Quiz question – what’s the best-selling Mercedes-Benz?
It’s not the stately E-Class, nor is it the G-Wagon that has worked its way into cultural consciousness. Mercedes-Benz’s best-seller is the humble GLC.
Mercedes’ compact SUV is many people’s entry point to the brand. Our expert test driver says, “The comfort, technology (including many driver assistance functions), occupant space, quality, engines, and convenience features all add up to a compelling whole.”
But European buyers get access to a version we don’t get in the U.S. – a fuel-sipping plug-in hybrid (PHEV) edition. Over there, it’s called the “GLC 300e.” But it’s about to come stateside, where it will be called the “2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e.”
As far as we can tell, it won’t have 50 more of anything.
Mercedes hasn’t disclosed pricing. The gas-powered GLC starts at $48,250 (including the mandatory $1,150 destination charge). We would expect a PHEV version to land in the mid-$50,000 range.
Plug-in hybrids are like half-electric cars. They can travel for a set distance on electricity alone before using gasoline to go further. Owning one is like having an electric vehicle for around-town errands and a gas-powered car for road trips.
313 Horsepower, Remarkable Range Claims
Mercedes announced the move this week, saying, “The extensive standard offerings of the GLC 300 4MATIC SUV will carry over to the plug-in hybrid while adding more new standard features to enhance the electric experience further. The new plug-in hybrid model will arrive at U.S. dealerships in the second half of 2024.”
This GLC 350e uses a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor, good for a combined 313 horsepower and all-wheel drive (AWD).
The company hasn’t declared its all-electric range in U.S. terms. In Europe, it advertises an all-electric range of 81 miles. However, European testing routinely results in far longer range figures than the formula used by America’s EPA. Still, hitting two-thirds of that range would make it one of the longest-range PHEVs on the market.
“An ‘Off-Road’ drive mode enables the plug-in hybrid to drive electrically on off-road terrain,” Mercedes says.
The company will offer the GLC350e in two trims – Exclusive and Pinnacle – matching the top two trims of the gas-only version.
Mercedes says it “will arrive at U.S. dealerships in the second half of 2024.”
