2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 Coupe Hits a Progress Spurt

The Mercedes-Benz GLC SUV and the swoopier GLC Coupe are more fraternal than identical twins. But after a quick spin in a revised 2024 GLC Coupe, one thing this slicked-back sport utility does share with the flattop is the fact that it’s a comfortable, safe choice.

While the vehicles are very similar on a spec sheet, there are some key areas where these two differ. The GLC Coupe is definitely the more stylish of the pair, and that gulf widens further with this new model. The front ends are largely the same, but the rear end is vastly prettier, with the old model’s cartoonishly large taillights swapped out in favor of sleeker units that span the width of the rear end thanks to a piece of dark trim. The GLC Coupe also comes standard with the more aggressive AMG Line styling package, which includes 19-inch wheels (non-coupes start with 18s).

A healthier dose of standard equipment helps the GLC Coupe exist as the more refined—and, once pricing is out, the undoubtedly more expensive—choice. There’s a whole bunch of kit on the coupe that longroof buyers have to shell out extra for, such as a panoramic sunroof, a Burmester surround-sound audio upgrade, and the “Transparent Hood” feature that uses surround-view cameras to show what’s beneath the front end when you’re off-roading. More traditional upgrades including navigation, a head-up display, and heated rear seats remain optional for both variants.

Like the GLC SUV, the GLC Coupe is a bit bigger this year, but the dimensional shifts aren’t like for like. The coupe is just 1.2 inches longer, half the growth of the longroof, but like its sibling, all that extra length goes into front and rear overhangs. Cargo space rises by 1.6 cubic feet behind the second row to a net 19.2, just a couple cubes behind the non-coupe. Overall width holds at 74.4 inches, but the front track grows by 0.2 inch, and the rear by nearly an entire inch. The GLC Coupe rides 0.2 inch taller than before, but its overall aerodynamic profile is much better, as its 0.27 drag coefficient is a fair improvement over the old model’s 0.30. Thankfully, that slipperier metric doesn’t come at the cost of much rear headroom, which remains just suitable enough for a six-footer.

The equipment may differ somewhat, but the GLC Coupe’s powertrain is a pure copy-paste job from the SUV—not that we’re complaining. The GLC300 relies on a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with an integrated starter-generator, producing a net 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, with the e-motor (a new feature for both siblings) capable of adding up to 23 horsepower and 148 pound-feet to fill gaps in the powerband. A nine-speed automatic transmission remains standard as does all-wheel drive. Unsurprisingly, the GLC Coupe carries the same factory zero-to-60-mph estimate as the longroof: 6.2 seconds. Our actual test of said 2023 GLC300 4Matic SUV netted a 5.7-second result to 60 mph, so we’d be foolish to expect any less from the fastback.

Our time behind the wheel was in a Euro-spec car, which only served to highlight that the Europeans get a better deal than we do. Euro-model GLC300s can be equipped with air springs and rear-axle steering, a package that will not be brought to the U.S. due to low take rates in past iterations. That’s a damn shame because these two features dramatically improve the GLC’s on-road performance. The air springs absolutely eliminate pavement inconsistencies, while the rear-axle steering boosts agility in both low- and high-speed maneuvering. When the GLC Coupe arrives in the U.S. later this year, it’ll come instead with a sport-tuned suspension that will likely provide a firmer ride.

Nearly every other facet of the GLC Coupe’s driving experience is pretty close to that of the GLC SUV. The engine’s stop-start system is smooth to the point of being unnoticeable. The steering is responsive but dead below the belt. The pedals offer the right amount of sensitivity to prevent occupants’ heads from bobbing all over the place when accelerating or braking. The nine-speed transmission is more than happy to hold gears on particularly steep declines, but otherwise, it moves its way through the cogs with very little drama. The biggest differentiator comes when glancing through the rearview mirror, as all that style out back comes at the expense of rearward visibility.

The GLC siblings also sport the same interiors, and again, that’s no bad thing. Everything feels appropriately premium, with some interesting knurling on the door armrests and a massive piano-black center console that slides open to reveal some pretty mediocre cupholders, a wireless device charger, and two USB-C ports. Mercedes-Benz’s twin-blade steering wheel design is here, too, and its touch-sensitive directional pads are still frustratingly easy to activate by accident.

A pair of displays form the meat and potatoes of every GLC Coupe’s cabin tech. The 12.3-inch gauge display offers a variety of appearances and is capable of showing nearly any facet of vehicle information between the digital dials. The portrait-oriented 11.9-inch central touchscreen runs the latest version of the MBUX infotainment software, which is straightforward, responsive, and includes standard wireless smartphone mirroring. Automatic emergency braking, a surround-view camera system, parking sensors, and blind-spot monitoring are all standard; optional packages load ‘er up with the remaining pieces of modern safety tech, such as full-speed adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist.

Pricing isn’t yet available, but the generational increase was $3350 for a GLC300 with all-wheel drive when the 2023 SUV adopted this new architecture last year. Add that to the current 2023 GLC300 Coupe price of $55,850, and you arrive just north of $59,000 for this new 2024 GLC300 Coupe. With its higher level of standard equipment, the coupe has always commanded a steep price premium over the SUV. However, if you want a little more edge in your compact luxury crossover than the standard GLC provides, the coupe is a great way to accomplish that.