Complete Guide to Buying a Mercedes-Benz GLC in 2025

If you desire an SUV with the ideal combination of luxury, technology, performance, and practicality, few get it as right as the Mercedes-Benz GLC does. Although the luxury midsize SUV sector in India is building up with fierce competition from new and renewed options such as the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and the recently launched Volvo XC60 facelift, Mercedes has upped the ante by completely revamping the GLC in 2024. This new version comes with an angular exterior appearance, more powerful motors, a significantly more indulgent interior experience, and a significantly expanded list of features.

For the majority of buyers, the GLC is the ideal gateway into the Mercedes-Benz SUV family—it is well-mannered and elegant, and now comes with more technology than before. However, with prices starting from the ₹70 lakh on-road mark, it is critical to know if this is the ideal luxury SUV for you. In this in-depth guide, we break down everything: specifications, variants, advantages, disadvantages, and our verdict so you can decide with absolute certainty before you put pen to paper.

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Mercedes-Benz GLC Specifications

Let’s start by looking at the engine options, dimensions, and safety tech you’ll find in the 2025 GLC range.

Engine & Transmission

Engine	2.0-litre Turbo Petrol (Mild Hybrid)	2.0-litre Turbo Diesel (Mild Hybrid)
Transmission	9-speed Automatic	9-speed Automatic
Power	258 PS + 23 PS mild hybrid boost	197 PS + 23 PS mild hybrid boost
Torque	400 Nm	440 Nm
0-100 kmph	6.2 seconds	7.9 seconds
Mileage (claimed)	13.2 kmpl	17.4 kmpl

The GLC now features mild-hybrid technology in both engines, improving responsiveness, fuel efficiency, and reducing emissions. The petrol variant is especially brisk, offering a genuinely quick 0–100 time.

Dimensions

Length	4716 mm
Width	1890 mm
Height	1640 mm
Wheelbase	2888 mm
Boot Space	620 litres

The new GLC has grown in almost every dimension, which translates into better rear seat space and a larger boot, making it more practical for families.

Safety

Feature	Availability
Airbags	7 (standard)
ABS with EBD	Standard
360-degree Camera	Standard
Tyre Pressure Monitoring	Standard
Blind Spot Assist	Standard
Active Brake Assist	Standard
Lane Keep Assist	Standard
ISOFIX Mounts	Standard

The GLC has always been safe, but the 2025 model adds more active safety tech as standard, including Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keep Assist, improving peace of mind.

Why You Should Consider the Mercedes-Benz GLC

Within the ₹70–₹80 lakh price margin, the Mercedes-Benz GLC is a high-tech, all-around car with class, acceleration, and functionality. Here are several reasons why you should consider it:

Engines, Especially the Diesel Option

With stricter emission norms shutting down most of the diesel versions of cars in India, Mercedes has resisted the change by uprating its proven 2.0-litre diesel engine to the current BS6 Phase II norms. The GLC diesel is as powerful as before, with 194 hp and a phenomenal 400 Nm of torque. What you will most appreciate is the smooth, effortless acceleration, regardless of whether you’re passing slow-moving trucks along the expressway or crawling along the traffic flow.

The 9-speed auto gearbox is incredibly fast and smooth, and the torque of the diesel is seemingly effortless without the engine ever feeling strained. Interestingly enough, the car is also immensely fuel-efficient for its class—real-world high-tarmac mileage hits and occasionally crosses 17 kmpl if you drive sensibly.

With petrol power, the new GLC 300 petrol mild-hybrid puts out 258 hp and 400 Nm. There is smooth stop-start and supplementary boosting on demand. This makes the new petrol version more responsive than its predecessor and also improves economy. While the diesel is still the choice for the long road tour, the new petrol is now much more viable as a daily driver than before.

Ride Quality

Mercedes-Benz GLC’s signature characteristic is the smooth navigation of rough road surfaces with complete confidence. Even today in 2025, it still sets the industry standard for one class above the competition in ride comfort. Whether you go over potholes, cracked tarmac, or concrete joints of flyovers, the shock system of GLC suppresses the jerbs effectively.

It’s more than low-speed compliance—the GLC is comfortable and grippy at triple-digit elevations as well. Body pitch and body roll around corners are minimized, and as a tall luxury SUV, this is nothing short of exemplary. Whether you get time behind Indian highways or uncertain city streets, the soft, comforting ride of the GLC is always reassuring.

Exquisite Cabin

Mercedes has lifted the new GLC’s cockpit quality several notches higher. Once you’re inside the car, the details speak for themselves—be it the soft-touch dashboard, the tastefully incorporated turbine-shaped air vents, or the two large high-resolution screens.

The new GLC takes over the MBUX infotainment system, as natural-sounding as advanced-sounding. Voice control (“Hey Mercedes”) is more successful than previously, and you can control the ambiance lighting as easily as you control the navigation system with natural inflections of tone. The Burmester surround system supplies genuine occasion-formality, and the seats themselves are comfortable as well as having a massage function—something you’re rarely going to find in most competitors at this price point.

Second-row space is improved with smart packaging, and there is also more boot volume now (up to 620 litres). Whether you’re commuting to work alone or driving the family on long journeys, the GLC interior is the space you’ll want to come back to.

Why You Might Not Consider the Mercedes-Benz GLC

While the Mercedes-Benz GLC is an impressive all-rounder, it’s important to weigh a few potential drawbacks before you sign on the dotted line. Here are the main considerations:

No AWD for Petrol

The most obvious oversight is the lack of the GLC petrol variant (the GLC300) from Mercedes’ proven 4MATIC all-wheel drive system. This might not be so critical for purely city buyers, but if you regularly traverse hilly roads, take the monsoons with wet streets, or simply want the reassurance of having AWD as another safety net, this could be a big loss.

With the all-wheel drive system as standard fitment on their petrol versions, the BMW X3 xDrive and the Volvo XC60 B5 AWD are likely more appealing purchases for buyers who expect to drive in varied road conditions themselves. In contrast, GLC buyers of its petrol engine will get rear-wheel drive as standard spec, which is, albeit, less versatile.

Premium Pricing

While the GLC has also always been marginally price-premium, the new 2025 model has increased its price still further, with ex-showroom prices now in the neighbourhood of ₹73 lakh for the petrol and nearly ₹79 lakh for the diesel AWD variant. The price is extremely high, considering the new Audi Q5 and BMW X3 are set to compete with the GLC, offering similar features at a price difference of several lakhs of rupees.

The price gap comes into clearer view still when you include insurance premiums, tags, and luxury packages such as an extended warranty or service plan into the equation. While Mercedes has an unmatched brand presence and resale reputation, price-to-equipment ratio buyers might find the GL does not possess as good a value as many of its German competitors.

Mercedes-Benz GLC Variants & Prices (2025)

Variant	Engine	Drive	Ex-Showroom Price
GLC 300	2.0L Petrol (MHEV)	RWD	₹73 lakh
GLC 220d 4MATIC	2.0L Diesel (MHEV)	AWD	₹79 lakh

Best Mercedes-Benz GLC Variant to Buy

It is up to you and what you intend to do in the vehicle and what you want most in the way of features.

If you do most of your driving around the city and want a luxury, punchy petrol engine with lower running costs, the GLC 300 is the ideal car for you. It is extremely powerful with the added benefit of mild-hybrid powertrain aid for smoother stop-start driving and increased pull away from rest. This variant is the most budget-friendly option for buyers who don’t require all-wheel drive.

However, if you want the most versatile and capable GLC, the GLC 220d 4MATIC is the clear champion. Not only does the diesel engine deliver excellent torque and high-distance fuel economy, but the 4MATIC AWD system also gives you peace of mind in rough road conditions or poor weather conditions. This trim is also more appropriate if you live close to mountainous terrain or take long road trips several times a year.

While it costs around ₹6 lakh more than the petrol counterpart, the cash is absolutely worth it for the GLC 220d 4MATIC’s higher resale potential, grippier road-holding credentials, and smoothly powerful engine, no matter the circumstance. In our book, if you can afford it,  the GLC 220d 4MATIC is the best premium SUV variant to buy in the 2025 GLC lineup

Conclusion

The Mercedes-Benz GLC has been an Indian best seller for years, and with good reason—it is a genuine luxury SUV with no compromise on comfort, safety, and everyday usability. Its new generation strengthens this reputation with more powerful and efficient powertrains, an attention-catching high-tech cockpit, and still more equipment than before.

It does command a price premium, and yes, the absence of AWD in the petrol variant is a miss. But if you are looking at buying a luxury SUV India can depend upon to deliver refinement and understated luxury, the GLC cannot be dismissed.

It is comfortable enough for daily commutes, roomy enough for weekend road trips, and elegant enough to make you feel special every time you get behind the wheel. If you want to upgrade to a car truly worthy of your success, the GLC is a good bet to take the lead.

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