A mid-sized Mercedes SUV is a rather unfamiliar sight on UK roads. The old GLK never made it to Britain due to difficulties converting it to right-hand drive, but its sharper, sleeker and more practical successor hasn't suffered the same issue - and we've been behind the wheel on British roads for the first time.
The GLC we have here is the more powerful of the two diesel models on offer, delivering 201bhp from Mercedes' tried-and-tested 2.1-litre four-cylinder engine. The cheaper GLC 220d uses the same unit but develops just 168bhp. Both claim identical 56.5mpg economy.
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Wrapped in racy AMG Line trim and its accompanying bodykit, the GLC certainly doesn't come cheap. It's priced at £39,595 before you start adding any extras - a similar spec BMW X3 will cost around £2,500 less.
However, the car begins to make up for its hefty price tag inside, where it's classy and functional. The cabin design is lifted straight from the C-Class, but there's a level of craftsmanship in the fit and finish that you don't get in an X3 or the ageing Audi Q5.
A slightly more dated area of the GLC is its engine. The 2.1-litre diesel has been popping up in Mercedes' new models for years, and it's often criticised for its lack of refinement. Still, you're far better isolated from the gruff diesel drone here than in a C-Class, for example. That's helped by the standard nine-speed automatic gearbox, which has been installed to maximise fuel economy and minimise engine noise. The transmission does a good job of clawing its way through its nine ratios as quickly as possible - pulling just 1,500rpm at 70mph. Stab the throttle, and there's a brief pause before the car decides which is the most effective gear for the task in hand, but then it glides smoothly down the road. It doesn't feel as brisk as its 0-62mph time of 7.6 seconds suggests, yet it's fast enough.
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The ride isn't as supple as you'd expect from an SUV of this size, plus the 19-inch rims don't do it any favours, either. But air-suspension is offered in the GLC as a £1,495 option, which may be worth considering if you're after an S-Class like cushioned ride.
Body contorl is very impressive, though. The Mercedes doesn't lean and lurch over on faster bends; we just wish the numb steering provided a bit more feedback.
- Price: £39,595
- Engine: 2.1-litre 4cyl turbodiesel
- Power: 201bhp
- Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, four-wheel-drive
- 0-62mph: 7.6 seconds
- Top speed: 138mph
- Economy: 56.5mpg
- CO2: 129g/km
- On sale: Now
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