Last year when I drove the mild-hybrid Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, I found myself pleasantly surprised at such a perfect combination of features packed into a crossover SUV. The tame styling paired well with an efficient yet enjoyable powertrain, and just the right amount of interior tech and luxury for the pricing. The only real fault lay in the lineup’s lack of a plug-in hybrid to compete with the Audi Q5, BMW X4 and Volvo XC40. Now, for 2025, Benz plans to remedy that situation with the GLC 350e, which effectively boots the competition a couple of rungs down the plug-in hybrid ladder.
The best part? Probably pricing, since at $59,900 to start, the GLC 350e plug-in stickers for just $7,500 more than a GLC 300 mild-hybrid. Not bad considering that with 54 miles of all-electric range, the Mercedes almost doubles up each of those competitors. Meanwhile, the stylish and practical design remains equally dependable, especially when ordered with a subdued interior.
Still, before I won the GLC 350e loaner in Los Angeles, I reviewed some of the Mercedes-Benz hybrids I’d driven in the past and a few considerations began to arise in my mind. More often than not, other models tended to be too technology-intensive, with touchscreens for passengers, overly ambitious power assists, and detailed menus to display data about the hybrid powertrain. So I was wondering how the GLC 350e could integrate plug-in features into one of my favorite SUVs of recent years.
I was introduced to the GLC 350e rather temporarily because the loaner arrived unrated on the 23. 3 kilowatt-hour battery. Literally zero, with 0% and 0 miles of diversity appearing in the gauge cluster. First, I tried plugging the included tester into outlets in my garage, which didn’t even register. So I drove a few hundred meters to a convenient local ChargePoint station and plugged it in. Although this is my first time using this load bank, the procedure went smoothly and I added 18. 4 kilowatt hours at an average rate of 6. 1 kilowatts, for a total of $6. 46 in 3 hours and 3 minutes. The Benz subsequently recorded a rate of 66% and a mileage of forty-five miles.
But even on a quick trip to the ChargePoint station, I immediately detected another driving dynamic for the plug-in. The heavier hybrid parts obviously emphasize the suspension, almost as if Mercedes decided to use the exact same parts without compensating for the additional mass of a larger battery and electric motor.
That electric motor puts out 134 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, contributing mightily to the 350e’s total combined ratings of 313 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque in full hybrid mode when the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four also fires up. But once charged, I mostly wanted to test how the electric motor alone holds up to daily driving in full EV mode. The torque figure clearly matters more, providing enough pep for almost any urban driving situation short of accelerating up an onramp. When I nudged deeper into the throttle, the GLC 350e then automatically kicked on the gasoline engine in response.
Unlike some hybrids, which may struggle to adapt to power delivery when the fuel engine contributes a lot, the turbocharged four comes to life with just a quiet cough and temporarily contributes to acceleration. But then I discovered a particularity of this GLC 350e: the fuel engine stays on even if I voluntarily choose the full EV mode via the menu of driving modes available via a button on the center console. I would prefer a less difficult way to choose driving. modes through the idler controls, but I also had to force cycle more than once to reactivate the all-electric mode.
Among the other driving modes, the best option for better compatibility with my lifestyle is probably the “Battery Hold” program, which extends the state of charge for as long as possible. But for buyers with a home screener, simple overnight charging makes the GLC 350e a great choice for traveling. The plug-in hybrid’s data displayed only in the gauge cluster makes it less difficult to keep track of battery and range, and I also detected fewer technical intrusions on driving pleasure than in many other models in the MercedesArray range. It’s almost as if the GLC 350e was intentionally created to create the most productive commuter.
The modern interior design of the GLC is inspired by other drive variants.
Of course, for buyers who don’t already have a home charger, this attention is factored into the budget, in addition to the $7,500 that accrues over the GLC mild hybrid. But the 350e’s actual electric diversity seemed legitimate during my loan, and suspension comparisons were factored into account until after I drove the 300; Anyone who only drives the plug-in will likely find that it drives pretty well, all things considered.
Emissions are also a thing to consider, yet the diversity merit over the festival sets this Benz apart. Saving fuel for 95 % of driving sounds fairly nice, and the GLC 350e officially won ratings of 60 mpg town and 70 mpg highway, for a overall of 64 mpg-e. That’s a big step up from the mild hybrid, at 23, 31 and 26 mpg respectively.
The rear cargo area is slightly higher in the plug-in GLC, but Mercedes-Benz does not have to percentage the total cargo capacity.
Looking back, however, two strange facts about the GLC add-on stand out. The rear trunk seems to be lacking some shipping volume, the maximum probably to accommodate more battery cells. And yet, Mercedes has made the decision not to share with the media the official figures for weight or shipment volume, probably the two most important points in relation to the GLC 300, and therefore it is a decision that I have to deliberate.
I also wish that the piano black plastic used for the center console and steering wheel buttons had some curtain other than the optional carbon fiber, which certainly increases the basic value considerably. But still, based on the first and last impressions, the GLC 350e certainly manages to perfectly balance practicality, luxury, and a generation that few crossovers can hope to match.
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