The 2023 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 Compact Luxury SUV

What is a GLC 300 ? A GLC 300 is a compact 2 row SUV built in the Bremen, Germany, assembly plant, and sold worldwide by Mercedes Benz. The GLC is a luxury SUV that’s inspired by the Mercedes Benz C Class cars and offers a higher view of the road with chunkier styling. It’s rated as one of the best gasoline powered compact luxury SUV’s; thanks to a smooth running gas engine, increased interior room and a broad range of technology that extends to the passengers comfort, convenience, safety and security.

The Mercedes Benz GLC is the type of refined, comfortable and sophisticated family SUV that Mercedes should be making. It’s large enough to cope with a small family and frugal enough to deliver real world fuel economy and lower emissions. The EPA range in city driving is 25 MPG, 32 MPG on the highway and a respectable 28 MPG in overall combined driving. The greenhouse gas rating is a 6 and the smog rating is a 7; both out of 10. These are all very good numbers for a 2 row premium level compact luxury SUV.

To prove that point, this week Mercedes Benz sent me a 2023 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 SUV to test drive and review. The base window sticker base price for this 300 model is $47,100. The options on the test SUV are: the metallic paint for $750, the 20″ AMG multi spoke alloy wheels with black accents for $850, the ventilated front seats for $450, the panorama roof for $1,500, the SiriusXM satellite radio with 6 month trial period for $350, the advanced USB package for $300, the driver assistance package for $1,950, the night package for $200, the AMG line package for $3,450 and the Pinnacle trim package for $4,450. The manufactures suggested retail price (MSRP), minus the $100 hands free access credit, and including the destination and delivery charge, is: $61,250.

After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealer fees, the out the door and in your garage total purchase price came to: $68,906. At just under $69 Grand this compact premium grade Mercedes Benz SUV checks all the right boxes. If your purchase budget is capped at $70,000, then you have found the SUV you have been looking for. This is a great looking compact SUV, with the best German engineering, for an entry level luxury price, that includes the prestige of a Mercedes Benz and AMG body styling.

Power and performance for this 2023 GLC 300 SUV starts with a 2.0L (liter) inline 4 cylinder turbo gas engine with 255 HP (horsepower) and 295 lb-ft of torque, that has a mild hybrid system with auto start and stop, bolted to a 9 speed automatic transmission and dynamic shift select. This driveline is enhanced with active distance assist, steering assist, lane change assist, lane keeping assist, blind spot assist, braking assist, cross traffic assist, evasive steering assist, emergency stop assist, speed limit assist and route based speed adaption. Everything you need, plus more, to make every trip safe and sound 24/7.

The interior appointments are: a dual zone automatic climate control system, keyless entry, keyless go, keyless start, Bluetooth connectivity via a 11.9″ center stack touch screen display screen, a 12.3″ digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, power heated front seats with lumbar support, memory for drivers seat, steering column position and exterior mirrors, split folding rear seats, power folding side mirrors, a power tilt and sliding sunroof, and Mercedes Benz logo puddle lamps.

All Mercedes Benz vehicles offer a long list of optional equipment.  This SUV has 10 options added to the base equipment list. The one that stands out the most is the AMG Line package. It adds the AMG body styling kit with brushed aluminum sport pedals and rubber studs, the MB-Tex instrument panel, beltlines in black Nappa leather, a flat bottomed multifunction sport steering wheel, AMG floor mats, front disc brake rotors with Mercedes Benz painted logo calipers and wheel arch trim painted in body color.

The Mercedes Benz tag line is, “The best or nothing”, and it embodies the quality of the vehicles that the brand builds every day. So, call, click or visit your local Mercedes Benz dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review on the 2023 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 SUV. And remember that the base price for a new GLC 300 starts at only $47,100. Mercedes Benz – The Best or Nothing.

Be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, You Are What You Drive, and maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should Drive one, Buy one, Today.  Have a great day, drive safely, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks nice and bright – Tony the Car Guy.

This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net