It’s now been 15 years for the reason that first plug-in hybrids began coming available on the market, and we’re lastly getting PHEVs with genuinely usable electrical ranges of greater than just some miles. The PHEV with the longest EV vary you should buy proper now could be a bit shocking, partially as a result of it’s simply so… regular. Taking the crown with an EPA-rated electric-only vary of 54 miles is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC350e, the plug-in model of Benz’s best-selling compact crossover.
Spending every week with the GLC350e revealed it to be a improbable providing within the phase, and top-of-the-line non-performance-oriented PHEVs available on the market. There’s one main downside, although: For nearly your entire time I used to be in it, I wanted I used to be driving a completely electrical car as a substitute. That’s to not say the plug-in GLC gained’t be an amazing resolution for lots of people, however until you’re taking full benefit of the powertrain, I feel a pure EV can be nicer.
Full disclosure: Mercedes-Benz delivered the GLC350e to the airport with a full tank of fuel so I may drive it round Los Angeles for every week after coming dwelling from a visit.
Forming the premise of the GLC350e’s powertrain is similar turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 utilized by a number of different automobiles within the Mercedes lineup. Right here it makes 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque by itself, 54 hp and 59 lb-ft lower than within the GLC300 the place it’s paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. The GLC350e provides on an electrical motor that places out 134 hp and 325 lb-ft for a complete system output of 313 hp and 406 lb-ft, which is extra torque than you get within the Mercedes-AMG GLC43. A battery pack beneath the cargo space has 23.3 kWh of usable capability to offer juice to the system.
Mercedes says the GLC350e will hit 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, the identical because the gas-only GLC300, however the immediate torque punch of the electrical motor makes the PHEV extra satisfying round city. The GLC defaults to Electrical mode on start-up, and it’ll do as much as 87 mph on electrical energy alone, although even in EV mode in case you press the accelerator previous a sure level the fuel engine will kick in (there’s a pleasant gauge within the digital cluster that reveals how shut you might be to hitting that time). In Hybrid mode the GLC prioritizes electrical operation as a lot as potential — after touring 66 miles I had used up the entire battery’s cost, with the automotive telling me that 85 p.c of my driving had been with simply electrical energy.
In Electrical and Hybrid modes the GLC350e gives regenerative braking with two depth ranges which are managed by the steering wheel paddles, the stronger of which gained’t carry you to a whole cease however continues to be fairly useful in most conditions because of a most recuperation power of as much as 100 kW. Annoyingly, like on Mercedes’ absolutely electrical EQ automobiles, the brake pedal bodily strikes below regenerative deceleration, although solely by just a little bit.
Totally deplete the battery and the GLC will nonetheless drive utilizing simply electrical energy every time potential, normally briefly bursts round city, and the engine usually cuts out when coasting. You may cost up the battery by driving in Sport mode, during which the fuel engine is all the time on, nevertheless it takes an especially very long time to even add a pair miles of vary this fashion, and in Sport mode there’s no regenerative braking. The transition between EV energy and the engine turning on is extraordinarily clean, almost unnoticeable whether or not it’s kicking on at a stoplight or whereas cruising on the freeway. Sadly, the engine itself is fairly coarse and loud even at low revs, not matching up with the sereneness of the GLC’s electrical aspect.
Whereas the GLC350e’s electrical vary is spectacular, its general driving vary just isn’t. Once I picked it up with a full tank of fuel and a completely charged battery, the automotive’s show confirmed a complete vary of solely 250 miles; after utilizing up the entire battery that estimate remained the identical, so my guess is real-world complete vary is someplace round 300 miles. (The GLC350e isn’t on the EPA web site but, so no official complete vary is given, however the nonhybrid GLC300 boasts an EPA vary of 452 miles.) When there are such a lot of absolutely electrical autos on the market with ranges simply exceeding 300 miles, together with inside Mercedes’ personal lineup, it might be a straightforward choice for me to go for an EV over this PHEV. Positive, for those who usually need to go far past an EV’s vary and who don’t wish to need to cost whereas road-tripping, the GLC350e’s setup might be helpful. The GLC highlights why EVs are so a lot better to each day drive — they’re quieter, smoother, faster, calmer. When that turbo 4 kicks in, and when the battery is low on cost, you’re simply in a standard gas-powered crossover saddled with extra weight that often gives a glimmer of good electrical driving.
A minimum of the GLC350e’s battery will be fast-charged, which continues to be a novelty for plug-in hybrids. Utilizing a CCS plug the GLC will be juiced at as much as 60 kW, ok to completely recharge the battery in simply half-hour. That’s approach higher than having to make use of a sluggish Stage 2 charger to refill a comparatively small PHEV battery, usually certainly one of my greatest annoyances with them. After all, you’ll be able to simply use a Stage 2 or wall outlet to cost, because the GLC comes with an AC adapter that may cost at as much as 11 kW. The GLC350e’s electrical vary being so lengthy means it’ll final at the least a couple of days’ value of normal driving for most individuals, and if it will get recharged each night time you’ll not often dip into the fuel reserves. Once more, although, if that’s the case and also you aren’t usually doing lengthy journeys, I’d a lot reasonably have a pure EV.
Powertrain apart, the GLC350e feels similar to another GLC, which is to say it’s an especially good crossover. This era of GLC appears to be like actually rattling good, significantly with the $3,450 AMG Line look package deal that provides completely different bumper designs, sportier wheels and a grille filled with little Mercedes stars. The one indication that you just’re a plug-in hybrid is the cost port on the motive force’s aspect rear fender; there aren’t even any EQ badges or otherwise coloured brake calipers like on another PHEV Benzes. Whereas it’s a reasonably performed out shade at this level, I do assume the Manufaktur Alpine Gray paint appears to be like very nice on the GLC, particularly later within the day when the gray absorbs a whole lot of heat from the setting solar.
The GLC’s inside is even higher, and my take a look at automotive is a superb spec. Its $1,620 Sienna Brown leather-based appears to be like and feels good and is properly paired with the Metallic Weave trim, and general the inside is healthier screwed-together than different new Benzes I’ve been in, with nary a squeak or flimsy piece of trim. For 2025 the GLC will get Mercedes’ up to date MBUX infotainment system that has simplified menus and graphics, and it stays certainly one of my favourite programs on sale. It additionally has wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, however I a lot choose Mercedes’ native navigation and setup.
One other advantage of the GLC350e versus different GLCs is the addition of air suspension to the rear axle, which helps offset and take care of the load added by placing the battery again there. It undoubtedly rides higher than the usual GLC, however it might be even nicer if Mercedes had added air springs to the entrance too, because the entrance finish can really feel overly crashy over bumps and tough pavement when the rear is smoother. A few of that roughness may very well be chalked as much as the $1,150 20-inch wheels, although they have been carrying Continental EcoContact 6Q tires with a great quantity of sidewall. Mercedes used to supply four-corner air suspension on the previous-gen GLC, and you’ll nonetheless get it on the present one in Europe. I additionally want the U.S.-spec GLC have been accessible with rear-wheel steering just like the European one is.
The GLC350e is on sale now with a beginning value of $61,050 together with vacation spot, $8,650 greater than an all-wheel-drive GLC300. That’s a no brainer improve to me given how a lot additional flexibility you get with the PHEV, particularly in case you’re in a position to plug in at dwelling or at work. It’s additionally proper in step with its closest rivals, the Lexus NX PHEV ($62,415 with 37 miles of vary) and the Volvo XC60 PHEV ($59,345 with 36 miles of vary).
My take a look at automotive was almost loaded, with options like a $1,500 panoramic sunroof, $450 ventilated entrance seats, $1,950 driver help package deal and the $4,150 Pinnacle trim that provides glorious ambient lighting, navigation, a 3D Burmester {surround} sound system, LED lights with projected animations, a head-up show, warmth and noise-insulated glass, a surround-view digital camera system that may detect and accident and take images, and extra. All in, this GLC350e was $77,020, about two grand lower than the most affordable EQE SUV (admittedly a bigger car). Which may be rather a lot for a four-cylinder compact crossover, nevertheless it feels definitely worth the scratch.
Fortunately, my wishes are being answered. Mercedes is phasing out its EQ lineup, as a substitute specializing in popping out with electrical variations of current fashions that share the identical design language, and one of many first examples of that new philosophy would be the next-generation GLC that’s coming as quickly as subsequent yr. It’ll merely be a GLC that occurs to be electrical, with out using on a compromised platform and with styling that’s not as off-putting. I feel it’s essential to have a number of selections on the market to get extra individuals into electrified autos, and PHEVs are an enormous a part of conducting that, however for me, absolutely electrical is already the reply.
