Image: Mercedes-Benz press kit
The second-gen GLC delivers a more spacious, tech-laden and refined package that justifies its premium over the C-Class for buyers wanting an SUV body style.
The 2025 Mercedes GLC arrives in India in its second generation, longer by 60 mm, with a 15 mm longer wheelbase and 20 mm of extra ground clearance over the global model. It packs a Maybach-inspired cabin, the latest MBUX with an 11.9-inch screen, a 15-speaker Burmester system, and a choice of mild-hybrid petrol and diesel powertrains. Pricing is expected to land in the 73-85 lakh on-road bracket, putting it head-on against the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60.
The second-generation GLC is evolutionary rather than revolutionary, retaining the family resemblance to the outgoing car while growing in every dimension. Length is up by 60 mm to over 4.7 metres, the wheelbase stretches to nearly 2.9 metres, and ground clearance has been raised by 20 mm over the global model thanks to the off-road package fitted as standard for India. The Avantgarde trim on test wears LED High Performance headlamps (not the Multibeam units), 19-inch 235/55 tyres on attractive multi-spoke alloys, and a body-coloured grille with the prominent three-pointed star hiding the ADAS radar. Faisal Khan rightly calls out the fake exhaust tips at the rear; the actual outlets sit lower on either side. The chrome detailing on the bumper, connected LED tail lamps and hidden washer nozzles speak to typical Mercedes attention to detail. The narrow body relative to its height makes the front fascia look slightly compact in person.
Step inside and the GLC feels like a junior S-Class. The dashboard layout mirrors the new C-Class with a Maybach-inspired flowing design, a free-standing 12.3-inch instrument cluster and an 11.9-inch portrait infotainment screen tilted six degrees toward the driver. Build quality is excellent: soft-touch surfaces, beautiful contrast stitching, real metal switchgear on the doors and 64-colour ambient lighting that flows seamlessly into the door cards. Three interior colour schemes are offered, with the Sienna brown and beige being the highlights. Front seats get eight-way electric adjustment with memory, heating, lumbar and electrically extendable thigh support, and the seven-profile biometric save function is genuinely clever. The panoramic sunroof is large, though the manual sunshade is only semi-opaque. Rear-seat space is decent for two adults up to about six feet, with three adjustable headrests, two USB-C ports and rear AC vents, but as Gagan Choudhary notes, under-thigh support is limited and the recline angle could be more relaxed for long journeys. The 620-litre boot is 70 litres larger than before.
India gets two powertrains, both 2.0-litre four-cylinder units paired with a 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic and a 48V mild-hybrid integrated starter generator that adds 23 hp and 200 Nm on demand. The GLC 300 4MATIC petrol (M254) makes 258 hp and 400 Nm, dispatching 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds, while the GLC 220d (OM654M) produces 197 hp and 440 Nm and takes around 8 seconds. The petrol is refined, linear and genuinely punchy in the upper rev range, with well-contained turbo lag and smooth, intelligent shifts from the gearbox. The diesel's stronger low-end torque makes it feel more tractable in everyday driving and returns a claimed 18-19 kmpl against the petrol's 14.7 kmpl, though MotorOctane found real-world petrol economy closer to 8-12 kmpl depending on driving style. The return of 4MATIC on the petrol (the previous-gen GLC 200 was rear-wheel drive) is a meaningful upgrade. The plastic paddle shifters disappoint at this price.
Mercedes has stiffened the GLC's suspension by approximately 15% versus its predecessor to sharpen handling, and the trade-off is evident at low speeds where the ride is firmer than expected and the suspension transmits some noise over broken patches. India does not get the air suspension or rear-wheel steering options offered abroad, only conventional steel springs without adaptive dampers. That said, body roll is well contained, the steering is light yet accurate at city speeds and weights up nicely, and high-speed cruising is composed with the engine sitting at around 1,500 rpm at 100 km/h. NVH is genuinely impressive: foam packed into the body's hollow sections keeps wind, road and engine noise out of the cabin, and the pre-safe sound system even plays a tone to protect occupants' hearing in a crash. The five drive modes (Off-road, Eco, Comfort, Sport, Individual) meaningfully alter throttle and gearbox behaviour. The 360-degree camera with transparent bonnet view is a boon on broken Indian roads.
The GLC is loaded for India with the latest MBUX (NTG7), wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, OTA updates, a head-up-style off-road display showing pitch, altitude and tyre data, GPS-based automatic camera activation, biometric sensor with profiles for seven users, and the new Seat Kinetics function that auto-adjusts the seat to your height. The 15-speaker, 710W Burmester 3D surround sound system is a genuine highlight and arguably the best in the segment. Seven airbags including a knee airbag, ESP, blind spot assist, active brake assist, attention assist and a PM 2.5 cabin filter come standard. However, the absence of keyless entry on a car priced above 80 lakh on-road is genuinely puzzling, and the ADAS suite is less comprehensive than rivals; there is no adaptive cruise control or proper lane-keep system in the India trim. The drive mode selector and paddle shifters feel plasticky against the otherwise premium cabin.
Pricing is expected to span roughly 73-85 lakh on-road, with the diesel currently at around 81 lakh on-road in Mumbai and the petrol likely to settle between 80-85 lakh on-road after launch, a 5-6 lakh hike over the outgoing car. That puts it in the thick of the BMW X3 (82-85 lakh), Audi Q5, Volvo XC60, Lexus NX and Land Rover Discovery Sport set. Value depends on what you prioritise: the GLC delivers the most luxurious cabin and best infotainment in the segment, but the X3 is sharper to drive and the upcoming localised Land Rovers and new-gen Q5 in 2026 will pressure pricing. The omission of keyless entry, air suspension and a fuller ADAS suite at this price will sting buyers who cross-shop. For the buyer who wants a C-Class with SUV practicality, badge cachet and class-leading tech, the GLC makes a strong case. Cannibalisation of C-Class sales is almost inevitable.
TeamBHP regulars echo the broader sentiment: the new GLC is a meaningful step up in cabin tech, refinement and rear-seat space, but the firmer ride on steel springs and missing features like keyless entry, air suspension and full ADAS draw fair criticism at this price. Owner perspectives consistently praise the Burmester audio, build quality and the diesel's real-world efficiency for buyers doing 1,500+ km a month.
"Praises the punchy petrol, beautiful interior and the new MBUX, but flags the fake exhaust tips, plastic paddle shifters and the baffling absence of keyless entry."
"Recommends the diesel for high-mileage buyers given its near-19 kmpl claim, while noting suspension noise on broken roads and limited under-thigh support at the rear."
"Walks through the spec sheet thoroughly and highlights the 620-litre boot, panoramic sunroof and Mercedes me connected features as standout practical wins."
"After a month with the car, calls out the missing ADAS, sunroof heat ingress and seat massage that the older GLC offered, but loves the Burmester and overall comfort tuning."
"Approaches it from a used-car-buyer angle, noting that 4MATIC is now back on the petrol and that interior, boot and feature differences between petrol and diesel are negligible."
"Calls the GLC a true SUV with excellent fit-finish, sharp handling in Sport+, and pliant ride that turns slightly bouncy at high speed."