2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e | MotorWeek Road Test
MotorWeek is made possible by Autovalue and Bumperto Bumper and Tyrack.com. MercedesBenz has introduced some fantastic EVs in recent years and have done it without abandoning things on the internal combustion side of the brand. But as we’ve learned recently, perhaps they’re at their best when they combine the two. Which brings us to their latest plugin, this GLC 350E. [Music] The GLC has been the MercedesBenz compact SUV entry since 2016 when it took over for the GLK. Major changes happen for 2023 when it kicked off its second generation. And for 2025, there’s a new addition to the family. This GLC 350E plug-in hybrid. Though technically it’s more of a homecoming, as there was a 350e plugin available for a limited time in the first gen GLC. With formatic all-wheel drive standard, the 350e starts with a D-tuned version of the GLC 300’s 2 L turbo 4, but with the help of a 100 kW electric motor. The combined output is 313 horsepower and 406 lb feet of torque, eclipsing the 300x 58 horsepower and 111 lb feet. A 23.3 kWh battery delivers an impressive 54 miles of EV range at speeds up to 87 mph. That’s a huge leap over the original 350e’s range, which MercedesBenz listed as up to 10. And when driving the GLC 350e around on battery power, it does feel very much like an EV, not just a hybrid temporarily running on battery power. You can charge it up overnight with a standard household outlet, but it only takes about 3 hours on a level two charger. And this is one PHEV that actually includes the ability to DC fast charge at 60 kW for topping off in just 30 minutes. As for fast charging off the line, the 350e felt ready and willing to get moving in a hurry with a nice initial jolt of power, but just as quickly, things seemed to level off on the way to a 6.1 second 0 to 60. That’s 2/10 slower than the last GLC300 we tested. And that’s when you realize that big battery that gives you all that EV range and the associated hybrid hardware add more than 700 lb of weight to the GLC. Transmission is a N-speed automatic, and we could barely feel the lightning quick gear changes happening as we ran the full/4 mile in 14.5 seconds at 97 mph. The safety system seemed to be offput by that additional battery weight, too. As anytime we tried to get aggressive with inputs through our handling course, they pulled power dramatically. Keeping throttle and steering inputs as smooth as possible helped, but we weren’t really able to push hard enough to find any under steer or over steer. Mercedes has tweaked the suspension to handle that additional weight, even adding a self-leveling air suspension to the rear. In panic braking tests, the brake pedal felt very soft with an unnatural feel. It wasn’t until the last little bit of travel that it began to firm up and provide some feedback. Still, stops from 60 averaged defined 106 ft. 25 model year GLC’s get upgraded MBUX infotainment with an expanded portfolio of app downloads that allow you to stream many popular services directly. Most inputs throughout the vehicle happen on some sort of touch- sensitive switch, including on the steering wheel. And while these are not typically our favorite, as with most interior details, Mercedes seems to be better than most. Standard content level is very high, and comfort in both front and rear seats is exceptional. That subtle but special vibe carries over to the exterior with no obvious proclamations of the GLC’s PHEV status, just the same stylish stature that impressed us back in 23. Government fuel economy ratings for the 350e are 25 combined for gas only and 64 combined MPG. The GLC 350E is available in three levels of equipment starting at $61,50, which is about an $8,500 premium over a comparably equipped all-wheel drive GLC300. But with AMG versions that push into the 80s, it’s far from the most you can spend on a GLC. So, as with most PHEVs, the 2025 MercedesBenz GLC 350e only makes sense if you really plan on plugging in often and maximizing your EV drive time. When doing so, you’ll get all the benefits of driving a true luxury EV for your daily commutes with a 2 L turbo worth of solid backup generator for when the battery runs out. [Music] The Motorweek app, which includes our latest reviews and feature stories, is now available for mobile devices. [Music]
Mercedes-Benz has introduced some fantastic EVs in recent years and have done it without abandoning things on the internal combustion side of the brand. But, as we’ve learned recently, perhaps they are at their best when they combine the two, which brings us to their latest plug-in, this GLC 350e.
#MercedesBenz #MercedesBenzGLC
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