2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe

The GLC Coupe is, essentially, a more stylish, more sporty but less practical clone of the GLC SUV. However, the GLC Coupe isn't really a coupe — for that it would have to have just two doors. Instead, Mercedes has taken the meaning of the French word "coupe," which means "to cut," quite literally. The brand cuts a bit of bodywork out of the rear of a GLC (it also does this with the GLE) and sells the result as an alternative to the more usefully shaped GLC SUV. This is a trend that BMW arguably started when it first released the X6 in 2008, and one Mercedes, Audi and BMW itself have all run with. Notably, the Audi Q5 Sportback and BMW X4 are the closest competitors to the redesigned 2024 GLC Coupe.

This new model, as you might imagine, is based heavily on the latest-generation GLC that debuted for model year 2023. From the front the two are almost identical, and they share an interior space and an engine too. The previous generation of GLC was a resounding success for Mercedes, so it's not surprising that the new one features only incremental changes. The focus for the 2024 model is refinement: Refine the ride, make the car more efficient, make it quieter, and add a more upscale interior. The coupe takes these changes with it into its new generation as well.

For the new GLC Coupe, Mercedes has made it slightly longer and taller than its predecessor, and it also features slightly wider track widths (the horizontal distance between the wheels) at both the front and the rear. It also cuts through the air with a cleaner profile, and it features more sophisticated sound deadening to lower tire noise and wind noise inside the cabin. Mercedes says this noise reduction comes despite the addition of a panoramic glass roof as standard equipment.

Just as it did with the debut year of the regular GLC, Mercedes is launching the 2024 GLC Coupe lineup with the GLC 300. That means it comes with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a mild hybrid system that provides a slight boost to power and fuel economy as well as help smooth out acceleration. Total output is 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, and it flows through a nine-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels exclusively.

There is also a higher-performance AMG model on offer for 2024. The GLC 43 AMG (Mercedes' branding for its middle-of-the-road performance models) uses the same basic engine layout as the GLC 300, but with the wick turned way up. The GLC 43 makes 416 hp at 6,750 rpm and 369 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm. It uses the same nine-speed automatic transmission as the base car and it, too, sends its power to all four wheels. In the AMG, 69% of the engine's power is sent to the rear wheels and the rest to the front. (And the split is permanent, meaning no more than 31% of the power will be used to drive the front wheels.)

AMG models also get a more robust breaking system, bigger wheels, stickier tires and adaptive dampers. The springs are still steel (no air suspension here), but the dampers' firmness varies based on drive mode. There are six modes, ranging from Comfort to Sport+, with an Individual mode that lets drivers tailor their preferences for the suspension, the response from the engine, the firmness of the steering, and so on. We haven't driven the 43 yet, so all of our impressions here come from the base GLC 300.

The GLC 300 Coupe is an SUV that looks sportier than it is to drive. Those who desire a more aggressive experience should no doubt wait for the presumable AMG variants, which should come out next year. But the base GLC 300 is great for the majority of customers who want an easy-to-drive demeanor.

The new mild hybrid four-cylinder is one of the best on the market. It's smooth, it's punchy, and in most cases it works in perfect tandem with the transmission to deliver consistent power. It also helps the engine stop-start function to work unobtrusively when it fires up the engine once you let off the brake, like at a stoplight.

The early production model we drove is a European-spec model, so while it has the same powertrain we get in the States, there's one big difference. Mercedes will not bring the rear-axle steering to the U.S., which is unfortunate. Like in the S-Class and other EQ models, this feature uses the rear wheels to improve the car's agility around corners and make tight parking lots a breeze.

The rear-steer did great things for the GLC in the handling department, so we'll have to wait on a U.S.-spec car to dive in deeper on impressions. But for now we can reassure you that this is an excellent everyday driver that also has an appetite to take on a twisty road from time to time.

Our European-spec test vehicle also had an adjustable air suspension. But like the rear-steer feature, it won't be available in our market. As such, we can't definitely say yet how the GLC Coupe will ride. But if the regular GLC is any indication, it should still be quite smooth.

There's great news to report when it comes to interior comfort. The seats are covered in MB-Tex, one of our favorite leather alternatives. They're soft but also supportive with great bolstering in the sides. Mercedes also has some of the quickest heated seats in the game — they work wonders on a cold morning. The GLC offers great noise insulation too. The SUV feels even more calm and quiet than a comparable Audi Q5 Sportback or BMW X4.

Unsurprisingly, the GLC Coupe is very similar to the standard GLC on the inside. The biggest change inside, aside from less cargo space, are some differences in terms of equipment. A panoramic sunroof is standard, for example, as is a Burmester 3D audio system (an optional extra on the standard GLC SUV). After hours of use, we can confirm that this is a great feature to get standard. Buyers of the coupe might also appreciate the standard wireless charging mat for their devices, though it struggled to actually charge a phone well during our initial test.

Lastly, the new body does come with more room for your stuff than the last coupe did, which is an important improvement. The 2024 model features 19.2 cubic feet of space behind the second row (1.6 more cubic feet than the previous model) and 52.6 cubic feet of free air with the second row folded down (3.1 more cubes than before). If practicality is your primary concern, opt for the standard model and its 21.9 cubes of space.

Though we haven't driven it, the interior layout of the GLC 43 is vastly the same as what's found on the base car. A sporty steering wheel wrapped in Nappa leather comes as standard, while AMG's supple yet supportive bucket seats are an optional extra.

It's nearly identical to that of its more conventionally shaped sibling, apart from the aforementioned standard audio bonus. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster sitting in front of the driver and a 11.9-inch center touchscreen that houses Mercedes' clever MBUX infotainment system are both carried over from the standard SUV — the same system will make its way into the performance models as well.

The vertically oriented touchscreen is a welcome improvement over the outgoing model, as is the addition of wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The MBUX user interface can be a bit tedious at times with a barrage of menus and features to sort through, but the system is quick to react. Mercedes loves to overcomplicate its infotainment, but the good news is that the learning curve is overcome quickly with a few hours of use.