The electric Mercedes-Benz GLC is bold and brash

This is the all-new electric Mercedes-Benz GLC. Officially, it’s called the Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology, and like its Bavarian rival, this too ushers in a new era for the brand’s electric vehicles.

But unlike the BMW iX3’s design that taps into its history, the GLC EV taps into the future with a new design language that just “screams” Mercedes (quite literally) with the tri-star featured prominently across the front and back of the car.

Its centerpiece, the massive chrome front grille, features multiple lighting elements and illumination, making it very, very distinctive and polarizing to begin with.

However, if you find the bright chrome elements a bit too much, there looks to be a dark chrome option, perhaps reserved for the AMG Line variant in the future. For now, it will only be launching in the GLC 400 4Matic variant, with more variants and powertrains to follow.

This current powertrain pushes out 489 horsepower and is capable of up to 713km of range. The 94kWh battery can now charge faster thanks to an 800V system, allowing for up to 303km of range added in 10 minutes. It’s also capable of bi-directional charging, meaning Vehicle-to-Load, Home, and Grid capabilities are present.

It features a new one-box braking system that allows for a seamless, smooth brake pedal feel that allows for high energy recuperation, the intelligent air suspension taken from the S-Class, alongside optional rear-axle steering for improved agility and comfort.

The interior also debuts a new generation of the Hyperscreen interface. This is the largest screen ever fitted to a Mercedes-Benz, and maybe even a car, as it has a 39.1-inch glass screen that spans across the entire dashboard is now seamless instead of the three different screens that it was before.

It runs the new MBUX 4.0 operating system, this time, with artificial intelligence as the focus, allowing for personalized experiences and intuitive interaction with the virtual assistant. Mercedes-Benz says that it’s “like chatting with a friend, giving detailed responses and follow-up questions without having to repeat context”. And as for the passenger, they have access to over 40 apps.

Due to the new electric vehicle platform, the interior has been made more spacious, with more legroom, headroom, and elbow room front and back. The cargo area holds 570L of cargo with the rear seats up (1,740L with the rear seats down), and there is also a 128L front trunk.

The interior can be specified with a certified animal-free vegan leather that’s verified by The Vegan Society, and a panoramic sunroof with 162 lighting elements (stars) that provides the illusion “of the night sky”. Plus, it features the Terrain Mode, should you want to go off the beaten path, a transparent bonnet function, and the MB.Drive advanced driver assistance system is integrated with the new MBUX OS, and it also features a whole swath of sensors and cameras all around.

The new GLC with EQ Technology will roll out in 2026, with more models and variants to follow. With how Inchcape Philippines, the official distributor of Mercedes-Benz in the Philippines, has introduced more of its electric models, we’re bound to see this core model arrive in the country.

^{Photos from Mercedes-Benz}