Used 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe is a luxury compact SUV/crossover with a sloping roof. It’s the non-conformist sibling of the GLC-Class SUV, but still has the elevated ride height, quality materials, and regal Mercedes-Benz design. The GLC Coupe also offers a choice of engines that become more wonderful as their outputs increase.

Mercedes-Benz obviously knows that a GLC Coupe isn’t going to please everyone, but for those who like a few SUV traits yet would rather trade some cargo space for extra style, this is an attractive option.

Let’s give the company credit for providing a choice. Just like BMW has done with the X4 and Audi with the Q5 Sportback.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class SUV is reviewed separately.

If it weren’t for the higher driving position, the 2022 GLC Coupe would feel more like a car than something based on an SUV/crossover. And not just any old car, but a luxury vehicle with a well-calibrated suspension providing the ideal balance between suppleness and control.

The 255 horsepower in the GLC 300’s engine is easily enough muscle, able to motivate this compact crossover through gaps in traffic and over mountain ranges. The GLC 43’s 385 horsepower is just the right amount of more than enough, a great way to enjoy what the high-performance division of Mercedes-Benz is all about without being intimidated.

For those who want to be challenged further, the GLC 63 S has a ballistic twin-turbocharged V8 laying down 503 horsepower through a specially tuned all-wheel-drive system. Mercedes-Benz says it will rocket from standstill to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds, the kind of performance that can embarrass a sports car.

Every 2022 GLC Coupe has all-wheel drive, as well as shift paddles mounted beneath the steering wheel for those occasions when the driver feels the urge for greater engagement.

No one ever criticizes a convertible for not having a fixed metal roof. So we’re not going to complain about the reduction in rear headroom and cargo space compared with the GLC-Class SUV. If these aspects are deal-breakers, buyers will be checking out the conventional GLC instead.

Matching the exterior style, the interior of the 2022 GLC Coupe is similarly sleek, with lines drawn carefully, creating elegance by exercising restraint. The 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen stands proud of the center console, complemented by the 12.3-inch digital driver information display that’s optional in the GLC 300, standard in the AMG variants.

Space up front is just fine for a compact crossover, with a raised driving position and comfortable seats. Rear legroom of 37.2 inches is the same as the GLC SUV, which is more than bearable. And the difference in rear headroom is only 1.3 inches.

Cargo space goes from 17.7 cubic feet behind the 40/20/40 split/folding rear seats to 49.4 cubic feet with them folded. Compare that with the 36.6 to 61.3 cubic feet in the GLC SUV. But like we said, a Coupe buyer will have a different set of priorities. Our main complaint is the pronounced lip when loading things over.

The GLC Coupe may or may not be a good idea, but it does have that special Mercedes-Benz manner. The AMG versions also follow the usual formula of having vertical grille slats, as opposed to the horizontal line of the regular stablemates.

It seems to be the way with luxury cars these days that black or white are the only colors that come without an extra charge. Most others are about $720, with a couple costing more. Starling Blue Metallic is a new addition to the palette this year.

The GLC 300 4Matic Coupe offers AMG Line packages with bigger wheels (AMG-design), extra aerodynamic touches, and some exterior parts finished in gloss black.

All versions of the 2022 GLC Coupe are available with brushed aluminum running boards, as well as an illuminated grille badge.

DYNAMIC SELECT
This is the name Mercedes-Benz gives to the selectable driving modes. Settings include Comfort, Sport, and Sport+. It’s easy to scroll between them. There’s also a slot for a customized setting according to personal taste. Like having, say, the throttle response in Sport mode, but the steering system in Comfort.

AUGMENTED VIDEO
The optional navigation system uses a forward-facing camera, whose images are shown on the infotainment display, where things like street numbers and direction arrows are superimposed. It feels like the future, and is reassuring to drivers who aren’t sure where the next turn is.

Let’s just go through the new standard additions to the 2022 GLC 300 4Matic Coupe: Adaptive Highbeam Assist (more sophisticated than just high beams on or off), Hands Free Access (hands-free tailgate operation), Parking Damage Detection, rear USB ports, and a USB-C adaptor cable.

This model also comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights/taillights, keyless entry/ignition, selectable driving modes, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated/power-adjustable front seats with driver’s-side memory settings, simulated leather upholstery, and 64-color ambient cabin lighting.

Among the driver assistance features are front/rear parking sensors, self-parking system, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system.

The infotainment setup includes a 10.25-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, satellite radio, and natural language recognition.

Now it’s time for the new options in the 2022 GLC Coupe. The LED Intelligent Light System (which used to be bundled with the now-standard Adaptive High Beam Assist) has more of a daylight look to its illumination and can shine into corners better than standard headlights.

The GLC 43 gains a 12.3-inch digital driver information display. It also has a sport-tuned air suspension as standard. The GLC 63 S augments its high-performance setup with an electronic limited-slip differential.

Options for the GLC Coupe models include larger wheels, real leather upholstery, heated steering wheel, heated/ventilated front seats, 3-zone automatic climate control, heated rear seats, wireless charging, gesture control, 13-speaker/590-watt Burmester surround-sound system (excellent), head-up display, and a navigation system with augmented video.

AMG models are also eligible for a new-for-2022 aerodynamic package, AMG Performance front seats, track data recorder, and an AMG Drive Unit that allows the traction control to be dialed back.

One option that’s well worth getting is the Driver Assistance Package. For $1,700 or so, this brings adaptive cruise control with active steering assistance, evasive steering assistance, automatic braking (if necessary) on ill-advised lane changes and intersection maneuvers, and various other systems to keep a new GLC Coupe on the straight and narrow, or indeed the deliberate curve.

The 2022 GLC 300 4Matic has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine making 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. This is linked to a 9-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive — known as 4Matic — is standard.

Even though this model is the only 2022 GLC Coupe variant to have 4Matic as part of its name, both the AMG models come with all-wheel drive as well. They also have 9-speed automatic transmissions, but these are tuned by AMG to shift gears faster and handle the extra power.

A twin-turbocharged V6 endows the 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupe with 385 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque. It’s a hand-crafted twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 in the GLC 63 S Coupe, generating 503 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque.

Premium gasoline is required for each engine. The fuel economy figures for the GLC 43 and GLC 63 S are estimates based on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) numbers for 2021. We don’t expect any changes for 2022.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 (GLC 300)
255 horsepower @ 5,800-6,100 rpm
273 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/27 mpg

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (GLC 43)
385 horsepower @ 5,500-6,000 rpm
384 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/24 mpg

4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 (GLC 63 S)
503 horsepower @ 5,500-6,250 rpm
516 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/22 mpg