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What's the difference?
Just seeing a coupe SUV in the traffic makes some people very cranky, but others love the sight of them and it’s these fans that Mercedes-Benz is hoping to woo with its new GLC300 Coupe.
This new-generation GLC Coupe arrives six months after the regular SUV version of the GLC landed in Australia and goes head-to-head with the BMW X4 and Audi’s Q5 Sportback.
The coupe style with the ‘cut-down’ roofline which slopes towards a low tailgate means practicality is compromised and if you’re thinking of putting one in your family’s driveway then it might be an idea to read how this writer’s family coped with the GLC300 Coupe for a few days.
The Audi Q5 now has a sportier-looking sibling, with the German brand's all-time best-selling SUV welcoming a sleeker, more aggressive solution it calls its Sportback range.
And look, spoiler alert, it looks better than the regular Q5. It's as simple as that. So if that's all you're here to find out, feel free to close the laptop, put the phone away, and move on with your day.
But you'd be doing yourself a disservice, because there are more questions to be answered here. Like will you paying in on-board comfort for this new raked roofline? Do the Sportback's sporty intentions make for a more annoying daily drive? And how much does Audi want you to pay for one?
All these questions and more answered. So stay with me.
The GLC300 Coupe isn't quite as great when it comes to being a family car as the regular SUV version of the GLC, and that's purely down to the sloping roofline which not only makes access more difficult to the second row but reduces boot capacity.
That said, the GLC300 Coupe makes a much better family car than a Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan, or any sedan.
Easy and enjoyable to drive, packed with great features and still practical, the GLC300 Coupe would still cut it as a good family car.
Let’s forget the money, for a second, because yes, you’re paying more for the Sportback variant. But if you can afford it, then why wouldn’t you. This is a sleeker, sportier and more stylish answer to the regular Q5, which was already a super-solid offering in the segment. And as far as I can tell, the practicality sacrifices you have to make are minimal at best.
So why not?
Coupe SUVs aren’t for everybody… they’re not even for lots of people. But the design of an SUV with its roof cut down so that it meets the tailgate at an almost sportscar-like angle appeals to more than a few fans. The thing is they don’t just like the look, they love it, and they also probably enjoy how much the styling makes other people cranky.
To my eyes the GLC300 Coupe is the best execution of the bodystyle compared to those of BMW and Audi. There’s an elegance to the GLC300 Coupe and the AMG-line adds a tough look that only enhances the solid, powerful but pretty look.
The GLC Coupe is a mid-sized SUV and this new generation model is a bit bigger the previous one and now measures 31mm longer at 4763mm end to end, it’s 1890mm wide, 1605mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2888mm.
It’s also more aerodynamic than ever. No seriously, it’s drag coefficient is now 0.27 and it looks like a bar of soap - and it's about as slippery as one, too.
More curved surfaces await inside with a dashboard that pours down into the large centre console and it's adorned with a sloping and large portrait-style media screen.
At night or in tunnels the ambient lighting glows through the air vents and skirts the edges of the door trims, console and dashboard.
It’s a minimalist and high-tech cockpit with modern sports seats up front and a Nappa leather wrapped steering wheel with its twin blade design.
So, how does the coupe design work for family practicality? Let’s take a look.
Our adventure began with the SQ5, and, to my eye at least, it looks mean, and more like a jacked-up hot hatch than sportier version of a mid-size SUV.
Speaking of which, it looks bigger than a mid-size, too, as though the flattened roof has pushed the rear out for more length, at least visually.
By far its best angle, though, will be afforded to the people in front of you on the road, with each peek in the rear-view mirror revealing a wide, forward-leaning grille, all black honeycomb mesh, with a cat-clawed bonnet and headlights that sweep back into the bodywork, hinting at speed before it even sets off.
Side on, the massive 21-inch alloys hide red brake calipers, but it does also reveals a tale of two SUVs, with the front half looking taller and straighter, while the rear roofline is more raked as it flies towards a fairly small rear windscreen with a roof spoiler that juts out over it.
At the rear, the quad exhaust tips (which sound great), and a boot spoiler moulded into the bodywork complete the package.
But even in lesser lesser Q5 45 TFSI guise, this Sportback looks the business, I reckon. Though a little more premium than performance-focused, perhaps.
As the name suggests, the Sportback version gives you, well, a sportier back, and it all starts at the B-Pillar, with a more raked roofline that gives this version of the Q5 a sleeker, more slippery look.
But they aren’t the only changes. In Sportback models, the single-frame grille upfront is different, and the grille is also positioned lower, and seems to jut out from the bonnet more, for a lower, more aggressive look. The lights are also positioned a little higher, and those massive air vents on either side are different, too.
The cabin is the usual level of Audi niceness, with a big central screen, big digital screen in front of the steering wheel, and a sense of genuine solidity and quality wherever you look.
There are some questionable materials at work, though, like the door trims and the hard plastic that your knee rubs against when driving, but all in all, it's quite a lovely place to spend time.
SUVs are the most practical cars for families because of the better access to the cabin thanks to their large doors and slightly elevated ride height, their big boots with wide and tall hatch openings and their high flat rooflines. They’re essentially raised station wagons.
A coupe-style SUV still has four doors but they are less boxy due to the sloping roofline which falls away quickly to meet the tailgate at a lower point. The effect is a sporty-looking shape but practicality is lost in this exercise of form over function.
The second row doorways aren’t as large as those on the regular SUV. I did a side-by-side test and felt like I had to duck under the sloping roof when getting out of the back seat.
The smaller opening also made it trickier to lift my toddler daughter into her baby seat.
The sidesteps are also surprisingly handy for bigger kids and my eight-year-old used them every time when climbing into the car.
Cabin storage is outstanding with huge door pockets and cupholders in both rows, and while the 545-litre boot in the GLC300 Coupe is 80 litres smaller than the cargo capacity of the regular GLC SUV, it's bigger than the previous version of the Coupe.
As for people space, there’s enough headroom for me at 189cm tall in the back seat and heaps of legroom, even behind my driving position.
I’ve mentioned the lack of climate control in the second row, but also should point out that there are no USB ports back there either.
There are USB ports in the big centre console box upfront and a long cord should be able to make it to the second row.
There’s a wireless phone charger but it's housed in the bowels of the centre console too, and you’ll need to weave your hand while clasping the phone under the shiny black trapdoor, past the cupholders possibly with drinks in them and almost under the dashboard.
The Q5 Sportback range stretches 4689mm in length, 1893mm in width, and around 1660mm in height, depending on the variant. It rides on a 2824mm wheelbase.
And remember when I said there were few practicality penalties for the new sportier look? This is what I meant.
Up front, it's basically the same Q5, so if you know that car, you'll know this one, with its spacious and airy feeling front seats.
In the back, though, things are a little different, just not quite as different as I was expecting. The new sloping roofline has actually only reduced headroom by 16mm. I’m 175cm tall, and there was clear air between my head and the roof, and plenty of leg-room, too.
The central tunnel arrangement means you probably don’t want to squeeze three adults across the back, but two would really be no problem at all. That way, you can deploy the back seat divider to uncover two cupholders, use the two USB charge ports or adjust your climate controls, including temperature settings.
In the 45 TFSI and SQ5 models, the rear seats also slide or recline, meaning you can prioritise luggage space or passenger comfort, depending on what you're carrying.
Up front, there’s heaps of little cubby spots, including a key storage spot under the aircon controls, another in front of the gear shift, a phone slot next to the gear shift, two cupholders in the big centre console, and a surprisingly shallow centre console that’s home to a wireless phone charger and a USB port, joining the regular USB port under the drive mode selector.
And at the rear, Audi reckons there’s 500 litres of storage, only about 10 litres less than the regular Q5, which grows to 1470 litres with the second-row folded.
Mercedes-Benz is offering Australia just the GLC300 grade in both the SUV and Coupe body styles.
High-performance AMG variants are out overseas now and will arrive in Australia soon, too.
You can expect to pay more for these AMG beasts - a lot more than the $113,900 list price of the GLC300 Coupe.
Still the GLC300 Coupe does come standard with an AMG Line body kit and 20-inch AMG alloy wheels. LED headlights are also standard, so is the panoramic glass roof, tinted rear glass, proximity unlocking and a power tailgate.
Inside there’s synthetic leather Artico upholstery, sports heated front seats, Nappa leather steering wheel, an 11.9-inch media display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display. There’s also dual-zone climate control and wireless phone charging.
The value is good in terms of features, although the price is slightly higher compared to the rivals such as the BMW X4 xDrive30i ($106,400) and Audi Q5 Sportback 55TFSI ($110,200).
It’s worth pointing out, too, that the GLC300 Coupe is about $10K more than the GLC300 SUV version. Why? The coupe versions of prestige SUVs always tend to be pricier than their regular more boxy SUV siblings. Somebody in marketing will be able to explain why.
Having lived with the GLC300 Coupe with my family over the past few days I can say the proximity unlocking which works by touching even the back door handles is excellent, the tinted windows are dark and cut out much of the sun's glare, but there’s no climate control in the second row. There are air vents back there, which is good.
I found that on hot days the semi-transparent shade on the glass roof couldn’t stop the cabin from heating up quickly.
The three-model line-up (two regular Q5s and the SQ5) Sportback range kicks off with the Q5 40 Sportback TDI quattro, which will set you back $77,700 (which is plenty more than the $69,900 of the regular Q5).
The entry-level Q5 Sportback gets 20-inch alloys, a standard S Line sporty exterior styling treatment, LED headlights and tail lights, and an electric tailgate with gesture control. Inside, there’s leather trim, electric sport seats, three-zone climate, paddle-shifters for the steering wheel and ambient interior lighting.
You also get the virtual cockpit, the 10.1-inch central screen with all the Connect Plus services, like live traffic, weather and restaurant tips, as well Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay.
The range then steps up to the Q5 45 Sportback TFSI quattro, yours for $86,300. That's another marked jump from its regular Q5 equivalent.
That model delivers a new 20-inch alloy wheel design, a panoramic sunroof, and Matrix LED headlights, The S Line treatment extends to the interior, along with Nappa leather trim, heated front seats and a sliding or reclining rear bench. You get a better sound system, too, with 10 speakers, including a sub-woofer.
Finally, the SQ5 Sportback is yours for $110,900 (up from $106,500), and delivers 21-inch alloys, adaptive dampers and red brake callipers, while inside you get electric steering adjustments, a head-up display, colour ambient lighting and a banging Bang and Olufsen stereo with 19 speakers.
The GLC300 Coupe has a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine making 190kW of power and 400Nm of torque.
There’s also an overboost function which allows the engine to make an extra 17kW and 200Nm just for a brief moment, but that extra dollop of grunt combined with the regular output provides impressive acceleration (0-100km/h in about 6.3 seconds) for overtaking or moving quickly when you need to.
A smooth nine-speed automatic transmission sends the drive to all-four wheels.
The GLC300 Coupe is all-wheel drive and while there’s a setting for rougher terrain, along with one for comfort, eco and sport, but I’d make sure that it doesn’t get any more adventurous than tame gravel and dirt roads.
Mercedes-Benz refers to the GLC300 Coupe as a mild hybrid and this is because it has a 48-volt system and an integrated starter-generator.
This type of hybrid doesn’t use electric motors, doesn’t drive the wheels and won’t save much fuel, but it will provide efficiencies by supporting the engine and when coasting, plus will reduce petrol consumption to a small degree.
There are three engines total here, kicking off with the 2.0-litre TDI in the Q5 Sportback 40. It produces 150kW and 400Nm - enough for a sprint to 100km/h in 7.6s. The 2.0-litre TFSI in the Q5 Sportback 45 petrol bumps those figures to 183kW and 370Nm, lowering your spring to 6.3s.
Both pair with a seven-speed S tiptronic automatic, and feature a 12-volt mild-hybrid system to smooth out acceleration and lower fuel use, as well Quattro ultra, which can disconnect the rear drive shaft so only the front wheels are driven.
The SQ5 gets a seriously lusty 3.0-litre TDI V6 which deliver 251kW and 700Nm, and a sprint of 5.1s It also gets a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, and an eight-speed tiptronic transmission.
As we mentioned above the GLC300 Coupe's 48-volt mild hybrid system is not the kind of hybrid that will allow you to drive miles on electric power, nor will it dramatically reduce fuel consumption in the way a parallel, series or plug-in hybrid will. But every bit of efficiency helps.
Mercedes-Benz says the GLC300 Coupe will use 7.7L/100km after a combination of open and urban roads.
We had the GLC300 Coupe for just two days, but in that time my family covered 176km of regular daily usage which took in motorways but mainly suburban duties such as the school run, supermarket dashes, that sort of thing.
In our fuel test we measured 14.48 litres at the fuel pump which works out to be an on-test fuel use figure of 8.2L/100km and not far off the manufacturer’s claim.
While this fuel consumption isn’t overly high, a plug-in hybrid or even a parallel or series hybrid could return about 5.0L/100km or less.
Mercedes-Benz has dropped plug-in hybrids from its Australian range which is a shame because it would be good to see more efficient options in the GLC range. Of course if you want more efficiency from a Benz of the same size, there is always the fully electric EQB or EQC.
All Q5 Sportback models are fitted with a 70-litre fuel tank, which should produce a driving range in excess of 1000kms - though prepare for pain at the pump. Sometimes premium fuel in Sydney can run to around $1,90 a litre, for example, so the good stuff will cost you around $130 bucks a tank in the petrol cars.
Audi says the Q5 Sportback 40 TDI will sip 5.4 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, while emitting 142g/km of c02. The 45 TFSI needs 8.0 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, and will emit 183g/km of c02. The SQ5 sits somewhere in the middle, with 7.1 litres per 100km and 186g/km of c02.
There’s a lot to like here but the short version is the GLC300 Coupe has a comfortable ride, but good handling, with a responsive engine, although rear visibility through the small back window is poor.
If we drill down a bit further I can tell you that excellent cameras around the car will help you check to make sure kids aren’t running around behind you and that forward and side visibility through the window is good.
An important takeaway is that the GLC300 Coupe is easy to drive with light steering and an engine that’s mild and controlled in its power delivery.
The gear shifter is mounted on the steering column, in the same way an indicator lever is. So putting the car into Drive, Reverse and Park is so easy and means you don’t have to take your hands off the steering wheel.
As a family car I liked the good body control and composed ride. We have a small toddler that we can sometimes only get to sleep by taking her for a drive and we found that she could nod off and not be woken by potholes and speed bumps or too much leaning in the corners.
How to best describe the drive experience in the Q5 Sportback? That's easy. And it's 'easy'.
Honestly, I know this is ostensibly the sportier version of the Q5, but the truth is that, in the 45 TFSI version we tested, it's a comfortable, light-feeling drive experience that only ever reveals its sporty nature when you really command it to.
Left in its Auto drive mode, the Q5 45 TFSI will positively waft around town, road noise kept to an absolute minimum, and feeling somehow smaller and lighter than its dimension would suggest.
You can dial-up the aggression by cycling through the drive modes, of course, but even in Dynamic guise it never feels too harsh, too aggressive. More that you've simply tightened the screws a little bit.
Plant your right foot and the 45 TFSI will collect speed in a way that Audi refers to as "hot hatch-like", punching towards the 100km/h sprint with verve and aggression. But having just stepped out of the SQ5, it still feels somehow sedate, and almost relaxing, rather than out-and-out aggressive.
And that's because the SQ5 variant is clearly, purposefully, the performance-focused variant here. I think this V6 engine is an absolute peach, and its the kind of powerplant that inspires you to stick with the vehicle's most dynamic settings, putting up with the just-too-firm suspension settings so you can access more fo the grunt more quickly.
And it feels constantly ready for action. Tap the accelerator and the car bristles, dropping down a gear, revving higher and preparing for your next command.
Through bends, it feels smaller and lighter than you might expect, with plenty of grip and steering that, while not overflowing with feedback, feels true and direct.
Short answer? It's the one I'd take. But you'll pay for it.
The GLC was given the maximum five star ANCAP rating in 2022. There’s AEB, active lane keeping assistance and active blind spot warning and nine airbags including a centre airbag.
As mentioned above I especially liked the surround-view camera systems - which let you look right around the car - good for driveway safety and kids.
For child seats you’ll find two ISOFIX mounts and three top tether anchor points in the second row.
I was also impressed to see a space-saver spare wheel under the boot floor and not just a puncture repair kit.
The Audi Q5 Sportback carries a five-star ANCAP safety rating thanks to the regular Q5, but that’s really the minimum cost of entry these days. So what else do you get?
Advanced driver-assist systems on offer here include autonomous emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), active lane-keep assist with lane change warning, driver attention assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, park assist, a great surround-view camera, parking sensors, exit warning and tyre pressure monitoring, and more radars than you can poke a stick at.
There's also twin ISOFIX anchor points, and top-tether points for child seats.
The GLC300 is covered by Mercedes-Benz's five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
Services are annually or every 25,000km. And you can buy a three-year service plan for about $3000.
All Audis are covered by a three-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, which really isn’t great in a world of five-, seven- and even 10-year warranties.
The brand will let you prepay your services, required annually, for the first five years, with the regular Q5 Sportback billed at $3140 and the SQ5 billed at $3170.