Mercedes-AMG continues its plug-in hybrid push with a 671-horsepower performance SUV.
Contents The automaker’s Mercedes-AMG performance division has already engineered EVs like the AMG EQE SUV and the S63 AMG E Performance sedan, a plug-in hybrid that pairs electric assist with one of the brand’s traditional V8 engines. AMG’s latest electrified model — a hot-rodded version of the GLC-Class compact crossover SUV and a rival to performance SUVs like the BMW X3 M and Porsche Macan — sits somewhere in between those extremes.
Like other GLC variants, the GLC63 is available in standard SUV and coupe body styles. The term “coupe” traditionally refers to a two-door car, but Mercedes and fellow German automakers BMW, Audi, and Porsche have stretched that term to include four-door cars with low, sloped rooflines. These vehicles are still true coupes in the sense that they offer less rear headroom and cargo space than conventional SUVs.
The screen setup and underlying Mercedes-Benz User Experience operating system are similar to other recent Mercedes models, such as the S-Class and C-Class sedans. As in those vehicles, it’s hard to find fault with the interface, which uses what Mercedes calls a “Zero Layer” arrangement that eschews menu pages for small widgets displayed side by side, or the graphics. Instead of traditional dials, for example, the instrument cluster uses a cool wave pattern for the tachometer.
The gasoline engine, which is coupled to a nine-speed automatic transmission, could easily power the car by itself, but Mercedes also included an electric motor mounted at the rear axle along with its own two-speed transmission and a limited-slip differential. A 6.1-kilowatt-hour battery pack allows for 107 horsepower of continuous output from this motor, or 201 hp in short bursts. Combined output is 671 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque, or 168 hp and 236 lb-ft more than the last GLC63 got from its 4.
When unleashed on a twisty road, the GLC63 feels dramatic enough to justify the AMG badge. But it’s not quite as sharp as conventional performance SUVs like the BMW X3 M and Porsche Macan, which saps confidence. The other German performance SUVs can feel smaller and lighter than they actually are, but not this Mercedes. And while the plug-in hybrid powertrain is an impressive technical achievement, it’s not exactly charming.
How DT would configure this car Mercedes doesn’t offer many options beyond paint colors, wheels, and carbon fiber trim, but that’s not the only question to ask when considering an AMG GLC63. This is Mercedes we’re talking about, so this plug-in hybrid performance SUV will share a crowded showroom with other models sharing some major ingredients.
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