Review About Mercedes GLC 43 AMG Coupe

This Latin phrase “Cum Laude” means “with praise” being that with the addition of the prefixes “Magna” and “Summa” happens to be with “much praise” and with the “greatest of praises”, respectively. Fulfilled the Latin lesson (laughs) I will explain to you why this Mercedes GLC 43 AMG 4Matic Coupe is a “Cum Laude” and not a “Magna” or “Summa”.

Fortunately, nothing in life is consensual, and in automobiles this maxim is unassailable. Born from the need to respond to the success of BMW with the X6 and then with the X4, the Mercedes GLC Coupe is one of those cars that either love or hate. There is no middle ground for the muscular body with wide wheel arches and a rear that mixes the design of the Mercedes coupés with the generous dimensions of the SUV arabesque. Undoubtedly it gives the sight and has that effect “in your fucking” that many like. So in the image of those who when they go to buy a brand coat, if it does not have the name of the mark loudly on display, let it stay on the hanger. In this particular and with the AMG logos placed in the right places, the GLC is almost perfect.

Even because the 19-inch wheels and the correct bodywork, leave a more masculine image. The difference between the Coupe and the “normal” GLC lies in the downhill roof that ends in a small rear window mounted on a rear gate that encompasses the huge lanterns. True to the matrioska style, the GLC Coupé is the smaller-scale copy of the GLE Coupe. Of course, using the coupe name is huge freedom because coupé only has the top down. The rest is an SUV. Despite all this, this Mercedes is a direct rival of the Porsche Macan, the Range Rover Evoque, the BMW X4 and the Jaguar F-Pace.

Under the hood and hugged by an imposing front, we found a 3.0-liter V6 and not a V8. Because? Because this is an AMG 43 and not 63, which uses the 5-liter V8 with 476 or 510 hp, which is sold here by order only. However, the V6 3.0-liter block is the same as the GLE but in a decaffeinated version, i.e. instead of 390 hp, the GLC has 367 hp. Which is not a problem since the torque of 520 Nm is the same and the weight of the car very different: 1780 pounds against the 2250 pounds of GLC. Not surprisingly, this Mercedes GLC 43 AMG performs better than the larger model: 4.9 seconds from 0-100 km / h and the same 250 km / h maximum speed, limited electronically. That is, they are less 0.8 seconds from 0-100 km / h!

With 4Matic all-wheel drive coupled to a nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox, pneumatic suspension and improved braking vis-à-vis a common GLC Coupé, the Mercedes GLC 43 AMG is a missile capable of shortening the lines unthinkably. However, he is able to walk on the Marginal to purr. This is because the engine is soft and refined and, in front of the beautiful leather-wrapped steering wheel, well seated in comfortable and wraparound seats, we feel that we dominate the mechanics and it does what we want. Despite everything is comfortable and all the controls are light and accurate.

Of course, when it’s necessary, the V6 shows a hoarse voice, and in a sinuous road course with a “vivace” rhythm, it makes fun to put a change or two down and listen to the small explosions and then the high pitched engine noise on the rotation.

One of the most fun exercises is to make a climb with some incline and get out under the “nail in the bottom”. There is not much that can match the power of this GLC 43 AMG.

The soundproofing is good and only lets the engine enter when we are already in very strong rhythms and the quality of the assembly and materials and the list of standard equipment, allow the interior of the Mercedes GLC 43 AMG to be a beautiful place to live.

But … and in these things, there is always a “but” … the GLC 43 AMG is far from perfect. The laws of physics do not let this level even approximate. For all intents and purposes, the Mercedes GLC 43 AMG is a tall car with high suspensions and large wheels. Bending quickly is something that defies the laws of physics and whatever mode of driving you choose (there are four in the Dynamic: Eco, Comfort, Sport and Sport + button) the car behaves more or less the same way, that is, it fits badly the lombas and the holes, stirring much, particularly, in the bumps and soundtracks.

Naturally, an SUV is just the same, but a sports version like this that costs almost 90 thousand euros can not compare with the true SUV and yes with the vans or sedans of the segment. Because with a Jeep we go everywhere, with a Mercedes AMG, not even that. And it is not because of not being able, but because of the fear of being able to spoil some plastic of the AMG kit or to scratch the painting.

The boot is generous, but access is too high. Clearly, the function has been sacrificed to form. And since we’re talking about a trunk, let’s look inside.

Very similar to a Class A or Class C, the interior of the Mercedes GLC 43 AMG does not differ much from the other Mercedes and is very similar to Class C, especially the steering wheel, seats and the graphics of the instruments. A carbon fiber replica on the center console, dashboards, and door linings, as well as the back of the instruments, puts us in the center of the action. The steering wheel is smaller, and the pedals are made of aluminum. All done with quality and with that feeling that everything is there thought to last an eternity. The available space is decent, but only four fit in comfort and the taller will suffer from the roof of the GLC Coupé. The rear seat folds 40/20/40, and the capacity of the luggage compartment is 550 liters. Curiously, the unarmed view seems to have far less space.

The comfort level is indexed to the driving mode, but despite some shaking in the bumps and in some holes, we never got to the “how hard and uncomfortable !!” mode. The pneumatic suspension, in whatever way, always leaves that feeling of buoyancy to which we are accustomed, but which is not at all pleasant at first.

In terms of behavior, the Coupé can not be better than the GLC, because being agile, the steering is not fabulous and the chassis, although of good quality, is not hard enough and can not be as efficient in a curve as the Porsche Macan, playing the same game with Jaguar F-Pace. As for the BMW X4, I do not know why I do not know the car because the Bavarian brand does not authorize tests to Automonitor. Forward!

Accounts made, the GLC Coupé is no better than the GLC, the latter having more versatility and better habitability.

Verdict

The Mercedes GLC 43 AMG Coupe deserves to be Cum Laude but is not excellent or leader. As in other things, it is little understood why there is a GLC and a GLC Coupe (exception made to the pursuit of the BMW range). Mercedes lost the opportunity to differentiate them in this AMG version, so it does not justify – unless it is a Coupé style enthusiast – to spend almost five thousand euros more in this GLC AMG 43 Coupé. The AMG 43 GLC is more practical, more spacious with the same performance and capability. This is not to say that the GLC Coupé is bad. Well on the contrary !!! But it’s not a Magna Cum Laude, much less a Summa Cum Laude. But if you like the style a lot and the 88,439 euros do not stop it, because it makes a good choice, no doubt. I would choose the SUV and not the coupe, but that’s me …