The Mercedes-Benz GLC with EQ Technology has been unveiled as a brand-new mid-size electric SUV from the three-pointed star marque, positioned to rival the BMW iX3 and Audi Q6 e-tron. It’s due to arrive in Europe in the first half of 2026, and in Australia in the second half of 2026.
Much like the new iX3 effectively carries the same name as the petrol-powered X3 despite having a different understructure, the GLC with EQ Technology sits on distinct foundations – the purpose-built MB.EA electric vehicle (EV) platform – rather than the combustion-engined GLC.
It also presents a different appearance to the GLC but, more crucially, a markedly different aesthetic from Mercedes-Benz’s slow-selling Electric Vehicle Architecture-based models such as the similarly sized EQE SUV.
It’s led by a new “brand-defining chromed grille”, which sports a thick chromed surround and a “smoked-glass look mesh structure”. It can be specified with illumination – including an illuminated central star in certain markets – featuring 942 polycarbonate backlit dots. At the rear, the taillights incorporate star-shaped motifs, echoing the E-Class.
It rides on wheels up to 21 inches, and comes with LED headlights equipped with next-generation Digital Light promising a larger high-resolution illumination zone while using 50 per cent less energy for the lighting module. Ultra Range high-beam is now integrated into the cornering lights, allowing dynamic swivel. The cornering lights also leverage camera data and map information to determine their adjustments.
Despite appearing more upright than the EQE SUV, the drag coefficient is only marginally higher – 0.26 versus 0.25Cd for its more bulbous showroom sibling.
Mercedes-Benz says the extended wheelbase results in 13mm more front and 47mm more rear legroom, with front and rear headroom increased by 46mm and 17mm respectively. Boot capacity is 570 litres, expanding to 1740L with the 40:20:40 rear seats folded. There’s also a 128L storage bay beneath the bonnet.
The new mid-size electric SUV has been revealed in flagship GLC400 4Matic specification, with a further four variants to follow including single-motor rear-wheel drive options.
The dual-motor all-wheel drive GLC400 4Matic uses a 94kWh (usable) lithium-ion battery delivering 713km of range on the WLTP cycle. Claimed energy consumption ranges from 14.9 to 18.8 kilowatt hours per 100km. Note these WLTP numbers are preliminary.
An 800V electrical architecture supports DC fast-charging at up to 330kW, via which 300km of range can be added in 10 minutes, according to Mercedes-Benz. The standard AC charging rate is 11kW, with 22kW AC charging offered as an option. A DC converter also allows the GLC400 4Matic to be charged at 400V fast-charging points, while in some territories the new SUV will support Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) charging.
The GLC400 4Matic produces 360kW of power, good for a 0-100km/h sprint time of 4.3 seconds (claimed). A torque figure has not been disclosed. There’s a two-speed gearbox at the rear. First gear has a ratio of 11:1, designed to provide strong acceleration, efficiency and a high towing capability – Mercedes-Benz says the GLC400 can tow up to 2400kg, and it includes Trailer Manouevuring Assist. Second gear has a ratio of 5:1 for robust power delivery and efficiency at higher speeds.
You can switch between Eco, Comfort, Sport, Individual and Terrain modes, and choose from four levels of regenerative braking including a one-pedal mode. Up to 300kW of braking recuperation is available.
Mercedes-Benz says it has further lowered the proportion of cobalt used in the battery, and prioritised ease of access and replacement – the battery cover is screwed on rather than glued, for instance. A heat pump uses waste heat from the electric motors and battery to warm the cabin.
The GLC with EQ Technology features a four-link front axle and a multi-link rear axle. Airmatic air suspension with intelligent suspension control and rear-axle steering are included in an optional technology pack.
The intelligent suspension control includes a Car-to-X function which Mercedes-Benz has developed and patented, whereby damping can be electrically adjusted based on information relayed in real-time from a Mercedes-Benz vehicle driving ahead. The Airmatic air suspension also uses Google Maps data to keep the vehicle as low as feasible for as long as possible to improve energy efficiency.
Rear-axle steering lets the rear wheels turn by up to 2.5 degrees in the same direction as the fronts at speeds above 60km/h, while below 60km/h they’ll steer oppositely by up to 4.5 degrees. The feature is intended to make the GLC EQ steadier at high speeds and more agile at lower speeds, and overall it trims the turning circle by 90cm to 11.2m.
There’s a selection of artificial propulsion sounds seen in other Mercedes-Benz EVs, but new to the line-up is Fractal Fusion which “embodies a hedonistic, futuristic lifestyle, blending nostalgic 1980s arcade-game tones and synthwave music with modern, vibrant synth textures”. There’s also Granular Fuzz, which “offers an expressive, organic style that emphasises individualism and adventurousness, combining fat guitar riffs, epic orchestral soundtrack elements, nature samples and expansive electronic effects”. You can also pick between two different tones for the external Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS).
Inside, there are the circular metallic air vents and door-mounted seat controls we expect from Mercedes-Benz cars.
Mercedes-Benz says it has listened to customer feedback and introduced a new steering wheel, bringing back a rocker switch for cruise control and a roller for volume control. The other kind of rock ‘n roll can be enjoyed via an available Burmester 4D surround system with stainless-steel speaker grilles.
Ambient lighting is offered, including in the standard panoramic glass roof where it can illuminate 162 stars. The glass roof is also available with switchable glazing, using Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal technology, in nine zones.
There’s a choice of comfort or more heavily bolstered sport front seats, and all seats carry the seal of approval from Aktion Gesunder Rücken (Organisation for Healthy Backs). Heating is standard with memory optional, and you can opt for a Vegan Package where all interior materials are certified by The Vegan Society… or go the other way and specify seats and door trims in Nappa leather.
You can also pick from a range of inlays, from wood to carbon-fibre, metallic-blended fabric, and Mercedes-Benz’s “ship deck” trim in black with aluminium inserts.
The headline attraction, however, is a vast 39.1-inch MBUX Hyperscreen available which uses over 1000 individual LEDs.
It’s made up of a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 14-inch passenger display, the latter of which can be used to access more than 40 apps plus video streaming including via Disney+.
Vehicles without the Hyperscreen omit the passenger display, and instead have a “digital decorative element” where you can choose to show either a personal photo or one of 12 preset images.
If the interior camera detects the driver looking at the passenger side of the Hyperscreen for a certain length of time, some content is automatically dimmed, while Mercedes-Benz also employs a “special algorithm” in the graphics driver software to boost display legibility in sunlight.
Running the fourth-generation MBUX operating system, Mercedes-Benz claims the GLC EQ’s in-car infotainment is the first to integrate AI from Microsoft and Google, using a Multi Agent Approach which is like “talking to a friend”.
The MBUX Virtual Assistant has a “living avatar” in the form of the Mercedes-Benz star, which turns green when you thank it and even “shows joy” when telling a joke. It’s the sort of cutesy behaviour increasingly common in Chinese vehicles.
It’s not even the only avatar in the GLC EQ. There’s also a “human-like avatar, which emerges from a condensing cloud of stars [which] embodies intelligence in a technologically futuristic way” and LittleBenz which “with its expressive face, allows for an even stronger connection on a personal level – its lively form invites inspiring interaction”.
Naturally, the GLC EQ supports over-the-air updates for all vehicle software.
Up to 10 cameras, 5 radar sensors, and 12 ultrasonic sensors power the GLC EQ’s suite of active safety and driver assistance technologies. There’s adaptive cruise control with lane centring, and this will be joined later by Lane Change Assist Plus which enables automated lane changes in urban traffic when you indicate.
Mercedes-Benz is also rolling out MB. Drive Assist Pro first in the US and China, which “enables a seamless and safe point-to-point driving experience, even in dense urban traffic”. Other features include semi-autonomous parking assist and surround-view cameras with a transparent bonnet function, depicting what’s beneath the front of the car.
The GLC EQ will be produced in Bremen, Germany alongside combustion-engined models. Mercedes-Benz says it achieves a two-thirds reduction in carbon footprint across the full lifecycle compared with the combustion-powered GLC.
BMW has also been vocal about the future of its electric and combustion engine offerings, highlighting the ongoing industry shift.
Auto and lifestyle writer who loves simplifying complex topics into easy-to-understand insights.
Leave a Reply