Car test, Mercedes | Test: Mercedes GLC 300e rechargeable hybrid

When Mercedes replaced the slightly angular SUV GLK with the top modern GLC, it became an instant hit in Norway. The car was simply better than its competitors.

The fact that it also came in a rechargeable hybrid version that barely paid fees meant that Norwegians went man-of-houses to get the car. It became Mercedes’ best seller in Norway.

Met the wall

But then it happened: Both the EU and the Norwegian authorities realized that the old way of measuring emissions and electrical range had nothing to do with the real world.

The new measurement method WLTP was introduced, with some major consequences. The German carmakers completely stopped producing a number of bestsellers. The GLC350e was one of the victims.

Suddenly Mercedes was in Norway without its best seller.

Fetched from the dead

The Germans went back to the drawing board and wondered how they could save the car. The answer was simply: The evolution of battery chemistry had gone so far as to give the battery pack far more power. 8.7 kWh turned into 13.5 kWh.

This meant that suddenly there was a car that could drive 43 kilometers on pure electric power, rather than just over two miles as it did earlier.

They then wrapped the car in the new facelift version of the car, which is primarily defined by a brand new front and slightly more fancy instruments inside.

Read more about the facelift news: Test of Mercedes GLC 220d facelift

The engine combination itself is the same as before: A 2-liter petrol engine delivering 211 horsepower and 350 Nm, as well as an electric motor of 122 horsepower and hefty 440 Nm of torque.

According to Mercedes, this package should now be capable of delivering a whopping 700 Nm in total. It is good that the forces are sent out to all four wheels!

And rocker, bird phoenix has risen from the ashes.

For reasons we don’t quite understand, Mercedes has decided that the improved version of the car will have a lower model number. Now the car is called GLC 300e.

Of course goes longer

We took a range test in early spring with temperatures of 3-5 degrees without preheating. The battery was fully charged but not a newly charged battery. The result was that the car went on the car for 39 kilometers before the electric motor needed to turn in. It is four kilometers shorter than the stated range.

Given the preconditions, this is quite exactly what one would expect, when a good deal of energy must be used for heating.

It’s okay to stress that this is not the way to push the most reach out of the car, but probably the way most people will actually use the car. With more ideal conditions in the summer, we have reason to believe that the car will be able to exceed the stated WLTP range.

Winter test: Mercedes EQC 400

Comfortable power plug

Mercedes is a brand known for prioritizing comfort over most anything else. Although the new GLC 300e is truly a power plug with a total of 320 horsepower and 700 Nm of torque, the Germans have made no attempt to make this a sports car. The car has air suspension as standard, and the forces are delivered in a non-brutal manner.

Like its predecessor, this is first and foremost a very comfortable everyday car, with a very seamless driveline – which really has powder left over if you first need to make a passing pass.

The steering is precise, but not particularly sensitive – and when you talk about a car that weighs 2 tonnes without a driver, the premise is set.

It’s a good thing that Mercedes has not tried to make this car something it is not. Comfortable, safe – and yet the luxurious surplus.

Since this is not a new car, the inside is the previous generation’s interior. Often it can be said that it is a thing, but ever since Mercedes unveiled this design, we have consistently referred to it as the market leader. In the facelift edition, it now has fully digital instruments as standard, and a slightly larger infotainment display – and it is still thought that this is one of the best interiors on the market.

The seats are of course bright, which they must be in a Mercedes, and the noise level is low. This allows you to enjoy the good Burmester sound system.

In the rear seats, space is also relatively good. Mercedes has bigger SUVs than this, but both adults and children can easily find their way.

Back where it was supposed to be all the time

The new GLC 300e is simply the car that the 350e should have been from the start. The increased range simply means that the environmental alibi is no longer just an alibi, but which can actually function fully electrically in everyday life.

The car, on the other hand, has faced a couple of challenges since last time. One is that BMW has come with a rechargeable hybrid of the X3, and it can withstand the comparison with Mercedes very well.

Both of these cars, on the other hand, have a different challenge: In terms of price, they start to become quite expensive. When picked up this car before the corona crisis this was a car with a starting price of NOK 594,000, but since then the price has been adjusted up to NOK 650,000. In addition, of course, you need a car like this accessory. 100-150,000 is a good rule of thumb on German premium – and our test car has equipment for almost NOK 240,000.

Then there are electric competitors such as Audi e-Tron, Jaguar i-Pace, Mercedes EQC and the upcoming BMW iX3 that appear at least as interesting.

Also read: Test: How much more electricity does the electric car use on highway?

The good

• Fantastic comfort
• A significant surplus of power
• Great design
• Great interior
• The range is now OK
• Good ground clearance
• The trunk has not become smaller
• Low noise level

The bad

• The price has gone up significantly after the corona crisis
• The car becomes expensive with the extra equipment you want

It’s cruel

• Have had several good competitors – including electric cars – since last

–