Smart 1 vs Mercedes-AMG GLC63

What's the difference?

It’s easy to get lost in marketing hype, but — based on first impressions — the Smart #1 does what it says on the tin. This is a Chinese-built SUV that feels more premium than most, and one which is priced to tempt you from one of the German big three. The warranty isn’t good enough, though, and the multimedia screen can be infuriating, but it drives very nicely, especially on suburban roads.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

Obviously, I had nothing to worry about. The GLC 63 S is the same boisterous, silly car I drove 18 months ago, just with a few new bits to improve the package. As ever, the GLC 63 S is all about the experience - big noise, huge grip but all in comfort with plenty of gadgets.

The only real issues are price, service pricing and the length of the warranty. The first two probably won't bother most owners and one hopes the third won't be problem, but it would be nice if the length was reflected in the price.

If you care about badge, it has impeccable credentials, the AMG stripes and that plate on the engine with the builder's name. They're good credentials. The GLC 63 S has some very determined and capable competition, but none of them blend the speed, overall comfort and sheer sensory silliness of the AMG.

There is an impossibility pretty model in Smart’s new line-up, but the #1 ain’t it. While the #3 — which has also just launched — is a sleek-looking, coupe-style SUV, the #1 is a top-heavy small SUV that doesn’t shine from every angle.

Front-on, or from a front three-quarter angle, the #1 definitely works, with the brand setting out to remove unnecessary fussiness from the design, leaving smooth and rounded bodywork in its place.

There are no body creases or weird angles here, instead it’s a smooth, fluid-like design that flows from the front LED lights bar to the smooth shoulder lines to the matching light treatment at the rear. 

But it’s at the rear where, for mine, the design begins to fall over. From that angle, the #1 looks skinny and top-heavy, especially when wearing the red hat of the Brabus model.

Still, eye of the beholder and all that.

Inside, though, the #1 kicks all sorts of goals, presenting as a properly premium-feeling EV space that’s swimming with technology and lovely cabin materials.

I particularly love the letterbox-style screen that replaces the traditional dashboard. It’s not distracting or overbearing like some twin-screen set-ups, but clearly shows you the key driving stuff you need when you’re on the road.

Side note, though, the massive central screen is super clear and lightning fast, but as usual you need to spend some (a lot) of time with it to figure out where all the functions are hiding, with most of the car’s key controls hidden within its labyrinth.

And side note two, the background graphics look like they were designed by a cordial-addled child, it is busy, cartoonish and out of keeping with the calm, grown-up nature of the #1’s cabin.

As before, the GLC 63 S comes in wagon and couple bodystyles. Little has changed, with just the usual tweaked front and rear bumpers and mildly redesigned headlights.

All the good bits have remained, like the 'Panamericana' grille from the AMG GT monsters, the jet wing-inspired front bumper and plenty of open space to feed the radiators and intercoolers.

Neither the wagon nor coupe is a pretty machine, but no mid-size SUV is much of an oil painting, with the exception of the Jaguar F-Pace.

The 'Night Package' is still a standard inclusion, blacking out various bits and pieces and looking good when allied with the dark alloys. They both look tough, though, which is classic AMG DNA.

Inside is pretty much the same as before, with just two obvious changes. The new Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, again from the AMG GT, and also on the C 63 S, joins the party with a more expensive look and feel.

And the new MBUX screen is wider and looks much more at home in a $165,000-plus car. It's still a bit old-feeling, but the digital dash adds a bit of techno-style while the garish speaker covers don't.

The Smart #1 measures just under 4.3m long, just over 1.8m in width and around 1.6m in height, and it rides on a 2.75m wheelbase. And the perk of the Smart’s EV powertrain, the brand says, is Mercedes-Benz E-Class levels of space in the back seat, despite the #1’s diminutive footprint.

It’s a big claim, and while I didn’t break out the tape measure I can say the backseat feels plenty generous, and because the rear pew slides forwards or backwards by 15cm, you can choose whether you want more legroom or more luggage space.

Speaking of which, pop the auto-opening boot (by hitting the ‘a’ in the ‘Smart’ lettering, which I couldn’t figure out without help) and you’ll find 323 litres of space with the back seat as far back as it goes, growing to 411 litres with it pushed all the way forward. There’s also a 15-litre frunk.

Smart says the #1 weighs 1800kg, adding it will tow 1600kg — but I’m sure you can imagine the impact a heavy load will have on your driving range.

A family of four will love any GLC. The wagon's extra headroom over the coupe is useful if not life-changing, while the knee, leg and foot room are generous. Front seat passengers enjoy comfortable seating as long as you're not too keen on pudding.

Underneath, the upward sweep of the centre console is a pair of cupholders and a wireless charging Qi pad that will fit larger phones. Under the split armrest is a small but handy console bin, inside which you'll find USB-C ports.

Two more USB-C ports in the rear join a 12-volt socket and there are also climate controls for the rear seat passengers. The centre armrest pops open with a shallow, carpet-lined tray and two cupholders pop out the front. Each of the four doors has a bottle holder, too.

The boot space is unchanged for each bodystyle - 550/1600 litres for the wagon and 500/1400 litres for the coupe. Both have high loading lips, which is something to consider if you're hauling heavy things about or have trouble lifting items to a reasonable height.

As before, we get two bodystyles and the high(er) performance version, the GLC 63 S (a 'base' GLC 63 is available in other markets). Mercedes followed everyone else's lead and realised nobody would buy the skim milk version.

Unfortunately, that translates to the highest sticker price of the three, with the wagon coming in at $164,900, and the coupe at $171,900, before on-road costs.

That doesn't seem to hurt Mercedes too much with other cars in the range, but it's a significant difference. Incidentally, both prices are up by about $3000.

It's loaded, though - 21-inch wheels, multi-zone climate control, air suspension with dynamic dampers, electric and heated front seats, active cruise control, head-up display, reversing camera, around-view cameras, sat nav, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry and start, electric tailgate, Nappa leather and wood trim, active LED headlights, auto wipers, auto parking, roof rails, sunroof, DVD player, and TV tuner, but no spare tyre, just a repair kit.

A Burmester-branded 13-speaker sound system is powered by Mercedes' spangly MBUX system on a new 10-inch touchscreen, which is much nicer than the old software and hardware combo.

MBUX offers deeper integration with the car's systems. The 'Themes' function is like a series of shortcuts to set the car up for a particular mood, but let's face it, most GLC 63 S drivers are just going to find the 'Race' function and go for it.

MBUX also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but via USB only.

There are two drivetrains on offer here - one shared across the Pro+ and Premium, and another delivering the prodigious power of the #1 Brabus.

The first shared option is a single rear motor that delivers 200kW and 343Nm, which is enough to knock off the sprint to 100km/h in 6.7 seconds. Top speed for all models is listed as 180km/h.

The Brabus, though, adds a motor at the front axle, giving it AWD, which ups the outputs to a punchy 315kW and 543Nm, dropping the sprint to 100km/h to a very fast-feeling 3.9 seconds.

It’s a single-speed EV transmission in each, which means smooth, constant power delivery with no traditional ‘steps’, and all get 'Eco', 'Normal' and 'Sport' drive modes, though the only thing they impact is the accelerator response.

You can add weight to the steering, but that’s a separate item accessed elsewhere in the screen’s sub-menus.

An AMG 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 brings the thunder, with a massive 375kW and 700Nm of torque. That's plugged into a nine-speed MCT (multi-clutch as opposed to twin-clutch) transmission and Merc's '4Matic+' all-wheel drive system.

With all that power and grip, you'll crack the ton in a supercar-baiting 3.8 seconds. One little point to note is the engine has active mounts.

Should you fancy turning your tinny into a landspeedboat, you can tow up to 2000kg for a braked trailer, and 750kg unbraked.

All Smart #1 models share the same 66kWh battery, but how far you can travel between charges comes down to the trim you choose, with the WLTP driving range either 400km, 420km or 440km. The Brabus, of course, covers the least ground between charges, owing to its dual-motor set-up and amped up power outputs. 

When it comes time to plug in, all models are equipped with 150kW DC fast-charging capability, and when plugged into said charger, you can expect to go from zero to 80 per cent charged in less than 30 minutes. 

There’s also 22kW AC charging on board in the Premium and Brabus models, which means you can use three-phase power, but plugged into a regular 7.4kWh home wallbox should see you go from zero to 80 per cent charged in 7.5 hours, which means overnight charging should work a treat.

Mercedes reckons you'll get 12.2L/100km on the combined cycle which seems laughable at first and then you see what it actually does. To be fair, the car I drove on the launch copped a hammering and was hovering around the 17.0L/100km, with the start-stop and coasting functions playing only cameo roles.

The #1 and its sister car, the #3, might share powertrains and batteries, but they are designed to drive very differently. The #3 is the sporty one (always code for a firmer ride), while the #1 is supposed to be softer, more comfortable and more city-friendly.

That’s the theory, at least. In practice, I have no idea. My time behind the wheel of the #1 was limited to its most fire-breathing model — the Brabus, which also scores its own suspension components — and soft is not a word that comes to mind once you’re strapped in behind its bright red seatbelt.

It begins with those bonkers power outputs, 315kW and 543Nm, which deliver genuine push-you-back-in-your-seat acceleration every time you stand on the go pedal.

Better still (well, I think so, at least), is that activating its sportiest 'Brabus' mode also unlocks a deep Abarth-style burbling soundtrack that rises and falls with your inputs.

But like most performance EVs, you can also dial the drive experience right back. In its softer drive modes the #1 Brabus feels calm and comfortable and not overly reactive, which makes sense, given the only thing the Brabus mode changes is accelerator sensitivity.

The result, though, is a car that you can tootle around in silently when you want to but hides a nuclear weapon under your right foot when you want to unleash that part of its personality. 

Downsides? It’s got plenty of point-and-shoot power, but in the few corners we managed to find in it, it didn’t quite live up to the all-out-performance badge. There’s a bit too much movement in the body — a symptom of its near-2.0-tonne weight — and it doesn’t feel entirely engaging.

A couple of important caveats, though. We didn’t get long behind the wheel of the #1, and the dull-as-dishwater prescribed drive program revealed little about its true performance potential. So, we’ll have to wait until the model is properly through the CarsGuide garage to give you a deeper dive on this one.

Like any V8-powered AMG, the twin-turbo engine absolutely dominates the GLC 63 S. Even at walking speeds you can feel the serious firepower on offer, just a flex of your ankle away.

The figures are colossal - 375kW (over 500 horsepower) and 700Nm pushing around two tonnes of mid-sized SUV. Its famed bark is bettered only by Jaguar's completely unhinged, and surely borderline illegal, 5.0-litre supercharged V8.

You need to know you've got plenty of tech underneath you to make this stick to the road. The 21-inch alloys are wrapped in 265/40s at the front and 295/30s at the back, Continental Cross Contacts if you're interested.

They should - and would - ruin the ride, but the standard fitment of air suspension means that in normal driving, the GLC 63 S is firm but comfortable. A BMW X3 M is much harder, especially at the rear, going without the complex and heavier air set-up.

The air suspension is probably the pivotal piece of chassis tech that makes this car so versatile. While it's got driving modes up the wazoo - including the new 'Slippery' mode - it's a perfectly agreeable daily driver.

Leave it in comfort, accept that it has a firm ride and you're in good shape for the school run or the commute. You just sail along on a light throttle because there is virtually no turbo lag.

Whack it in Race and you can attack your favourite empty, bendy road with all the grip you could ever need.

The steering is remarkably light and direct for such a chunker and the optional carbon ceramic brakes were never bothered by what I could throw at them.

The V8 roars and spits and crackles, the gearbox shifting seamlessly up and down through the ratios. It's blissfully silly.

In a way, it's a velvet fist in an iron glove - comfortable inside but happy to headbutt the horizon with little provocation.

I'd prefer it if the transmission was a bit more decisive on slow speed shifts and you'll have to prepare yourself for a lot of wearying road noise on long trips. The latter is the price you pay for a ton of grip.

All GLCs have nine airbags, ABS, stability and traction controls, traffic sign recognition, around-view cameras, reversing camera, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitor, forward AEB, forward collision warning and tyre pressure monitoring.

There are also three top-tether mounts and two ISOFIX points.

The GLC scored a maximum five ANCAP stars in January 2016.

Warranty is a definite soft spot, with LSH Auto offering five years or 150,000km, whichever comes first. For reference, other Chinese newcomers include Chery (seven years) BYD (six years) and GWM (seven years), while MG has just shifted to a 10-year warranty.

Still, service intervals are 12 months/20,000km, and you should be able to take your Smart to any LSH Auto Mercedes dealership (in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney) or either of the Smart dealerships in Sydney or Brisbane.

Service cost for the first four years averages $611 per workshop visit for the Pro+ and Premium (worth noting the fourth service is a big one) and $780 for the Brabus. Not particularly small numbers.

Mercedes Benz offers a three year/unlimited kilometre warranty with roadside assist which is not really up to scratch for a premium brand. Yes, the cars are complex but they're also expensive, so the investment should come with a commensurate warranty.

Service intervals are generous at 12 months/20,000km (as opposed to the 25,000km of other GLCs) and the capped price servicing means you'll know what you're paying.

Mercedes offers you the choice of an up-front payment or pay-as-you-go. Upfront ranges from $4050 for three services, $6100 for four, and $6850 for five.

If you go with PAYG, three services is a hefty $5000. Basically, each service is at least a grand when averaged out over time and that's pricey.

Service inclusions differ between your chosen method, but only slightly. The pricing includes filters, oil and, unusually, spark plugs and brake fluid, but that's small comfort.