2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e Review

If you like electric vehicles (EVs) but you’re not yet comfortable about range, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) may be the answer.

That includes the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e, a new addition to the lineup that uses its gas-electric hybrid system to offer a bit of emissions-free range. The GLC 350e comes in a single trim that starts at $64,900 before freight and taxes. Major packages can add quite a bit to the price tag, with this tester ringing in at $81,650 before freight fees and the government’s share.

Styling 9 / 10

The GLC-Class is a handsome and well-proportioned little machine, with smooth lines and just enough chrome on its nose to make it interesting. Meanwhile, this tester’s 20-inch AMG-style wheels add $1,100 to the price. The good looks continue into the cabin, where the materials and finishes give it a quality appearance and feel, and the easy-to-adjust oval vents are molded into the dash.

Safety 9 / 10

The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hadn’t rated the 2025 GLC-Class at the time of this writing; but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named it the highest Top Safety Pick+ after it aced all crash tests including the updated moderate front overlap, which now assesses potential injury to a rear-seat passenger as well as to those in front.

Standard driver-assist technologies include emergency front braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and vehicle exit warning, automatic high-beam control, self-parking, rain-sensing wipers, and the back-up camera that’s mandatory on all new vehicles. However, some features that I’d expect at this price are extra-charge, including my tester’s adaptive cruise control, which was $800; and the surround-view cameras that are part of the Exclusive trim package ($3,800).

Features 8 / 10

Standard features include an 11.9-inch infotainment screen with wireless connectivity, a 12.3-inch digital instrument display, heated seats and steering wheel, front-seat memory settings, dual-zone climate control, power-folding mirrors, faux-leather upholstery, a hands-free tailgate, integrated garage door opener, and cargo privacy cover.

The Exclusive trim package adds features including a panoramic sunroof, navigation, illuminated door sills, and enhanced camera views; while the Pinnacle includes those and further adds upgraded headlights, a premium stereo, insulated glass, and a head-up display.

User-Friendliness 6 / 10

The GLC-Class has almost no physical switchgear, with most functions handled through screen icons or haptic controls. These can require multiple steps to get to what you want, and there’s often an annoying lag between the time you tap a function and something actually happening. The seat controls are on the upper door panel, a ‘Benz signature; but they would be easier to operate if the buttons were separated so you don’t accidentally tap two at once. And while I like a head-up display, this one has a lip around it that was reflected on the windshield during this test.

Practicality 8 / 10

The GLC-Class has the cargo limitations of any vehicle this size. Its 470 L of space is on par with the recently refreshed Volvo XC60 but less than the 642 L in the Lexus NX 450h+; but when you fold the rear seats, you get more total volume than those two at 1,530 L. [It’s also likely that each brand uses different measurement standards, resulting in the on-paper disparity.––Ed.] There’s also a spectacular amount of small-item storage up front. In addition to the console box, the covered bin ahead of it is large and deep, and it houses the cup holders, wireless phone charger, and more room for other items.

Comfort 8 / 10

In typical German fashion, the seats are supportive rather than cushy, providing long-distance comfort. Legroom is about average for the segment, and those in the rear seats will be happiest if those up front don’t move their chairs all the way back. The cabin is quiet and a pleasant place to be.

Power 8 / 10

The GLC 350e uses a turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine that, on its own, makes 201 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque; but in combination with the hybrid system, that rises to 313 net hp and 406 net lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive (AWD).

Those are impressive output numbers, but the GLC 350e is heavy, tipping the scales at 2,510 kg (5,534 lb) — some 600 kg (1,322 lb) more than its non-hybrid GLC 300 sibling — and so it’s more of a strong daily driver than a performance model. After it’s plugged in and charged, it has a rated electric-only range of 87 km.

Still, it consistently showed more range than that during this test, and with a light foot, I regularly topped that rated amount. When the charge is depleted, it automatically reverts to conventional self-charging hybrid operation, switching between gasoline, electricity, or a combination depending on driving conditions. As long as there’s fuel in the tank, the GLC 350e will drive.

Driving Feel 7 / 10

The engine and hybrid system are well-done, but the overall driving package can be a mixed bag. The steering is tight and well-weighted, but the ride is too soft and it dulls the handling; and while putting it into sport mode tightens it up, that prioritizes the gas engine, which rather defeats the purpose of a PHEV like this one in the first place. The brakes can also feel spongy when you first hit the pedal, and then they turn hard. Some tweaks here would really turn this into a fun little driver.

Fuel Economy 9 / 10

The GLC 350e’s electric-only range of 87 km is a considerable gain over PHEV rivals like the Lexus NX 450h+ and Volvo XC60 T8, both of which are rated at 60 km; while the similarly-sized Alfa Romeo Tonale is good for 53 km. When running as a hybrid, the GLC 350e is rated at 10.2 L/100 km in the city, 8.5 on the highway, and 9.4 combined. I charged it regularly and so it spent most of this test running on electrons, and when it all added up on the engine side, it rated at just 1.1 L/100 km. It asks for premium-grade gas. In addition to standard Level 2 charging, which takes a little less than three hours to get a full charge, my tester had an optional DC fast-charging port for $600, which means the battery can get to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.

Value 8 / 10

With a starting price of up to $64,900, the GLC 350e isn’t inexpensive, and especially since most buyers will likely add options. But while the Volvo XC60 starts at $62,195 and the Lexus NX 450h+ at $62,195, their highest trims top out at $94,150 and $79,470, respectively, and with lower electric-only range (those prices including delivery).

The Verdict

As with any PHEV, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e should be regularly charged to get the full benefit of its electric-only range and correspondingly fewer trips to the gas station; and if that’s not possible, look at its GLC 300 gas-only sibling. But if you’re ready for a bit of electric driving without range anxiety, this GLC-Class still has a lot going for it.