Mercedes GLC Electric review: price, range and specs

The GLC is the car Mercedes sells more of than anything else, the well-heeled family SUV you'll find parked outside every private school and golf club in Europe. So making the Mercedes GLC Electric was never going to be a cautious exercise, and it isn't: up to 715 km of WLTP range, 330 kW charging, a 570-litre boot and a grille that lights up like a casino. It starts at €72,085 in Ireland for the GLC 400 4MATIC, and at £55,495 in the UK for the rear-wheel-drive GLC 250.

Mercedes officially calls it the GLC with EQ Technology. Every version charges from 10% to 80% in 22 minutes, and it's sold alongside the petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid GLC rather than replacing them.

Key specs

Prices and trims

(Prices correct at 29 October 2026. German prices are Mercedes' list prices including VAT, before delivery. The Dutch price is the launch price reported in October 2025, before the cheaper versions arrived. Irish prices exclude delivery.)

In Germany, there are three versions: the GLC 250 from €64,736, the GLC 300 4MATIC from €68,306 and the GLC 400 4MATIC from €71,281. The GLC 300 4MATIC, which isn't offered in the UK yet, has two motors with 310 kW, the smaller 85kWh battery and a WLTP range of up to 616 km.

In Ireland, Mercedes lists the GLC 400 4MATIC from €72,085, with Progressive, AMG Line and AMG Line Plus versions. At that price it doesn't qualify for the SEAI grant, which isn't paid on cars with a full price over €50,000, and it's above the level at which VRT relief on electric cars stops. Annual motor tax is €120, as it is for every electric car.

In the UK there are five trims, each available with either motor. The GLC 250 costs £55,495 as a Sport, £58,495 as an AMG Line, £63,495 as an AMG Line Premium, £65,995 as an AMG Line Premium Plus and £68,495 as a Premier Edition. The GLC 400 4MATIC is £4,855 more in each case, from £60,350 to £73,350. None of them qualifies for the Electric Car Grant, which only covers cars costing up to £37,000.

The Sport comes with 20-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and LED headlights. The AMG Line adds an AMG body kit and AMG sports seats. The AMG Line Premium adds keyless entry, flush door handles and a Burmester 3D surround sound system, and the AMG Line Premium Plus upgrades to a Burmester 4D system and DIGITAL LIGHT headlights. The Premier Edition has a head-up display and the 39.1-inch MBUX Hyperscreen.

Mercedes' European line-up, which Ireland follows, works slightly differently. The AMG Line adds 20-inch wheels, a sportier front bumper with a chrome splitter, a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, stainless steel pedals and a star-pattern light projected on the ground when you open the door. The AMG Line Plus adds 21-inch wheels, a gloss-black rear spoiler, red seat belts and the Night Package with gloss-black exterior trim. On top of the lines, Mercedes offers Advanced Plus, Premium and Premium Plus equipment packages, with the Premium Plus bringing climate-controlled massage seats, heated rear seats, the Burmester 4D sound system and the MBUX Hyperscreen.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

For most UK buyers, the GLC 250 makes more sense. It's £4,855 cheaper, and Mercedes' UK figures give it only 16 miles less range than the GLC 400 4MATIC.

Battery, range and charging

Source: Mercedes-Benz

The GLC uses an 800-volt system and nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries, with a usable capacity of 94kWh in the GLC 400 4MATIC and 85kWh in the GLC 250 and GLC 300 4MATIC. In Mercedes' European figures, the GLC 400 4MATIC has a WLTP range of 568-715 km depending on the equipment, and the GLC 250 541-650 km.

Mercedes UK quotes 389 miles for the GLC 250 and 405 miles for the GLC 400 4MATIC with UK equipment. Either way, it's enough for most long journeys with one stop, and a week or more of typical commuting between charges.

Charging is one of the GLC's strengths. The GLC 400 4MATIC charges at up to 330 kW and the GLC 250 at up to 320 kW, and Mercedes quotes 22 minutes from 10% to 80% for every version. In ten minutes on a fast enough charger, the GLC 400 4MATIC can add up to 305 km of WLTP range and the GLC 250 up to 265 km. That puts it among the quickest-charging cars in its class.

At home, the on-board AC charger runs at 11 kW as standard, or 22 kW as an option if you have a three-phase supply. Mercedes' energy consumption figures for the GLC 400 4MATIC range from 14.9 to 18.9 kWh/100 km, depending on the equipment, and the GLC 250 is the most efficient version in the UK, at 15.7 kWh/100 km. Bigger wheels and extra equipment push the figure up, which is why the Premier Edition is rated at 16.4 kWh/100 km in GLC 250 form.

Performance

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The GLC 250 has a single 260 kW (354 hp) motor driving the rear wheels, with 505 Nm of torque, and gets from 0-100km/h in 5.9 seconds. That's quick for a family SUV, and most drivers won't need more.

The GLC 400 4MATIC adds a front motor for 360 kW (489 hp) and 800 Nm of torque, and takes 4.3 seconds. A two-speed gearbox on the rear axle helps acceleration and efficiency at higher speeds, and a disconnect unit decouples the front axle when it isn't needed, to save energy. The German-market GLC 300 4MATIC sits between the two, with 310 kW and 4.7 seconds. Every version has a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph).

Mercedes lists AIRMATIC air suspension and rear-axle steering of up to 4.5 degrees for the electric GLC. Rear-axle steering cuts the turning circle from 12.1 to 11.2 metres, which makes a large SUV easier to manoeuvre in car parks, and air suspension improves the ride on rough roads. Check what's included on the version you're looking at, as the equipment varies by market.

Size and practicality

At 4,845 mm long, 1,913 mm wide and 1,644 mm tall, the electric GLC is a mid-size premium SUV. Its 2,972 mm wheelbase is 84 mm longer than the petrol and diesel GLC's, and Mercedes says that gives 47 mm more legroom and 17 mm more headroom in the back, with 13 mm more legroom and 46 mm more headroom up front. Rear passengers get noticeably more space than in the combustion car, which matters if you regularly carry adults or tall teenagers in the back.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

The boot is one of the biggest in the class, at 570 litres with the seats up and 1,740 litres with them folded. There's also a 128-litre frunk under the bonnet, which opens partly electrically and is large enough for the charging cables and a couple of bags.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

The four-wheel-drive versions can tow up to 2,400 kg with a braked trailer, and the GLC 250 up to 2,200 kg, which is enough for most caravans. The tow bar is an option. The GLC 400 4MATIC weighs around 2,535 kg in Mercedes' Swiss specification, so it's a heavy car, and that weight is worth bearing in mind if you're towing near the limit.

Tech and equipment

Source: Mercedes-Benz

Every electric GLC sold in Europe has a 10.3-inch driver display, a 14-inch central screen and a 14-inch passenger screen under one glass surface. The optional MBUX Hyperscreen stretches 39.1 inches across the dashboard and is the largest screen Mercedes has fitted to a car. It's standard on the UK Premier Edition.

Source: Mercedes-Benz

The software is Mercedes' new MB.OS operating system, with over-the-air updates and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Mercedes' public charging service can reserve chargers at selected Mercedes-Benz charging stations, starting in Germany and the US. In the UK, Mercedes includes three years of its MBUX Entertainment Digital Extra, which adds video streaming, gaming and an in-car app store, though you need a data package from a third-party provider.

Mercedes' European standard equipment includes a panoramic roof, LED headlights with adaptive high beam, heated front seats with electric adjustment and lumbar support, automatic climate control, wireless phone charging and a reversing camera. The illuminated grille, with a lit outline, star and panel, is one of the main options, and the SKY CONTROL panoramic roof can switch segments between clear and opaque. A vegan interior package certified by The Vegan Society is also available.

Safety

Euro NCAP hasn't published a rating for the electric GLC yet.

The GLC comes with Mercedes' DISTRONIC adaptive cruise control as standard in Europe, and depending on the equipment it can have up to ten cameras, five radar sensors and twelve ultrasonic sensors. Mercedes bundles its additional driver assistance functions under the name MB.DRIVE, and the computer that runs them can be updated over the air.

Rivals

(Prices correct at 29 October 2026.)

The Tesla Model Y is more than £10,000 cheaper than the GLC 250 in the UK, but its entry version has much less range. The Polestar 4 SUV costs about the same as the GLC 250 in the UK and has a similar range, but its 200 kW charging is slower. The Volvo EX60 is the closest rival on charging speed, with a 16-minute 10-80% time.

Which GLC should you buy?

In the UK, the GLC 250 is the one to buy. It's quicker than most drivers will need, it has nearly the same range as the GLC 400 4MATIC and it costs £4,855 less. The AMG Line adds the sportier styling most buyers want, while the AMG Line Premium is worth considering for the keyless entry and Burmester sound system.

The GLC 400 4MATIC makes sense if you tow regularly or need all-wheel drive in bad weather. In Ireland, it's currently the only version Mercedes lists.

Our verdict

The electric GLC is one of the most complete premium electric SUVs. It has a long range, very fast charging, a 570-litre boot plus a frunk, and a towing limit of up to 2,400 kg that few rivals match. The main drawback is price: it costs much more than a Tesla Model Y, and in Ireland the GLC 250 isn't listed yet, which leaves only the more expensive GLC 400 4MATIC.

Strengths

• Up to 715 km of WLTP range
• 10-80% charge in 22 minutes
• 570-litre boot plus a 128-litre frunk
• Up to 2,400 kg towing capacity

Weaknesses

• Expensive, with no grant in Ireland or the UK
• The cheaper GLC 250 isn't listed in Ireland yet
• The Hyperscreen is only standard on the UK Premier Edition
• No Euro NCAP rating yet

FAQs

How much is the electric Mercedes GLC?

In the UK, it starts at £55,495 for the GLC 250 Sport and £60,350 for the GLC 400 4MATIC Sport, rising to £73,350. In Ireland, the GLC 400 4MATIC starts at €72,085.

Does the Mercedes GLC Electric qualify for the Electric Car Grant?

No. Every version costs more than £37,000, the grant's limit. In Ireland, it's also too expensive for the SEAI grant.

What is the range of the electric Mercedes GLC?

Up to 715 km WLTP for the GLC 400 4MATIC and up to 650 km for the GLC 250, depending on the equipment. With UK equipment, Mercedes quotes 405 miles and 389 miles.

How fast does the electric Mercedes GLC charge?

From 10% to 80% in 22 minutes. The GLC 400 4MATIC peaks at 330 kW and can add up to 305 km of range in ten minutes, and the GLC 250 peaks at 320 kW.

How much can the electric Mercedes GLC tow?

Up to 2,400 kg with a braked trailer for the four-wheel-drive versions and 2,200 kg for the GLC 250, with the optional tow bar.