2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC

The 2024 GLC 300 4MATIC volume trim, in the second (X254) generation's second US model year, uses the M254 2.0L turbo four with a 48V integrated starter-generator rated 255 hp. The only stronger US model for 2024 is the 416-hp AMG GLC 43; the AMG GLC 63 S E Performance and the GLC 350e did not reach the US until 2025.

Peak torque of 295 lb-ft arrives low in the rev range on the volume 2.0T, and the mild-hybrid motor fills in off-boost response. That powertrain carries over unchanged into 2025.

Mercedes quotes 6.2 seconds to 60 mph for the GLC 300 4MATIC. That is mid-pack for compact luxury SUVs with a base four-cylinder, and slower than the six-cylinder rivals.

The 48V starter-generator smooths start-stop restarts and covers low-rpm turbo lag, so power delivery is quiet and unruffled. Reviewers note the four-cylinder lacks the effortless swell and sound of the BMW X3 M40i or Audi SQ5 sixes.

The 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic is smooth and usually in the right gear, with occasional delayed kickdown from low speed in Comfort mode. The AMG GLC 43 uses the quicker AMG Speedshift MCT 9-speed.

The GLC 300 is rated to tow 3,500 lbs when properly equipped. That is the class norm for compact luxury SUVs and below the BMW X3's 4,400 lbs.

4MATIC AWD is available on the GLC 300 and standard on the AMG GLC 43, which gets a fully variable 4MATIC+ system with rear-axle steering. A rear-drive GLC 300 is still sold for 2024, so AWD isn't universal.

This is a road-focused luxury crossover with modest ground clearance and no low range or lockers. The optional off-road drive program and 'transparent hood' camera view help on trails, but there is no dedicated off-road trim.

The 2024 US SUV lineup has only two engines: the mild-hybrid 2.0T GLC 300 (RWD or AWD) and the 416-hp mild-hybrid AMG GLC 43. The GLC 350e plug-in and the AMG GLC 63 S E Performance arrive in the US only for 2025, and there is no EV variant.

EPA rates the 2024 GLC 300 4MATIC at 27 MPG combined, helped by its 48V mild-hybrid system. That is competitive for a gas compact luxury SUV.

EPA city rating of 24 MPG for the volume AWD trim.

An EPA highway rating of 32 MPG is strong for an AWD luxury compact SUV.

A 17.4-gallon tank at the EPA 27 MPG combined rating gives about 470 miles per tank. EPA publishes no range figure for gas vehicles, so this is calculated.

EPA estimates $3,000 a year in fuel at current premium prices. That is high for the class because the GLC requires premium fuel.

Every 2024 US GLC, including the AMG GLC 43, requires premium unleaded. There is no regular-fuel calibration and no diesel in the US.

NHTSA has not crash-tested the 2024 GLC. Overall, frontal, side and rollover all read 'Not Rated' for both the AWD and RWD listings.

Earned the 2024 Top Safety Pick+ under the stricter 2024 criteria. Every crash test rates Good, including the updated moderate overlap test with a rear-seat dummy and the updated side test.

Standard equipment covers AEB with pedestrian detection and blind-spot detection. Lane departure warning and prevention, rear automatic braking, and full-range adaptive cruise with lane centering are all optional (Driver Assistance Package), which is a gap at luxury pricing.

The standard Active Brake Assist rates Acceptable in the updated IIHS pedestrian test. It avoids the crossing child and the night crossing adult, but barely slows for the parallel adult at night on low beams. The optional DISTRONIC system scores better.

Blind Spot Assist with exit warning is standard. Rear automatic braking and the active blind-spot intervention functions are optional.

Lane departure warning and prevention are optional rather than standard on the 2024 car. The packaged Active Steering Assist centers smoothly and reviewers rate it well.

Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC with stop-and-go and route-based speed adaptation is refined. It is optional on the GLC 300, which holds the score below the top band.

The 2024 GLC offers no hands-free highway system. Mercedes' Drive Pilot (Level 3) is limited to the S-Class and EQS Sedan.

Both headlight variants rate Good and include high-beam assist. The volume LED reflector units produce some low-beam glare; Pinnacle adds curve-adaptive LED projectors.

Upright seating gives good forward sightlines, but thick rear pillars and a rising beltline limit rear-three-quarter views. A rear camera is standard; the 360° camera is optional.

IIHS rates the LATCH hardware Good for ease of use. Wide rear doors help, but the compact rear bench makes fitting three car seats across tight.

The 2024 GLC SUV (X254, second US model year) is a two-row, five-passenger compact luxury SUV with no third-row option.

Generous front headroom for the class.

Front legroom is on the short side of the SUV band, though seat travel suits most drivers.

Rear headroom is a strength of the X254 GLC; Consumer Reports calls rear headroom generous.

Mid-pack rear legroom for a compact luxury SUV; adults fit, but it is not class-leading.

No third row is offered on any US 2024 GLC, so this scores at the bottom of the no-third-row band.

Cargo behind the rear seat is modest even for the class; CarMax and owners list smaller cargo capacity as a con.

Max cargo with the 40/20/40 rear seat folded is typical of a two-row compact SUV and small against the wider SUV band.

Competitive console bin, door pockets and a 40/20/40 split rear seat with pass-through, but nothing innovative; on 2024 builds the wireless charging pad comes with the trim packages rather than as standard, and it is awkwardly placed.

Supportive front seats with broad power adjustment and memory; the rear backrest is upright and does not recline, which trims rear long-haul comfort.

Smooth, composed ride on the standard steel suspension; some reviewers call it slightly firm on larger wheels.

Very quiet cabin with little wind or road noise at speed; the four-cylinder is the main intrusion under load.

Heated front seats and dual-zone climate are standard; ventilated seats, a heated wheel and heated rear seats come in packages, so the full set costs extra.

For 2024 the GLC 300 gained a rear-wheel-drive entry version priced $2,000 below the 4MATIC. It opens the lineup at $47,450 before destination. Mercedes' ~$1,150 destination charge is confirmed only for the 2024 GLC Coupe, not the SUV.

Most US buyers choose the GLC 300 4MATIC ($49,450 + destination) and add the common Premium package and driver-assistance options. That puts typical stickers in the mid-$50k range.

German-luxury dealer service (alternating Service A/B, brake fluid, filters, tires) costs more than mainstream and Lexus rivals. Industry estimates for the X254 GLC vary widely, so this uses a midpoint.

Strong volume demand helps the GLC hold value better than most German luxury SUVs. It still trails residual leaders such as Lexus and Porsche.

Mercedes-Benz USA's New Vehicle Limited Warranty runs 48 months or 50,000 miles, typical for a German luxury brand.

Mercedes has no separate, longer powertrain warranty, so the engine and transmission are covered only by the 4-yr/50k-mi basic warranty. Genesis (10/100), Lexus (6/70) and Cadillac (6/70) all offer longer powertrain coverage.

Scheduled maintenance is not included; Mercedes sells it as 2-, 3- or 4-year Prepaid Maintenance packages. Rivals such as Genesis, Volvo and BMW include it. The included perks are limited to roadside assistance during the warranty term and a Mercedes me connect trial.

$55,500 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (50% retained, or about $27,750) leaves about $27,750 in depreciation. Add the projected $6,500 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $34,250 in total.

The 2024 GLC is the second model year of the X254 generation, which began with the 2023 model year, and adds the AMG GLC 43. Consumer Reports rates the generation's predicted reliability below average for new cars, and it has no model-specific J.D. Power quality score. That leaves it well behind the Lexus NX and in the lower half of the compact luxury SUV peer group.

Mercedes-Benz has sat in the bottom third of Consumer Reports' brand reliability rankings for years. In J.D. Power's dependability studies it has been below the industry average, though it improved by 22 PP100 in the 2024 study. Electronics and infotainment are the recurring weak areas.

Eight NHTSA campaigns cover the 2024 GLC, more than average. Several are assembly faults with serious consequences but tiny populations: unsecured window glass, a badly welded engine carrier, loose rear-differential bolts and a steering coupling bolt. The broad campaigns are electrical or compliance fixes. None is a do-not-drive or fire campaign.

The GLC 300 uses the M254 2.0L turbo-4 with a 48V integrated starter-generator. That engine family has only a short US track record, and Mercedes' 48V mild-hybrid systems have drawn electrical complaints. The 9G-Tronic automatic is mature and well proven. The only 2024 driveline recall (rear differential bolts) covered just 3 units.

Reviewers widely treat the X254 GLC cabin as a segment benchmark. It has extensive soft-touch surfaces, open-pore wood or metal trim, and a high-tech dual-screen layout that out-classes most compact luxury rivals at the price. The main criticism is the touch-sensitive steering-wheel controls.

Reviewers find the GLC's assembly generally tight and solid-feeling. However, several 2024-specific recalls point to assembly-process lapses, even though each affected only a handful of cars: unbonded window glass, a mis-welded engine carrier, and loose differential and steering-coupling bolts. Owners also report MBUX glitches and occasional trim rattles.

Mercedes-Benz USA has roughly 380+ dealers, giving dense metro coverage and reasonable reach elsewhere. Loaner cars and service amenities are common, and service satisfaction sits around the luxury-segment average.

Parts and labor cost well above mainstream brands, and many repairs on the electronics-heavy X254 need dealer diagnostics or coding. Aftermarket support for a 2023+ platform is still thin, though OEM-supplier parts are available for common service items.

A portrait 11.9-inch MBUX central display is standard on every 2024 GLC.

MBUX is fast with sharp graphics, but menu depth, touch-based climate controls and touch-capacitive wheel buttons draw steady criticism.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every 2024 trim.

The "Hey Mercedes" natural-language voice assistant is standard and strong, but on the 2024 GLC 300 MBUX Navigation came with the Premium trim package and augmented-reality video navigation only with Pinnacle, rather than being standard.

The base system is adequate; Burmester 3D Surround Sound is available in the Exclusive and Pinnacle trim packages and is well regarded.

A 12.3-inch configurable digital cluster is standard; Consumer Reports notes the wheel rim blocks part of its top edge.

MBUX supports over-the-air software and map updates and some control-unit updates, but the 2024 GLC does not get regular feature-adding whole-vehicle updates.

The Mercedes me app covers remote start, lock/unlock, locate and status; some connected services move to paid subscriptions after the trial period.

USB-C ports in both rows; wireless charging came with the trim packages on 2024 builds rather than standard, there is no 120V household outlet, and the pad is hard to reach.

Push-button start, a power liftgate and app-based remote start are standard; full KEYLESS-GO hands-free entry and liftgate come with trim packages on many builds.

A rear camera and parking sensors with Active Parking Assist are standard; Surround View with transparent hood comes in the Exclusive/Pinnacle packages common on volume builds.

A color HUD is available, but only in the top Pinnacle Trim package, not on volume Premium/Exclusive builds.

Good rear headroom and IIHS-good LATCH make car-seat duty easy, but the modest 21.9 cu ft cargo hold gets crowded with a stroller plus groceries.

IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for 2024 with standard automatic emergency braking and blind-spot assist, but adaptive cruise and lane centering cost extra and NHTSA has not crash-tested this generation.

A quiet, comfortable cabin with rear vents and USB-C, but the upright rear backrest and small luggage space limit long family trips.

Smooth 48V mild-hybrid stop/start, a quiet cabin and a comfortable ride make it relaxing in traffic; Consumer Reports notes mushy brake feel.

An EPA 24 mpg city / 27 combined on premium fuel is mid-pack for a gas compact luxury SUV, and luxury-brand consumables add cost.

Compact footprint with standard parking sensors, Active Parking Assist and an available 360-degree camera; rear pillars limit over-the-shoulder visibility.

The 3,500-lb tow rating handles a small trailer, but limited cargo space and a luxury cabin make it a poor work vehicle.

Luxury-oriented materials and a complex mild-hybrid powertrain are not suited to hard use.

Few work provisions: no onboard 120V power and a small cargo hold; roof rails and an optional hitch are the extent of it.

A quiet, comfortable highway cruiser rated 27 mpg combined; the full adaptive cruise and lane-centering suite is optional rather than standard.

Standard 4MATIC AWD on the volume trim, roof rails and 3,500-lb towing cover bike racks and gravel roads, but this is a pavement-oriented luxury SUV.

The 40/20/40 split rear seat with pass-through and roof rails help with skis and long items, but total cargo space is small.

Composed and secure with good body control, but tuned for comfort; reviewers find the BMW X3 and Porsche Macan more engaging.

Light, accurate steering with little feedback, typical of current Mercedes tuning.

Stopping power is adequate, but Consumer Reports calls the pedal mushy, which costs confidence.

The 48V integrated starter-generator makes stop/start nearly seamless and fills turbo lag, but some owners find the 2.0T underpowered and the 9-speed occasionally hesitates.

Quiet at cruise, but the four-cylinder sounds buzzy when worked hard.

Average turning circle for a compact luxury SUV; Mercedes publishes only a wall-to-wall figure, so curb-to-curb is slightly tighter.

Wide seat adjustment and a good driving position, offset by touch-capacitive wheel controls, touch-based climate and a wheel that blocks part of the cluster.

Refined and pleasant but not engaging in GLC 300 form; the AMG versions are the enthusiast choice.

The 2024 GLC 300 comes standard with an 11.9" MBUX touchscreen and 12.3" digital cluster, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, heated memory front seats, blind-spot warning, LED headlights and a power liftgate. Satellite radio became standard on the RWD model for 2024. Adaptive cruise with lane centering, Burmester audio, a head-up display and a 360° camera are packaged extras, and upholstery is MB-Tex rather than leather. The Genesis GV70 and Volvo XC60 include more at base.

Cabin quality, refinement and tech are excellent, but a typically optioned GLC 300 4MATIC lands in the mid-$50k range. That is several thousand more than a comparably equipped GV70 2.5T or Audi Q5. The 255-hp mild-hybrid four is adequate rather than generous for the money.

For 2024 the US lineup adds a RWD GLC 300 alongside the 4MATIC, plus the AMG GLC 43 and AMG GLC 63 S E Performance, and a parallel GLC Coupe body. That runs from about $48k to $90k+, with deep option flexibility. The GLC 350e plug-in hybrid was not yet on sale in the US for 2024, leaving a gap compared with MY2025.

US sales of the second-generation GLC jumped 58% in calendar 2024 to 64,163 units, making it Mercedes' second-best-seller behind the GLE and one of the top-selling compact luxury SUVs.

Mercedes-Benz is among the most aspirational premium brands, with AMG adding a performance halo. That supports demand and residuals, though its reliability reputation is middling.

With 2024 inventory plentiful (sales +58% on strong availability), Mercedes ran regular GLC 300 lease specials and subvented MBFS financing, and dealers discounted below MSRP. Cash rebates stayed modest.

The X254 generation launched in the US for MY2023, so 2024 is its second year: a current platform with MBUX Gen 7 and no redesign approaching.

Reviewers praise the interior, ride and tech, and the 2023–24 GLC earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+. It usually places near the top of compact luxury SUV comparisons but rarely beats the BMW X3 or Genesis GV70 outright, and it has no 10Best or NACTOY win.