Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe 2016 | new car sales price

The new Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe range will start at $77,100 when it arrives in Australia in November, but those with a penchant for power will be forced to wait a little longer for the twin-turbo V6-powered AMG GLC43 Coupe.

If you're expecting a sleek two-door, think again. The four-door GLC Coupe is Mercedes' answer to the BMW X4 – part slinky sports car, part SUV and built off the existing GLC platform.

The range begins with the GLC 220d Coupe, powered by a 125kW, 400Nm four-cylinder diesel, with a list price of $77,100. Next is the $80,100 (MRLP) GLC 250 Coupe (which Mercedes-Benz Australia expects to be the volume seller) equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine that's good for 155kW and 350Nm. Top-of-the-range at launch will be the $82,100 (MRLP) GLC 250d Coupe, powered by a 2.2-litre diesel that generates 150kW and 500Nm. All models are equipped with Mercedes' 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system and a nine-speed torque converter automatic.

"The GLC Coupé reflects our iconic Mercedes-Benz coupé design while symbolising the bipolarity of our brand – it is 'hot and cool'," says Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Daimler AG, in what just might be the most stereotypical designer statement of all time.

"With its design idiom of sensual purity, it perfectly embodies our styling philosophy while at the same time representing contemporary luxury."

The level of standard equipment goes someway to justifying the price premium.

The GLC Coupe's entry point is above that of its only true competitor, with BMW X4 pricing kicking off at $70,815 for the entry-level xDrive20i petrol model, and $74,900 for its xDrive20d diesel.

The level of standard equipment goes someway to justifying the price premium, though, with every GLC Coupe equipped with an auto-opening tailgate, the AMG Line style pack, 20-inch AMG alloys and Mercedes' Dynamic Body Control adaptive sports suspension. Inside, all models come with sat-nav, open-pore wood trim and a 360-degree camera. The more expensive models add leather seats and push-button start, while the entire range gets a commendable safety package as-standard, including nine airbags, collision warning with AEB and blindspot monitoring.

Mercedes promises Coupe customers won't be sacrificing practicality either, with cargo space ranging from 500 to 1400 litres, and passenger shoulder, elbow and leg room all identical to the existing GLC SUV.

The order books are now open, with Australian GLC Coupe deliveries expected to begin in November.

The GLC Coupe is perfect for the customer who still wants the practicality of an SUV, but with a sportier edge.

Hot on the heels of the standard range will be the Mercedes-AMG GLC43 Coupe, powered by a performance-tuned version of the German's 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6, boosting power to 270kW and torque to 520Nm. Mercedes are promising a 4.9-sec 0-100km/h sprint – just two-tenths slower than the AMG C43 Sedan.

The GLC43 Coupe is expected to arrive in December, while an even hotter version, the AMG GLC63 Coupe – packing a monstrous twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 - isn't expected to arrive until early 2018.

"The GLC Coupe is perfect for the customer who still wants the practicality of an SUV, but with a sportier edge. It's not just a sporty look, the suspension for all variants in our market makes for a more dynamic drive, regardless of which model you're in," says Mercedes-Benz Australia's Public Relations and Product Communications Manager, Jerry Stamoulis.

Would you pick a GLC Coupe over an X4? Tell us what you think in the comments below.