The Mercedes GLC: A Luxurious SUV with Some Software Shortcomings

The Mercedes GLC is a stunningly beautiful SUV that exudes luxury and sophistication both inside and out. The exterior design is sleek and modern, while the interior features soft, man-made leather upholstery that feels top-notch. This attention to detail is reflected in every aspect of the vehicle, making it hard to fault for quality. Whether you opt for the standard equipment or upgrade to a higher trim level, the GLC offers an air of luxury that's unmatched by many other SUVs on the market.

One of the standout features of the GLC is its generous standard equipment package. Even the entry-level SE model comes with features like electric front seats, a reversing camera, and a power tailgate as standard. However, if you want to add some extra bells and whistles, such as LED lights and all-round parking sensors, you'll need to step up to the sport model or, even better, opt for the AMG line. The latter is the most expensive but also offers the best overall package, with cool styling upgrades and sportier suspension that make it a joy to drive.

Our test car had the optional B Stereo system with laser-edged door inlays, which added an enormous amount of class to an already stylish interior. The sound quality was exceptional, making this system well worth the extra expense. Another feature worth mentioning is the larger 8.4-inch Command Online screen that's part of a pack along with the B Stereo system. This larger display is a significant improvement over the standard 7-inch unit and makes a huge difference in terms of usability.

However, not everything about the GLC's infotainment system is entirely satisfactory. The Garmin Satinav, which comes as an entry-level option, has a whiff of the aftermarket about it and doesn't quite live up to the standards set by other manufacturers like BMW and Audi. The user interface can be a bit cluttered, with too many options at the top and bottom of the screen, making it difficult to navigate. The touchpad with pinch and zoom function is also fiddly to use, especially when trying to select menu items on the move.

Another issue with the GLC's system is that the menu shortcut buttons are located on the center console rather than being integrated into the touchpad and swivel wheel. This can make it frustrating to access certain features, such as the list of destinations in the satnav or text input fields. Swiping on the trackpad to choose menu items isn't always easy either.

Despite these software shortcomings, the GLC's command system is still reasonable and offers some nice features, like European map updates free of charge for three years plus an integrated Wi-Fi hotspot. This means you can listen to internet radio using the car's inbuilt systems without needing to connect your phone. However, it's hard not to feel that Mercedes could have done a better job with its software, especially when compared to the seamless and intuitive interfaces offered by other manufacturers.

Interestingly, it's worth noting that the GLC's predecessor, the GLK, was never actually sold in the UK. So, while this may seem like an unusual piece of trivia, it does highlight the complexity and nuance of the SUV market. With so many options available, it can be difficult to know which model is right for you. Fortunately, our review has provided a comprehensive overview of the GLC's strengths and weaknesses, helping you make a more informed decision when choosing your next vehicle.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enthe Mercedes GLC looks great on the outside and this theme continues inside the gc's interior is a really lovely place to be soft man-made leather feels topnotch that you can pay extra for real leather if you want either way everything looks the part although that piano black trim on the center console does scratch easily other than this though it's hard to fault the GLC for Quality Everything You Touch has an air of luxury about it and all the controls get a weight too expensive damp feeling you'd expect from Mercedes standard equipment is generous across the range with even the entry level SE getting stuff like electric front seat a reversing camera and a power tailgate as standard but if you want satav you need to step up to the sport model which also adds things like LED lights and all round parking sensors but if you're going to do that you may as well go the whole hog and buy the AMG line which while the most expensive is the Best Buy as it adds cool styling upgrades and sportier suspension our test car had the optional B Stereo with laser edged door inlays and it adds a huge amounts of class to an already sexy Camin and it sounds brilliant it's part of a pack along with a larger 8.4 in command online screen and that's well worth spending extra on because a 7-in item you get a standard just looks a little bit iPhone 4 next to the beautiful iPhone 6 Plus also the cheaper entry-level Garmin satinav has a whiff of the aftermarket about it and it's not really very becoming of an expensive Mercedes SUV when it comes to using the car system the GLC Falls part a little bit it's just not as intuitive as BMW's iDrive and it takes longer to learn you've got a twiddly control wheel like a BMW but in addition there's a touchpad with pinch and zoom function layered on top and it's a little bit fiddly to use also it doesn't help that the menu shortcut buttons are actually located on the center console rather than with the touchpad and swivel wheel the whole user interface is a little bit cluttered too and low definition plus there just too many items there are many options at the top and bottom of the screen and it takes a bit of fiddling with the touchpad to get the right one going between list of destinations in the satnav and text input Fields is a bit of a faf too and swiping on the trackpad to choose menu items isn't that easy on the move the command saav itself is reasonable and you get European map updates free of charge for 3 years plus the car has an integrated Wi-Fi hotspot so you can listen to Internet radio using the car's inbuilt systems but you'll have to connect your phone for an internet connection overall though the system just isn't as slick or as nice to use as those offered by BMW and Audi and this is a bit of a shame because Mercedes is known for its engineering Excellence it just doesn't seem to be quite so good at software as it is at Hardware click over there for our 360° video and practicality video for the Mercedes GLC and its in-depth video review and if you enjoyed this video please like it share it and subscribe to our Channel now did you know that the gc's predecessor the GLK was never actually sold in the UK you probably didn't if you're Britishthe Mercedes GLC looks great on the outside and this theme continues inside the gc's interior is a really lovely place to be soft man-made leather feels topnotch that you can pay extra for real leather if you want either way everything looks the part although that piano black trim on the center console does scratch easily other than this though it's hard to fault the GLC for Quality Everything You Touch has an air of luxury about it and all the controls get a weight too expensive damp feeling you'd expect from Mercedes standard equipment is generous across the range with even the entry level SE getting stuff like electric front seat a reversing camera and a power tailgate as standard but if you want satav you need to step up to the sport model which also adds things like LED lights and all round parking sensors but if you're going to do that you may as well go the whole hog and buy the AMG line which while the most expensive is the Best Buy as it adds cool styling upgrades and sportier suspension our test car had the optional B Stereo with laser edged door inlays and it adds a huge amounts of class to an already sexy Camin and it sounds brilliant it's part of a pack along with a larger 8.4 in command online screen and that's well worth spending extra on because a 7-in item you get a standard just looks a little bit iPhone 4 next to the beautiful iPhone 6 Plus also the cheaper entry-level Garmin satinav has a whiff of the aftermarket about it and it's not really very becoming of an expensive Mercedes SUV when it comes to using the car system the GLC Falls part a little bit it's just not as intuitive as BMW's iDrive and it takes longer to learn you've got a twiddly control wheel like a BMW but in addition there's a touchpad with pinch and zoom function layered on top and it's a little bit fiddly to use also it doesn't help that the menu shortcut buttons are actually located on the center console rather than with the touchpad and swivel wheel the whole user interface is a little bit cluttered too and low definition plus there just too many items there are many options at the top and bottom of the screen and it takes a bit of fiddling with the touchpad to get the right one going between list of destinations in the satnav and text input Fields is a bit of a faf too and swiping on the trackpad to choose menu items isn't that easy on the move the command saav itself is reasonable and you get European map updates free of charge for 3 years plus the car has an integrated Wi-Fi hotspot so you can listen to Internet radio using the car's inbuilt systems but you'll have to connect your phone for an internet connection overall though the system just isn't as slick or as nice to use as those offered by BMW and Audi and this is a bit of a shame because Mercedes is known for its engineering Excellence it just doesn't seem to be quite so good at software as it is at Hardware click over there for our 360° video and practicality video for the Mercedes GLC and its in-depth video review and if you enjoyed this video please like it share it and subscribe to our Channel now did you know that the gc's predecessor the GLK was never actually sold in the UK you probably didn't if you're British\n"