The current generation of this compact luxury crossover is one of the best models in the class. Lots of refinement, good on and off-road capabilities, strong engines and lots of tech features are just some of the strong points. After all, if you don’t trust expert review, sales numbers are speaking for themselves. The current generation has been around for some time, so the upcoming 2020 model year comes with several updates. It will get new styling, new powertrain, interior tweaks and much more. Therefore, we are pretty sure that the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC won’t feature bigger changes.
Moreover, we don’t expect any major changes before the complete redesign, which should happen in two or three years. The upcoming model will carry on with a familiar design, so we don’t count on any earlier arrival or price changes. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC should hit the market sometime late in the next year.
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC Design
In terms of base design characteristics, the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC will carry on with the same novelties that are coming for the 2020 model. This would be a typical facelift, so you may presume all the changes that are about to come. Of course, the focus will be on the styling, while the base layout is about to remain pretty much the same. Naturally, most of the styling changes will come at the front. Still, these tweaks will be quite subtle, so we could say that new head and taillights are the most important novelties.
Other than that, minor changes won’t affect the overall shape too much. The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC will carry on with two body styles in the offer, with either typical SUV layout or as a coupe. In both cases, you can count on a great suspension setup, which provides decent off-road performances while keeping the on-road ride smooth and comfortable.
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC Interior
Once again expect to see a familiar design, along with the novelties that are about to come with the upcoming facelift. Among the most important changes, we should mention some dashboard tweaks, as well as a new steering wheel. Still, probably the most important novelty is a new MBUX infotainment system, which finally puts this crossover on par with the newer models from this carmaker.
The rest of the cabin remains pretty much the same, which definitely isn’t a bad thing. This crossover features one of the finest cabins in the class, characterized by premium-quality materials and amazing style. Also, all kinds of luxury features can be found here. This includes leather upholstery and 14-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, which is a standard feature.
In terms of space, both rows of seats offer generous amounts of legroom. The ride is cushioned and the GLC is an excellent choice for long journeys. On the other side, the cargo area features pretty average numbers for the class. You can count of about 19.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 56.5 cubic feet of overall cargo space. Naturally, these numbers are notably lower in the coupe versions. You can count on 17.5 cubic feet behind the seats and 49 cubic feet of overall cargo space. These are below-average numbers for the class.
New safety features
One of the big novelties that are coming with the 2020 update is the addition of new safety systems. So, besides those more common drive aids, you can also count on Mercedes’ new technologies like adaptive cruise control system that uses GPS to anticipate turns, elevation changes and other relevant conditions.
Other than that, we expect that some of the optional safety features will become standard in the future. The list of potential candidates is quite long and includes things like 360-degree parking camera, active park assists, adaptive high beams, lane keep assist, pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, a head-up display etc.
2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC Engines
Bigger changes under the hood are not expected, as the 2020 facelift brings a couple of novelties. This one will come just a year after, so we count on the same engine lineup. The first thing we should mention is a new 2.0-liter turbo-four. Compared to the outgoing unit, it features a little bit more power (255hp). On the other side, a 315-hp plug-in hybrid doesn’t come with any power boost but gets a new 13.5-kWh battery pack, which should double the current, pretty modest 10-mile electric range.
When it comes to AMG models, you can count of familiar V8 versions, while the twin-turbo V6 comes with a nice power boost and now delivers 385 horsepower.
Release Date and Price
Given the fact that this model will come just a year after the facelift, we don’t expect that the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLC release date will be scheduled any earlier than for late 2020. When it comes to the price, the current model starts at around 41.000 dollars and we don’t expect bigger deviations in the future.