Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe review

It feels very familiar in here, particularly if you’ve driven the current GLC SUV with which it is largely identical, or tried the previous generation SUV/coupe. 

Indeed, the biggest talking point is the 11.9-inch portrait infotainment touchscreen which adorns the centre console. Where previously there was physical switchgear to control the climate settings, the screen now fills the position where these once sat, with the air vents repositioned above.

Elsewhere, the driver gets a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, while the steering wheel gains two more spokes and now gets fiddly touch sensitive pads in place of the old physical buttons and rotary controllers... and it's none the better for it.

Is the central touchscreen any better?

Slightly. Certainly lovely to look at with its pin-sharp resolution and clean graphics, and while it is initially quite daunting to use, it quickly becomes easy to navigate around. Thumbs up to Mercedes for the permanently displayed row of climate controls at the bottom of the screen too.

Less impressive is the optional augmented reality navigation system, which obstructs the map view and signposts any turn offs far too late. Fortunately the head-up display is as good as they come: larger than most and it'll show you the satnav instructions very clearly indeed.

A few more shortcut buttons wouldn’t go amiss, though Mercedes would undoubtedly say we should be using its ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice assistant. It worked well enough when we tested it, but on several occasions thought we were talking to it when we weren’t. Annoying.

What’s the space like for passengers?

It’s certainly very comfortable up front and adequate for two adults in the back, though as ever with coupeified variants you do suffer slightly for headroom in the rear. Anyone over 6ft tall is likely to find it a squeeze.

In the boot you get 545 litres (45 litres more than the previous generation) with the seats up and 1,490 litres (up 90 litres) with the seats down. So more than the BMW X4 and Audi Q5 Sportback, but well shy of what you'd get if you saved your money and just bought the GLC SUV instead.

Word of warning: the 300e manages just 399/1,335 litres seats up/down, because of the big battery. Travel light, is our advice.