transparent. Regardless of this, it cannot be opened. Will the fact that LEDs and shading can also be operated by voice command and the system can perform a "roller blind-like, approximately six-second-long show" (original Mercedes quote) be any consolation to anyone in the target group?

In any case, the rocker switch and roller on the steering wheel are back, at the request of many customers, as Mercedes writes. However, the brand has not yet completely abandoned wiper surfaces on the steering wheel, although this would have been an excellent idea after some of the experiences we have had with test cars. Because the tiny touch surfaces were persistently annoying.

Charging: Not quite at the top

Of course, these are trifles, because the GLC EQ is intended to impress with other values. On paper, it lags somewhat behind what BMW offers in the iX3. However, the 94 kWh net should also satisfy many interested parties. The maximum charging power is 330 kW and the window between 10 and 80 percent should be filled in 22 minutes. This results in an average net charging capacity of 179 kW in this range. Compared to the brand's previous electric cars, this is an excellent figure, although the GLC EQ cannot quite keep up with the best electric cars currently on the market.

Mercedes gives the range in the WLTP as 571 to 713 km. 70 percent of this would therefore be a range of around 400 to 500 km. Let's take the low value for a mental experiment and start with a full battery, which we run down to 10 percent and then recharge to 80 percent in order to reach a target with 10 percent remaining charge. Then, with a break of 22 minutes, more than 900 km are possible. This means a net total of around 150 kWh, to which the charging losses must be added. A two-speed gearbox should contribute to high efficiency. The first gear has a very short ratio of 11:1, while the second is significantly longer at 5:1. In the WLTP, Mercedes promises values between 14.9 and 18.8 kWh/100 km.

Twice synchronized

Initially, only the most powerful model will be available at the start of the series. With a system output of 360 kW, the GLC EQ 400 4Matic accelerates from standstill to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 210 km/h. It is interesting to note that Mercedes uses permanently excited synchronous motors (PSM) at both the front and rear. Many manufacturers only use this design for the primary drive axle and connect an asynchronous motor to the secondary axle if necessary. In the coming year, Mercedes will add further versions, including models with rear-wheel drive.

Prepared for Level 3

The range of assistants is structured in three levels. In Europe, assisted driving at Level 2 is available for an extra charge. The GLC EQ supports the driver, who always remains solely responsible here, i.e. with lane and distance keeping. Later, there will be an extended lane change assistant that also works in city traffic. For the time being, customers can only book a "seamless and safe point-to-point driving experience" (Mercedes) in China and the USA. The manufacturer does not explicitly state this, but it is likely to mean Level 3. That would mean The GLC EQ could drive autonomously in at least one precisely defined scenario, provided the driver is prepared to intervene within a few seconds.

GLC EQ as a reaper

It is not yet clear exactly when the GLC EQ will be available at dealerships – Mercedes remains vague on this point and is talking about the first half of 2026. The Group is also not yet willing to name a price. Internal and external competitors may provide no more than a rough guide. A Mercedes GLC with plug-in hybrid (test) and the BMW iX3 cost around 69,000 euros. The GLC EQ will have to find its place in this environment, and versions with rear-wheel drive and less power will be correspondingly lower. This makes two things clear: For the GLC with a combustion engine, things will become much more uncomfortable financially. And the EQE SUV (test), which is similarly voluminous to the new GLC EQ, is likely to disappear from the market within a year. On paper, the new model is superior in all key respects, and this is unlikely to be any different in practice.

(mfz)