2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC

The 2025 GLC 300 4MATIC volume trim uses the M254 2.0L turbo four with a 48V integrated starter-generator, rated 255 hp (plus up to 23 hp of short-term boost). The range runs through the 313-hp GLC 350e and 416-hp AMG GLC 43 to the 671-hp AMG GLC 63 S E Performance.

Peak torque of 295 lb-ft arrives low in the rev range for the volume 2.0T; the AMG 63 S E Performance PHEV tops the range at 752 lb-ft combined.

Mercedes quotes 6.2 seconds to 60 mph for the GLC 300 4MATIC; instrumented tests of the X254 have run slightly quicker. That's mid-pack for compact luxury SUVs with base four-cylinders.

The 48V integrated starter-generator smooths start-stop restarts and fills in low-rpm turbo lag, so delivery is quiet and unruffled; reviewers note the four-cylinder lacks the effortless swell and sound of the BMW X3's or Audi SQ5's six-cylinder options.

The 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic is smooth and generally picks the right gear, with the occasional delayed kickdown from low speeds in Comfort mode. AMG models use the quicker-shifting Speedshift MCT 9-speed.

The GLC 300 is rated to tow 3,500 lbs when properly equipped — the class norm for compact luxury SUVs, below the BMW X3's 4,400 lbs and well short of mid-size rivals.

4MATIC AWD is offered on the GLC 300 and standard on the 350e and both AMG models, with AMG variants getting a fully variable rear-biased 4MATIC+ system. A rear-drive GLC 300 is still sold for 2025, so AWD isn't universal.

A road-focused luxury crossover with modest clearance, no low range or lockers. The optional Off-Road Engineering package adds off-road drive programs and a 'transparent hood' camera view, but there is no dedicated off-road trim.

The 2025 US lineup is unusually broad: mild-hybrid 2.0T in RWD or AWD (GLC 300), a plug-in hybrid with real EV range (GLC 350e, new to the US for 2025), the 416-hp mild-hybrid AMG GLC 43 and the 671-hp plug-in AMG GLC 63 S E Performance. No pure EV yet; the electric GLC was only unveiled in September 2025.

EPA rates the 2025 GLC 300 4MATIC at 26 MPG combined, helped by its 48V mild-hybrid system. That's competitive with gas compact luxury SUVs but behind the hybrid Lexus NX.

EPA city rating of 23 MPG for the volume AWD trim.

EPA highway rating of 31 MPG is solid for an AWD luxury compact SUV.

A 17.4-gallon tank at the EPA 26 MPG combined gives about 452 miles per tank. EPA publishes no range figure for gas vehicles, so this is calculated from the EPA rating and the tank size.

EPA's estimated annual fuel cost is $3,100 at current premium prices — high for the class because the GLC requires premium fuel.

Every gas GLC requires premium unleaded; there is no regular-fuel calibration and no diesel in the US. Even the 350e plug-in needs premium for its gas engine.

NHTSA has not crash-tested the current X254 GLC in any model year; the 2025 GLC has no NCAP entry, and the 2023 and 2024 entries read 'Not Rated' for overall, frontal, side and rollover.

Earned the 2025 Top Safety Pick+ under the tougher 2025 criteria, with Good ratings in small overlap (driver and passenger), the updated moderate overlap test with a rear-seat dummy, and the updated side test.

AEB with pedestrian detection, blind-spot alert and lane-departure functions are standard. Full-range adaptive cruise, lane centering and the active blind-spot/lane-change functions sit in the $1,950 Driver Assistance Package, which is a gap at luxury pricing.

In the updated IIHS pedestrian evaluation, the standard Active Brake Assist rates Acceptable and the optional Driver Assistance Package system rates Good. The volume trim on standard equipment is therefore one step below the best result.

Blind Spot Assist with exit warning is standard. Active intervention (Active Blind Spot Assist braking) and the fuller cross-traffic functions come with the Driver Assistance Package.

The base lane-keeping function corrects rather than centers. The optional Active Steering Assist centers smoothly and confidently and is regarded among the better systems in the class.

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

The 2025 GLC offers no hands-free highway system. Drive Pilot (Level 3) is limited to the S-Class and EQS in select states.

Every trim's headlights rate Good with high-beam assist. The Premium/Exclusive LED reflectors 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 three-across car-seat fitment tight.

The 2025 GLC SUV 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 2025 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, and the wireless pad 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.

The rear-wheel-drive GLC 300 opens the 2025 lineup at $49,250 before destination; 4MATIC adds $2,000. The destination charge is Mercedes' usual ~$1,150 and is not independently confirmed for MY2025.

US buyers mostly choose the GLC 300 4MATIC ($52,400 with destination) and add the usual packages. Dealer inventory stickers cluster in the mid-to-high $50k range.

German-luxury dealer service (alternating Service A/B, brake fluid, filters, tires) costs more than mainstream rivals. Industry estimates for the X254 GLC range widely, and the midpoint reflects typical dealer pricing.

The GLC holds value better than most German luxury SUVs thanks to volume demand. It still trails residual leaders such as Lexus and Porsche.

Mercedes-Benz USA's New Vehicle Limited Warranty runs 4 years/50,000 miles, which is typical for German luxury brands.

Mercedes has no separate longer powertrain warranty; engine and transmission fall under the 4/50 basic coverage. That is below the 5-year floor many rivals offer (Genesis 10/100, Lexus 6/70, Cadillac 6/70).

There is no complimentary scheduled maintenance; prepaid service plans cost extra. Genesis, Volvo and BMW include it. Perks are limited to 4-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance and a Mercedes me connect trial.

$57,000 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (50% retained, or about $28,500) leaves about $28,500 in depreciation. Add the projected $6,500 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $35,000 in total.

The 2025 GLC is a carry-over year of the X254 generation, which began with the 2023 model year. Consumer Reports predicts its reliability will be below average for new cars, basing the forecast on the Mercedes-Benz brand score. That puts it well behind the Lexus NX and in the lower half of compact luxury SUVs.

Mercedes-Benz has historically sat near the bottom of Consumer Reports' brand rankings, and it was left out of the 2025 ranking for lack of data. In J.D. Power's 2025 Vehicle Dependability Study the brand reportedly scored about 243 problems per 100 vehicles, near the bottom of the study, against 140 for leader Lexus. Electronics and infotainment are the recurring weak spots.

Three NHTSA campaigns cover the 2025 GLC 300. The most serious is an improperly tightened steering coupling bolt that can cause loss of steering, though it affects few units. The widest is an infotainment unit reset that blanks the instrument panel, and there is also a C-pillar head-impact compliance fix on cars with the panoramic roof. Software and electrical fixes recur across the generation, but 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. This engine family has only a short US track record, and Mercedes' 48V mild-hybrid systems have had electrical complaints. The 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic, by contrast, is a mature, well-proven transmission. No powertrain recall covers the 2025 GLC 300.

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

Assembly is generally tight and solid-feeling. However, the generation's recalls for assembly faults (steering coupling bolts, seat-rail and dashboard bolts on 2023 cars, a welded engine carrier) and owner reports of trim rattles and MBUX glitches keep it out of the top band.

Mercedes-Benz USA has roughly 380+ dealers, giving dense metro coverage and reasonable reach elsewhere. Loaners 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 this electronics-heavy W254 generation 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 2025 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 trim.

The "Hey Mercedes" natural-language voice assistant and MBUX navigation with augmented-reality guidance are among the stronger native systems in the class.

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 X254 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 and standard wireless charging; no 120V household outlet, and the wireless 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 ($4,150), 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 2025 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.

About 23/31 mpg city/highway 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 with a 31-mpg highway rating; 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 2025 GLC 300 comes standard with MBUX (11.9" touchscreen, 12.3" digital cluster), a panoramic roof, LED headlights, wireless CarPlay/Android Auto, a power liftgate and active brake assist. But heated-seat/keyless bundles (Premium pkg), adaptive cruise with lane centering (Driver Assistance pkg), Burmester audio, HUD and a 360° camera all cost extra, and MB-Tex is standard rather than leather. Genesis GV70 and Volvo XC60 include more at base.

It delivers excellent cabin quality, refinement and tech, but a typically optioned GLC 300 lands around $57k. That is several thousand more than a comparably equipped GV70 2.5T or Audi Q5. The base 255-hp mild-hybrid four is adequate rather than generous for the price.

The range covers the GLC 300 in RWD or 4MATIC, the GLC 350e 4MATIC plug-in hybrid, the AMG GLC 43 and the AMG GLC 63 S E Performance, plus a parallel GLC Coupe body. That spans roughly $50k to $90k+, with deep package and option flexibility.

The GLC is Mercedes' best-selling US model and a top-tier compact luxury SUV, trading places with the BMW X3 and Lexus RX/NX. Mercedes-Benz USA reported GLC retail sales up 20% year-over-year in 2025.

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

Mercedes routinely runs GLC lease specials and subvented MBFS APR. Dealers are discounting leftover 2025 stock now that the MY2026 is on lots, and Edmunds shows advertised prices below MSRP. Cash rebates remain modest.

The X254 generation reached the US for MY2023, so 2025 is its third year: a current platform with MBUX Gen 7 and the latest PHEV. MY2025 is a carry-over year with no major redesign looming for that model year.

Reviewers consistently praise its interior, ride and tech. It usually places near the top of compact luxury SUV comparisons but rarely wins outright against the BMW X3 or Genesis GV70, and it has not earned Car and Driver 10Best or NACTOY honors.