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 only a few miles. The PHEV with the longest EV vary you should buy proper now’s a bit stunning, 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 incredible providing within the section, and top-of-the-line non-performance-oriented PHEVs available on the market. There’s one main downside, although: For nearly the complete time I used to be in it, I wanted I used to be driving a totally electrical automobile as a substitute. That’s to not say the plug-in GLC received’t be a terrific answer for lots of people, however until you’re taking full benefit of the powertrain, I believe a pure EV could 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 residence from a visit.
Forming the idea of the GLC350e’s powertrain is similar turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 utilized by a lot 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 supply 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 instantaneous torque punch of the electrical motor makes the PHEV extra pleasing 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 if you happen to 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 doable — after touring 66 miles I had used up the entire battery’s cost, with the automobile telling me that 85 p.c of my driving had been with simply electrical energy.
In Electrical and Hybrid modes the GLC350e provides regenerative braking with two depth ranges which can be managed by the steering wheel paddles, the stronger of which received’t deliver you to an entire cease however remains to be fairly useful in most conditions because of a most recuperation pressure of as much as 100 kW. Annoyingly, like on Mercedes’ absolutely electrical EQ automobiles, the brake pedal bodily strikes beneath regenerative deceleration, although solely by a bit bit.
Absolutely deplete the battery and the GLC will nonetheless drive utilizing simply electrical energy each time doable, often briefly bursts round city, and the engine typically 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, however it takes an especially very long time to even add a pair miles of vary this manner, and in Sport mode there’s no regenerative braking. The transition between EV energy and the engine turning on is extraordinarily easy, 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 totally charged battery, the automobile’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 resolution for me to go for an EV over this PHEV. Positive, for those who typically must go far past an EV’s vary and who don’t wish to must cost whereas road-tripping, the GLC350e’s setup shall be helpful. The GLC highlights why EVs are so a lot better to day by 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 traditional gas-powered crossover saddled with extra weight that often provides a glimmer of good electrical driving.
A minimum of the GLC350e’s battery may be fast-charged, which remains to be a novelty for plug-in hybrids. Utilizing a CCS plug the GLC may be juiced at as much as 60 kW, adequate to completely recharge the battery in simply half-hour. That’s means higher than having to make use of a sluggish Stage 2 charger to refill a comparatively small PHEV battery, usually one in every of my largest annoyances with them. In fact, you may 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 very least just a few days’ price 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 often doing lengthy journeys, I’d a lot quite have a pure EV.
Powertrain apart, the GLC350e feels similar to another GLC, which is to say it’s an especially good crossover. This technology of GLC seems to be actually rattling good, notably with the $3,450 AMG Line look package deal that provides totally 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 seems to be very nice on the GLC, particularly later within the day when the gray absorbs loads of heat from the setting solar.
The GLC’s inside is even higher, and my take a look at automobile is a superb spec. Its $1,620 Sienna Brown leather-based seems to be and feels good and is properly paired with the Steel Weave trim, and general the inside is best 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 one in every 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 burden added by placing the battery again there. It positively 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 superb 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 out there 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 further flexibility you get with the PHEV, particularly if you happen to’re capable of plug in at residence or at work. It’s additionally proper in keeping with its closest opponents, 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 automobile 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 wonderful 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 digicam system that may detect and accident and take pictures, and extra. All in, this GLC350e was $77,020, about two grand lower than the most cost effective EQE SUV (admittedly a bigger automobile). That could be quite a bit for a four-cylinder compact crossover, however it feels well worth the scratch.
Fortunately, my needs 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 12 months. It is going to 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 believe it’s necessary to have a lot of decisions on the market to get extra individuals into electrified autos, and PHEVs are a giant a part of undertaking that, however for me, absolutely electrical is already the reply.
