• Mild hybrid models promise good efficiency
• PHEVs could save you loads of money on fuel…
• … if you have somewhere convenient to charge

What are the running costs?

When Mercedes launched the second-generation GLC in 2022, it shaved down the size of its engines. The previous version of the car was available with a range of four and six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines – but this version can only be specified with four-cylinder units (unless you opt for one of the AMG models). That means it should be more economical.

Picking the correct engine will depend on how you intend to use the car. If you plan to cover lots of motorway miles, you’ll be best served by one of the diesel engines. Mercedes claims official WLTP fuel economy figures of around 50mpg for both units – and we found you can get close to those if you’re prepared to drive carefully. Around 45mpg will be an achievable average for most drivers.

The petrol engine is by far the least efficient unit in the GLC’s range. Mercedes claims a maximum WLTP range of 37.7mpg – and you’ll struggle to get near that figure if you spend a lot of time on the motorway. It’s the best option for those planning to use the GLC to potter around a town that isn’t gripped by an ultra-low emission zone.

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Then there are the PHEVs. We’ve found that its efficiency varies wildly depending on how often you charge it. It’s incredibly frugal with a full battery, as it has enough battery capacity to drive around in electric mode all day. As for Mercedes-Benz’s claimed 80 miles on a charge, we managed nearer 60, which is still impressive in its own right.

Once you’ve drained that battery, your fuel economy figure will drop off a cliff because you’re asking the already inefficient 2.0-litre petrol engine to haul around the dead weight of the battery and electric motor. Our advice? Only buy the PHEV if you have space for a home wallbox charger and you do the mileage (not too few, not too many) to justify it. In any case, you’ll never match Mercedes’s official WLTP fuel economy figure of more than 400mpg, which is pure fantasy.

Servicing and warranty

Mercedes’s service schedule is rather complicated. It’s an alternating system. The first service is scheduled for the first year or 10,000 miles after the car has been on the road. Then, you wait two years or 20,000 miles before taking the car for its second service. Mercedes also allows you to spread out the cost of servicing into monthly payments with its Affirm scheme.

Every Mercedes GLC leaves the dealership with a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty. The lack of a mileage limit is a definite plus point for long-distance drivers, but the length of the warranty can’t compare to the industry-leading 10-year warranty offered with the Lexus NX. The batteries on the GLC PHEVs are also warrantied for six years or 62,500 miles, which is comparable to the warranty offered with the BMW X3 PHEV.

Reliability

• Mercedes-Benz has a good reputation for reliability
• GLC shares its engines with the dependable C-Class
• No recalls yet – but the car was only launched in 2022

Mercedes has a good reputation for reliability – and early impressions suggest the GLC is continuing to carry the torch. The car shares its platform and powertrains with the C-Class saloon, which has proved itself to be a reliable car since it was launched in 2021.

The GLC also hasn’t had any recalls yet, which bodes well for the car. Normally, car companies find weaknesses in their manufacturing methods within the first 12 months of a car being on sale.