Mercedes Benz GLC launched in the Philippines

Under the hood is a 2.0L turbo making 204 horsepower and 320 N-m of torque, mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes Benz’s 4Matic All Wheel Drive System. The future seems bright though, as Inchcape and CATS motors executives have stated the future of the GLC will be electrification, with the model’s 48V Mild Hybrid “EQ Boost” Integrated Starter Generator.

On the outside, the GLC looks like a Mercedes Benz SUV should – big, imposing, and unmistakably German. No one will see this and not know it means business, mostly down to the gigantic Silver Arrow emblem on the front, but even the accent lines down the side make the car look muscular and purposeful – certainly, you won’t find stray angles or rough edges on a car like this – no, those would have been ironed out long before this design reached production.

On the inside, the GLC is quintessential 21st century luxury. Large swathes of ARTICO man-made leather abound in the interior on most, if not all touch surfaces, and soft touch plastics can be found elsewhere. As with any luxury vehicle after 2010, the center console uses this piano black plastic that is a magnet for fingerprints and dust, but for the most part the interior is awash with luxury materials and finishes that lets you understand what it’s like to be sewn into an Hermes clutch.

As for technology, the GLC comes with Mercedes Benz’s “Hey Mercedes” voice control, a Burmester surround sound audio system, Active parking assist and Heated front seats. Aside from that it also gets the usual fare – Adaptive Cruise control, Forward collision mitigation, Blind spot monitoring, tire pressure monitoring, and Android Auto and Apple Carplay.

Mercedes Benz says the new GLC will go on sale in the Philippines later this year and will be priced at P5,190,000 for the lone GLC200 4MATIC model. So if you’re in the market for a luxury SUV, your decision just got more difficult.