By: IOL Motoring Staff
Johannesburg - The new Mercedes-Benz GLC, just released in South Africa in a four-model line-up, is something of a new departure for MBSA.
It replaces the GLK, which was never made in right-hand drive and thus didn't make to the Southern end of Africa - and it's likely to come as a cold breeze down the necks of BMW and Audi, whose X3 and Q5 have had this particular little corner of the SA market to themselves until now.
The GLC follows their lead in replacing squared-off, bundu-bashing bodywork styling with sleek, aerodynamic sports-wagon styling, matches them with permanent all-wheel drive and then raises the bar with optional air suspension.
it’s significantly larger in every dimension - including its wheelbase - than its predecessor, but is 80kg lighter, thanks to a mix of aluminium and high-strength steels in the body, aluminium suspension components (which also reduces unsprung weight), a compact new transfer case and a magnesium housing for the new 9G-Tronic transmission.
The optional Air Body Control multi-chamber air suspension even boasts glass-fibre reinforced composite springs. It resets itself according to your choice of driving dynamics mode, stiffening up and lowering the ride height 15mm on Sport mode, and softening the settings for maximum plushness in Comfort - although it will still compensate within 60 milliseconds is you do something unexpected like a sudden evasive manoeuvre.
TWO ENGINES, FOUR CHOICES
Combine the air suspension with the off-road engineering package and it'll raise the ride height by up to 50mm (to a maximum of 227mm) and further soften the springing for maximum articulation on rocky terrain, while still guarding against excessive body roll.
It also automatically levels the body to compensate for the weight of your playtoys in the 550 litre cargo bay, and lowers the rear so you can load them more easily.
Also new is a head-up display that relays important information such as your speed, the speed limit where you are now and navigation instructions directly in your field of vision on the windshield.
The GLC is available in South Africa with a choice of one turbodiesel and one turbopetrol engine - but each comes in two levels of tune. The 2143cc GLC 220d is rated at 125kW and 400Nm, at a nominal laboratory-derived fuel consumption of 5.5 litres per 100km, while the same engine, in the GLC 250d, is tuned for 140kW and 500Nm, at the same quoted fuel-consumption. Likewise the 1991cc GLC 250 turbopetrol delivers a claimed 350kW and 166Nm while slurping a nominal 7.1 litres per 100km, and its GLC 300 sibling is tweaked to 180kW and 360Nm, but needs an extra half-litre of unleaded every 100km.
In each case a 9G-Tronic nine-speed auto transmission with paddle shift and five-way drive mode switching is standard.
COMFORT ZONE
The cabin is trimmed in synthetic leather in all black or a range of two-tone combinations, with genuine leather in the almost the same range of colours as an option. Hard trim in brushed aluminium is standard, with carbon fibre and a range of wood veneers available to order - even the roof liner comes in your choice of black, grey or off-white.
Standard fit is a seven inch colour media display and Audio 20 radio/CD player with Frontbass (which uses the firewall as a reverb box), Bluetooth connectivity and two USB ports - plug in a smart phone an you can surf the 'net, as long as your GLC is standing still.
All of which is operated via a rotary controller and a 65 x 45mm touchpad in the centre console that recognises 'smartphone finger talk' as well as handwriting.
The Garmin Map Pilot option expands the basic system into a full-on satnav, with navigation software and map data supplied on an SD card, while Burmester surround sound adds a nine-channel DSP amplifier feeding 13 speakers with a total of 590 watts.
When Comand Online is installed you get a bigger (8.4 inch) colour display with higher (960 x 540 pixel) resolution and a bonded glass cover just like the one on your iPhone, that allows digital TV or radio reception, as well as real-time traffic updates, a wi-fi hotspot function and voice control.
Almost all the electronic driver aids available in the C, E and S-Class sedan are also options for the new GLC-Class, including active parking assist, which manoeuvres you automatically into both parallel and end-on parking bays - although we're not sure whether it will help park you on the pavement at the mall.
PRICES
GLC 220d - R602 260
GLC 250d - R622 260
GLC 250 - R609 620
GLC 300 - R660 748
These include VAT, CO2 emission tax and a six-year or 100 000km maintenance plan.
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