The sheer scope of the Mercedes-Benz line-up of vehicles can’t be overstated. There are dozens of models available in all sizes and price ranges, and in Vancouver alone, the company has two of the largest showrooms of any manufacturer in the province.
The model range can be a bit bewildering, especially in the car sector, although it is now less-so since the nomenclature was rationalized a few years ago. The crossovers and SUVs are all called GL followed by a letter, except for the iconic top-dog G-Class. Those GL models start with A and go up through B, C, E, and S, with size and price getting larger as you move up the alphabet.
We recently drove both the GLB and GLC models, and thought it would be instructive to compare and contrast them a bit, just to illustrate the wide range of equipment and capabilities that Mercedes has built into two outwardly similar vehicles at first glance, especially in size.
The GLB is based on the A-Class car platform, as is, we believe, the GLA, which makes them sub-compacts. The GLB, though, is larger, for reasons that will become more apparent. The GLC, on the other hand, is based on the platform upon which the C-Class sedan is built, making it a large compact. But the body of the GLC is quite tautly-proportioned with short overhangs, making it smaller in length, certainly in appearance, than you might expect a large compact vehicle to be. So, the short version of the story is, there are only a couple of inches difference in size between the two – but a great deal of difference in many other aspects.
We’ll start with the GLB 250. The reason it is bigger than the GLA is that it has been built to be a family vehicle. To compete with that ultimate family vehicle, the minivan, and give mom and dad what they want and maybe occasionally need, provision has been made for the GLB to be equipped with a third-row seat. Now, Mercedes is being totally up-front about the utility of this seat way back there, stating that it is most suitable for short people of smaller stature. Like, kids. Not a lot of leg room back there, although it can be maximized by sliding the middle row of seats forward, a nice feature. That, of course, will also increase the cargo room behind the second row, should the third row be not deployed. Fold the second row down (your choice of 40-20-40 sections) and you get a capacious cargo area for a relatively small SUV.
Under the hood of the GLB 250 is an engine that has become ubiquitous in almost every manufacturer’s line-up, a 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder. Finding its way into more and more Mercedes vehicles, this engine puts out 221 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. These numbers are relatively low for a 2.0L turbo, even with the required premium gasoline flowing through it, meaning the engine is flexible and under-stressed, delivering more-than-adequate performance on the typical roads of suburbia. Fuel consumption is rated at 10.2L/100 km city and 7.6 highway. We observed 12.0L in normal urban use, so you can draw your own conclusions on that.
The power goes out through an 8-speed dual-clutch manumatic transmission, which provides some measure of sportiness on the daily commute, and then to the 4Matic all-wheel drive system, which is perfect for snowy or muddy Canadian roads, if not so much for climbing mountains.
While the exterior design of the GLB is quite conservative, with traditional SUV styling, it is the beautiful interior that gets your attention in a hurry. The premium brand (and price) does get you premium materials and design inside, with aluminum and piano black trim, supportive seats trimmed in rich-looking (but man-made) leather and suede, the trademark “jet turbine” air vents, and the twin seven-inch displays that sweep across the dashboard. A very attractive interior it is.
And then, there is the GLC Class. Providing even more contrast to the GLB 250, the unit we drove was the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43. Those three magic letters where you’d think ‘Benz’ would be mean performance, and this SUV delivers a ton of that.
Under the hood, one finds nothing less than a twin-turbo 3.0-litre V6, good for 385 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque as low as 2,500 rpm. It is enough to propel this 1,901-kg crossover to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, with a satisfying whoosh. Backing it up is a quick-shifting 9-speed AMG Speedshift automatic and an AMG-massaged rear-biased 4Matic AWD system, all of which is a solid basis for a serious performance machine.
This engine deserves more of a description, if only because it is the middle of the range of engines in the GLC, and considered not a full custom-built AMG engine. Yes, there is a GLC 63, a 4.0-litre AMG V8-powered monster that costs almost $30,000 more, but the 43’s V6 falls right in that sweet spot of around 400 horsepower and abundant torque that makes its power fully usable and accessible in everyday use.
The GLC 43’s chassis and rolling stock keep up their end of the performance equation. The suspension is multi-link at all four corners, with Air Body Control damping. The brakes are cross-drilled, with four pistons in front. Our tester had the optional 21-inch wheels, which look and handle great, but aren’t great for ride comfort over uneven pavement.
As you’d expect these days, the car’s character can be changed at the whim of the driver, via AMG Dynamic Select. Four preset modes (Slippery, Comfort, Sport and Sport+) alter the throttle response, shift points, air suspension parameters, steering effort, and ECO Start/Stop. In either Sport mode, the 43 will – almost – make an enthusiast forget he/she is in a four-door, two-ton SUV.
Inside, the 43 was similar to the GLB, but taken up a notch or two. The Cranberry-and-Black colour combination (a $1,990 option) looked very rich, and the carbon fibre trim ($1,500) very technical. The front seats, covered in ARTICO/DINAMICA upholstery, (leather is optional) were super supportive in the right places. And the Burmester surround audio was sensational.
As far as utility goes, the GLC is largely the same as the GLB we drove, especially given that it was the “normal” long-roof SUV body, and not the also-available “coupe” body with fastback roof, which gains you style at the expense of space. It’ll even tow up to 1,588 kg.
So, there you have it, two Mercedes-Benz crossovers that look very much the same, but with quite different target audiences, performance capabilities, and prices. The GLB starts at $46,500, while the GLC 43 is at $65,500 (2021 prices) and goes up quickly from there (our tester had $20,000-worth of options.)
Both models offer amazing technology, including the cutting edge of electronic safety, along with Mercedes quality and prestige. You just need to decide between conservative family luxury or stylish performance.
