2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e Plug-in Hybrid

The Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e is available in a single trim format and is likely to be so in 2022 as well. The stylish exterior design is anticipated to be highlighted with premium chrome. And the confirmed refreshed design is wished to look modern and more appealing. Moreover, we can also speculate to have completely redesigned LED headlamps alongside.

In addition to these, you might get the same luxurious cabin with proper comfort levels, amazing design, a 10.25-inch infotainment unit, and much more. You may have an optional premium package for convenience, a driver assistance package for safety, and a design platinum Nappa leather package again as they are so felicitous that their presence is no less than a much awaited postulation.

The tale of this hybrid SUV is just like a theater play where every virtue has its role to play and deliver and the 2022 model will be no exception too. The 18-inch split 5-spoke silver-black alloy wheels and MB-Tex leather upholstery are among those supreme accent multipliers, that coming up with something better than them would be a panacea in its own right, so one’s obsession with their conjecture in the upcoming model is inevitable. Safety prominence with Autonomous emergency braking and Adaptive suspension is so reliable that having them in the description will only add in favor of the argument and are more likely to be reintroduced yet again. As per all the predicted data, it is evident that the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e can be anything but ordinary.

Which Trim should you buy?

Mercedes-Benz GLC Class is pretty equipped as compared to the other cars in the segment. High one accent, exterior appeal, interior organization, and whatnot. The level of refinement is one of a kind and that agile handling, despite being a massive accumulated mass on the wheels, is also captivating enough to make even 52 grand look like a fair deal to invest in. The additional packages on offer can be a value addition but can cost you a hefty amount and their relative worthiness is subjective. So, all these directions direct us to own one. 

2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e Release Date

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e and its booking dates remain unknown to date. There has been no official announcement regarding it yet.

Being a hybrid SUV, the Mercedes GLC 350e won't disappoint you with its mileage. The EPA has rated its all-electric range close to 22 miles. The gas-only combined economy is 25 MPG and that's fair enough for a 315hp SUV. 

It offers one of the biggest fuel tanks in the segment with its 17.4-gallon capacity. It helps in reducing refill intervals. When it pulls out the big guns with its hybrid motor, you get a combined gas-electric return of 68 MPGe. Though these numbers do belong to the predecessor, they are likely to be somewhat the same for the newer model most probably. 

In comparison with the rivals, the GLC 350e may not have the best gas-only mileage. Still, it manages to hit 435 miles at its peak. Where the rivals like the BMW X3 PHEV offer a maximum of 60 MPGe, the GLC 350e is capable of delivering a best in class 68 MPGe that puts it way ahead of its rivals. The electric range makes it suitable for city driving whereas the fuel tank ensures that it offers a longer range on the highway leaving behind the closest competitor by some 22 miles gap. 

The 2022 GLC 350e has got a refreshed cabin design with better features and trims. The lavish interior offers plenty of room inside for 5 people. The modern layout of the cabin provides better visibility and space. With MB-TEx leather upholstery, you have premium chrome and aluminum accents. With the Designo platinum Nappa leather package, the cabin gets a more plush appearance. Mercedes-Benz has adopted a sporty dash with a sloping design. With a massive center display and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, it looks advanced and more driver-friendly. Most of the controls are shifted to the leather/metal-look steering for the driver's convenience. 

In terms of comfort, the Mercedes GLC 350e has extreme convenience levels with its leather-wrapped bucket seats. The heated seats offer a 10-way power driver and 8-way power passenger seat adjustments with 4-way lumbar support and memory settings. The rear seat 40-20-40 split-bench seat ain't the best, still has decent comfort, and can be folded down for cargo space. MB ensures you are satisfied with the standard package of its cars, that's why it offers a wide variety of features for you. The optional package adds 64-color ambient lighting and 3-position passenger seat memory. As the official list of all the features has not been confirmed to date, so a few of them have been taken as a reference as per the previous model itself. 

With ample space and comfort levels, the Mercedes GLC 350e is a premium hybrid SUV for your family. In terms of seating space, it might not be the best as some of the rivals offer more spacious arrangements. You can praise Mercedes for its quality and design as the competitors are trying hard to match its level. For its class, it offers a small cargo space in the trunk where rivals like the Audi Q5 e and the BMW X3 PHEV have more practical cargo capacity. In terms of features, Mercedes could have offered much better convenience options for this price however, with the displays and the aluminum finish, the cabin looks elegant. The Volvo XC60 is a mixed bag of opinions as it gets better legroom for both rows, but at the cost of its smallish cargo capacity of 17.8 cubic feet only. 

Standout Interior features:

• Nappa leather/Metal-look steering wheel
• Premium chrome and aluminum accents
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Power tilt and telescopic steering
• Heated front bucket seats
• Split fold rear bench seat
• 64-color ambient lighting

What's there to keep you entertained?

With the new infotainment, Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e has taken its MBUX to a whole other level. The huge 10.25-inch multimedia touchscreen display is now more responsive than ever. With the MBUX voice command, the infotainment understands natural language. It is operated via a touchpad controller on the center console or the touch controls placed on the steering wheel.

The infotainment offers a front bass audio system with 6 speakers, 2 USB ports, Bluetooth technology, (audio and connectivity) as well as an HD radio. Moreover, you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now as standard. The SiriusXM satellite radio is available as a part of the Premium package where you get a 6-month trial subscription. With the multimedia package, your travels get easier as you have the MB navigation system with live traffic and augmented video. The Hermes Communication provides internet access via a 4G LTE WIFI hotspot. There's an optional Burmester premium surround sound system with 13 speakers for a phenomenal music experience. Subsequently, it is evident that most of the features mentioned here are more like a carry forward from the previous model for their respective functional stature. 

Standout Infotainment features:

• MBUX multimedia system
• 10.25-inch touchscreen display
• Voice command and touch controls
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• MB navigation system
• Hermes Communication 4G LTE WiFi hotspot
• Burmester surround sound system

Being a compact crossover, the GLC Class has a sporty exterior with a capable stance and stylish looks. As it is a Mercedes, you get premium exterior colors with chrome accents. The GLC 350e looks quite big on its wide tracks. To make it more capable and appealing, Mercedes has updated the front fascia. The new bumpers are both stylish and aerodynamic. Above that, we have a shiny signature grille with an integrated star logo at the center. The new projector LED headlamps are sharper.

With limited design lines on the side, the GLC 350e looks simple. The chrome accents are followed on the beltline and the door handles as well. The huge 29.1-inch tires look great wrapped around those 18-inch split 5-spoke silver black alloy wheels. You can choose from three wheel sizes and 7 design options. The rear isn't as sporty as the coupe variant of GLC, still, the 2022 GLC 350e looks stylish with those LED tail lamps and a sporty rear spoiler. The rear windshield is however small which affects its visibility. The huge trunk can welcome huge boxes inside. We have overly done chrome on the rear bumper with the dual tip exhausts.

The GLC 350e is comparatively lighter and smaller than most of its rivals. Still, it is not less than any SUV in terms of looks and design. With its low ground clearance of 5.9 inches, it looks like a mini wagon and evens out its capability with the bigger tires. As it has the longest wheelbase among the crossover SUVs and it weighs less, the ride quality and balance are pretty amazing. But that is something that we can find to be mainstream as each of them has been given an array of tech assists that keeps tracking the ongoing run parameters. 

Standout exterior features:

• Chrome exterior accents
• Roof racks
• Automatic projector LED headlamps and tail lamps.
• Aerodynamic bumpers
• Chrome signature grille
• Dual chrome tip exhausts
• Rear roof spoiler

Mercedes-Benz has packed decent safety in a small package with the GLC 350e. Just like its hybrid powertrain, it has a hybrid structure that comprises high-strength steel and lightweight cast aluminum. The reinforced panels and beams protect the cabin and the passengers. The IIHS rated 2020 MY GLC platform “Good” in most aspects and it received the “Top safety Pick” title too, so having that again, at the least, is obvious.

Along with safety features like crosswind assist stability control, autonomous emergency braking, and a rearview camera, you get driver monitoring alert, blind spot assist, collision mitigation assist, and Pre Safe as well. The driver assistance package adds active lane change assist, and the active distance Distronic. This pursuit is more like a synonym to what we have already witnessed in the previous model and continuation of it in the upcoming model will be no surprise simply for their effectiveness.

Standout safety features:

• Steel-aluminum hybrid structure
• Autonomous emergency braking
• Driver monitoring alert
• Collision mitigation assist
• Blindspot assist
• Active lane change assist
• Pre Safe with sound hearing technology

2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e vs 2021 BMW X3 PHEV

The BMW SUVs have always been ahead in the segment in terms of performance and handling. However, X3 PHEV walks on a different path as it offers the most economical package with an underpowered engine and a cheap price. The Mercedes GLC 350e is comparatively capable and faster. In terms of features and options, both BMW and Mercedes are close. BMW is quite practical as compared to the GLC 350e. However, with its overpriced optional packages, it becomes more expensive than the Mercedes.

2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e vs 2021 Volvo XC60 Hybrid

The Volvo XC60 is the most powerful and capable hybrid SUV. In terms of design, it is now much sleeker and sharper than the previous generation. With its 400hp hybrid powertrain, it puts the German brands to shame. When it comes to safety and driver assistance, both Volvo and Mercedes have plenty to offer. Meanwhile, with a better range and comfort levels, the GLC 350e can make any SUV look cheap. As the XC60 Hybrid has much better optional packages and value, it even surpasses the Mercedes in terms of price and ownership cost.

2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e vs 2021 Audi Q5 hybrid

The Audi Q5 e combines its ruggedness and capability with a hybrid powertrain to deliver a competitive economy and performance numbers on the table. With that, it is the fastest hybrid crossover in the segment. It is even more spacious and feature-filled than the GLC 350e. Still, the cabin experience is much better with the Mercedes as Audi SUVs have limited options for you. The Q5 e in particular is pretty expensive with its limited features. The design does look classy but that ain't no bargain if you don't get the desired features after paying a good amount.

Mercedes is slowly stepping up with hybrid and electric vehicles. Currently, it is offering a limited number of hybrid cars in the segment. With the popularity of the GLC 350e, it can introduce new hybrid or electric cars in the coming future. The GLC Class is both capable and practical on the road. It offers a decent amount of power and torque figures to allow it to tow heavy trailers. It will cost you nearly $50,000 give or take. The package has proper value with its 315hp hybrid powertrain, a standard 4Matic AWD, sporty exterior, and a luxurious cabin with tons of amenities.