The new Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC Coupé loses a couple of cylinders but is a better buy unless you’re a purist.
The AMG product lineup has experienced some massive changes ever since it became an integrated unit under Mercedes-Benz itself. In the early days, ’63’ products used to come with large V12 units but these were understandably phased out for slightly smaller and more efficient turbocharged V8 engines. Still dramatic enough to feel special, yet clean enough to make it past regulators. Yet for all the sterilization that comes with downsizing, the 63 series never quite felt like something docile enough to daily. This was where Benz and AMG synergized – many models that featured V6 engines and badged as ‘400’ cars under the main Benz brand were given AMG performance and cosmetic upgrades and repackaged as the AMG 43 series. For at least half a generation, this did not at all feel like a compromise but rather an evolution that worked for all parties concerned.
However, over the years complications have arisen in the product strategy. We were introduced to a new ‘middle ground’ with the inline 6 hybrid ’53’ AMG models then some ’63’ models went from twin turbo V8 power to 4-cylinder PHEV power. And now even the ’43’ model has a 4-cylinder and hybrid under the hood. On the whole, system output has improved by every metric, but there’s no denying that the slide into downsizing and electrification has been very dramatic and very quick.
Just a couple of years ago, we drove the 1st ever Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC Coupé in black to Kuala Selangor. It was a rather excellent product – just practical enough to use for a roadtrip with friends, but just hard enough to put some real fear in you at the extremes. Up until that point, it felt as if AMG products still demanded to be taken seriously.
Fast forward to last weekend and we were put behind the wheel of the 2nd generation Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC. This time, in place of a 3.0L V6 turbo, we get a 2.0L. It’s the most powerful production 4-cylinder ever made and it gets a little electric boost from an integrated starter generator. In terms of pricing, the previous model was available just under half a million Ringgit back then with the SST exemption.
This new model is also available at under half a million Ringgit even with SST in place. In a way, it’s an improvement in value all things considered. You have an improved chassis, a generational leap forward in tech amenities and design language. When you factor in the taxes, currency exchange and inflation, the pricing isn’t bad at all.
Exterior Design
The looks are definitely worth mentioning as well. The new GLC Coupé is undoubtably a looker. Whether you’re looking at the big picture stuff or the finer details, the GLC Coupé proves that Mercedes-Benz still know what they’re doing while its rivals have either lost the plot entirely or gone a little stale. Under the leadership of Gorden Wagener, the GLC Coupé’s styling has only gotten better with this new generation. What better place to start than at the rear.
The new rear slope is more dramatic than ever with the family look for ‘Coupé’ styled vehicles being firmly established with a ribbon-like taillight.
Another feature of this crop of Mercedes-Benz products is the relatively low number of hard lines. Most of the metal work is smooth. Even the creases in the bodywork fold gently. This is design work of the top-most quality.
It’s the ‘AMG’ part of the design that sprinkles back in some much needed masculinity in the GLC Coupé. It’s also worth noting that the AMG Night Package sprinkles on some black contrast too.
You get some rather harsh air inlets and oulets on the bumpers and some of the most gorgeous looking rims on any SUV today.
Some of these design features are blocked off though, so they’re really only there for cosmetic reasons.
At least the exhaust tips are a little more real by modern Mercedes standards.
Overall, it’s tough to fault the Mercedes-AMG GLC’s exterior design. They’ve done away with some of the strangeness of the previous generation model (anyone remember the chrome eyebrows?) and found a way to make the curvy design feel even more organic this time around. They’ve also retained and built on the things that worked like the large Panamericana grille
Interior Design
Let’s start with the boot. There’s no running away from the fact that the sloped roof eats into the potential cargo space significantly.
On paper, 399L is just enough for a small family. In practice, the lack of height will limit you with certain suitcases. The space is largely taken by the large battery that helps power the hybrid elements of the engine. Thankfully, there are some solutions built in for more cargo carrying capacity..
The false floor, for instance, can be lifted out to reveal quite a bit of additional room. This comes at the expense of a flat storage area, but if you really need to travel long distance with a bunch of bags in the back, you MAY want to store some items down here or leave the false floor at home. There are also cutouts to store the tonneau cover down here.
The rear seats also fold down flat if you’re travelling solo and just need to move some large furniture.
Which brings us to the rear seats. Here the squeeze can definitely be felt as well. This is not a car made for rear occupants. The sunroof doesn’t extend much further than the B-pillars, and legroom can be tight if the front occupants are exceptionally tall.
On the plus side, you get amenities such as manual window blinds, dual zone climate control for the rear with individual blowers as well as USB-C ports for charging.
The story is a little similar up front. Things are a little tight, as is expected in this class of Mercedes-Benz. This is mostly down to the large centre tunnel that eats up a lot of the inner legroom. Ergonomics aside, it’s a very pretty interior with loads of carbon fibre and red stitching across the dashboard to get the message across that this is a performance vehicle.
You also get the latest generation of MBUX on a portrait-oriented 11.9″ display and a free-floating digital instrument cluster.
Animations are fluid and everything’s tack sharp on these displays. AMG-specific display menus are pretty entertaining and you even get an IWC Chronograph output for whatever reason. Importantly, wireless Apple CarPlay is here and you still have access to climate controls while this is in use.
The new steering wheel features circular OLED screens on both sides.
The right side provides an AMG drive mode selection knob and the left side is customizable between two functions.
You can cycle through these to give you quick access to damper settings, stability control, auto start stop and more.
I feel like more functions should have been available for custom user mapping. The default ones are fine for the most part until you ask yourself why any one would map auto start stop to a button that’s already physically accessible right behind the steering wheel. Perhaps other functions that are buried under digital menus would have been a better fit.
Besides those little nitpicks and size-related ergonomic complaints, I think the cabin is a very nice place to be. Despite the endless waves of products coming in from China with high-quality, tech-focused cabins, Mercedes-Benz interiors still manage to retain a level of opulence that feels untouchable. Every where you look there’s attention to detail and impossible curves.
For the most part, the high quality tactile feel has been retained too. Air cond vents still click satisfyingly
Power window switches still feel perfectly weighted.
However, the switch towards capacitive touch controls remains a personal point of contention. While technically innovative, there’s a lack of precision and feedback to the way the side mirror controls and seat controls feel in this new generation of Benz. It’s a complaint we’ve mentioned before and will continue to bring up.
Performance
How does the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC Coupé perform? Well, in some ways this is an improvement over the outgoing model. We’ve gone from 385hp in the last model to 416hp in this one PLUS 13hp from the little starter generator motor. Torque has gone from 521Nm to 500Nm if we’re just talking about the engine, but the same starter generator adds 150Nm of instant torque which more than makes up for that slight dip. The result is that acceleration is actually very slightly better in the new model. 0-100km/h is done in 4.8 seconds instead of 4.9 seconds.
There are real world improvements as well. The 2L 4-cylinder as loud as any AMG engine and it makes its presence felt and heard. You don’t make the most powerful production 4-cylinder in the world without hyperfocusing on efficiency. And in that sense, this is a lot more efficient and cleaner to run than the outgoing model. The annual road tax is also substantially reduced as a result of the downsizing. You’ll pay just RM380 a year instead of RM1600. It’s a huge difference.
Another major difference in terms of performance is the comfort. The switch away air suspension and to AMG Ride Control adaptive dampers has somehow made the car slightly more comfortable than before. Feedback is more natural and the GLC Coupé ends up handling like a smaller car than it is.
Now let’s talk about some of the negatives. I think the main thing is that this new powertrain feels sterile in comparison to the outgoing model. It’s better on paper, sure. But the sense of danger is completely removed from the occasion. Even though we noted that it handles like a smaller car, the reality is that this engine was not made for such a large and heavy vehicle and that electric assistance from the ESG feels necessary. It also feels like it overcompensates for the downsizing by channeling more gurgles and pops in day-to-day driving even when you’re not in ‘Sport’ mode.
The other thing that it struggles with is the state of the industry. Back when the outgoing model was around, EVs were simply too expensive and nonviable. Today, there are plenty of electric vehicles that come in feeling just a little more sterile than this yet they’re half the price and feel a little faster too.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s still that special AMG touch that sets this apart from anything else in the market. It’s just that the switch to a smaller engine has come with some drawbacks. It’s still a great driver and an amazing feat of engineering that works better as a performance-oriented daily driver.
Ultimately though, despite the decrease in price and the increase in features, the new GLC 43 feels like it’s missing something that the last one obviously had. I never thought I’d be one of those people who bemoaned the downsizing of engines but here I am finding myself nostalgic for a car that is actually worse than this one is in a lot of ways. There’s no reason to be. The 43 series doesn’t carry the same weight that the 63 series does, and what this series sets out to do is to create an AMG experience for your typical Benz buyer.
So if you’re thinking of upgrading, perhaps hold on a few more years. However, if you’re new in the market for a performance/status car that you can move family members in occasionally, this might just be it.
Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4MATIC Coupé Specifications
- Engine: Inline-4 16-Valve, DOHC, Petrol, turbocharged
- Capacity: 1999cc
- Gearbox: 9-speed AMG Speedshift MCT
- Max power: 416hp @ 6750 rpm (+ 13hp ISG)
- Max torque: 500Nm @ 2000 rpm (+ 150Nm ISG)
- Top Speed: 250km/h
- 0-100 km/h: 4.8 seconds
- Price: RM498,888
