Mercedes-Benz GLC EV

The Mercedes-Benz GLC EV is the brand's first mid-size luxury pure electric SUV ground-up developed on the dedicated MB.EA electric platform. The all-new GLC EV made its global premiere at the IAA Mobility Munich in September 2025, followed by its China debut at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2026. Tailored specifically for the Chinese market with an extended wheelbase, the EV is locally assembled by Beijing Benz, with official pre-orders commencing on 5 June 2026 ahead of its market launch on 8 July. Spearheading the line-up is the GLC 350 L 4MATIC Gold Edition, with pre-sale prices starting from RM349,000. Available in five- and six-seater configurations, the newcomer directly takes on rivals such as the BMW iX3, Audi Q6 e-tron, Li L7, and AITO M7.

Design Language

Aesthetically, the GLC EV showcases Mercedes-Benz's latest-generation electric design philosophy. The front fascia features a retro shield-style enclosed grille embedded with a 942-unit illuminated pixel matrix, flanked by chrome trim and an illuminated three-pointed star emblem for a distinctive look. This is complemented by sharp Micro LED digital headlamps with trident-shaped daytime running light signatures. The side profile exhibits clean, aerodynamic lines alongside flush pop-out door handles. At the rear, it sports full-width LED tail lights featuring dual-ring internal graphics. In terms of dimensions, it measures 4,933 mm in length, 1,914 mm in width, and 1,710 mm in height (with some sources stating 4,949/1,970/1,710 mm), riding on a 3,027 mm wheelbase. This represents a 50 mm stretch over the long-wheelbase petrol GLC L, effectively surpassing the GLE-Class in wheelbase length. Cargo capacity is rated at 570 litres in the rear boot, supplemented by a 128-litre front boot (frunk). Six exterior paint finishes are on offer.

Powertrain and Performance

The GLC EV is underpinned by an advanced 800V high-voltage electrical architecture. The launch-spec 350 L 4MATIC variant is driven by dual permanent magnet synchronous motors (front and rear), with the rear axle incorporating a class-exclusive two-speed electric transmission—featuring an 11:1 first gear for launch acceleration and towing, and a 5:1 second gear for efficient high-speed cruising. The front axle integrates a DCU (Disconnect Unit) AWD system, which decouples the front motor during everyday driving to run in rear-wheel-drive mode for optimised energy consumption. The 350 variant outputs a combined 310 kW, while the 400 variant delivers up to 463 kW; the global GLC 400 4MATIC version is rated at 489 hp (approx. 360 kW). Energy is supplied by an 85.5 kWh ternary lithium battery pack sourced from CATL. Under CLTC testing, the standard variant achieves 680 km, while the long-range version delivers 703 km; overseas WLTP ratings reach up to 713 km. DC fast charging peaks at 320 kW, taking the battery from 10% to 80% in just 22 minutes, or recouping 303 km of range in 10 minutes.

Chassis and Handling

Under the skin, the GLC EV is equipped with an S-Class-derived AIRMATIC air suspension setup, paired with the ADS+ adaptive damping system and active rear-axle steering with up to 4.5 degrees of steering angle in both directions. The rear-wheel steering reduces the turning circle to just 11.3 metres. The chassis also debuts bespoke hydraulic bushings tuned specifically for Chinese road conditions. It boasts a maximum towing capacity of 2.4 tonnes, with the 4MATIC all-wheel-drive system fitted as standard across the range.

Cabin and Equipment

Inside, the centerpiece is the massive 39.1-inch (99.3 cm) seamless MBUX Hyperscreen, marking the largest in-cabin display ever fitted to a Mercedes-Benz model. The curved panel integrates a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and dual 14-inch displays, utilizing OLED panels with local dimming matrix backlighting. In-car infotainment runs on Mercedes-Benz's proprietary MB.OS operating system, driven by a high-performance compute platform delivering 254 TOPS. The system features the AI voice assistant  "Xiao Ben" powered by the Doubao Large Language Model, supporting multi-dialect interactions including Cantonese and Sichuanese. Audiophiles are treated to a standard Burmester 4D surround sound system with 19 speakers and two seat-integrated exciters. For seating, the five-seater variant offers heating, ventilation, and massage functions for both rows, while the six-seater version features dual individual captain's chairs in the second row with full power adjustments and comfort features. Other amenities include a multi-zone intelligent star-pattern panoramic glass roof, Head-Up Display (HUD), and Dolby Atmos support.

Safety and Driver Assistance

On the intelligent driving front, the GLC EV features an advanced ADAS suite co-developed with Momenta. Utilizing a pure vision-based architecture, it supports nationwide urban and highway Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) straight out of the box. Capabilities include reverse tracking assist, mapless traffic light recognition with auto start-stop, and autonomous lane changes, with an over-the-air (OTA) update set to introduce "parking space-to-parking space" full-scenario autonomous driving later in the year. Passive safety is bolstered by up to 11 airbags alongside Automatic Emergency Steering (AES). Exterior illumination is handled by Micro LED digital headlights and the 942-LED backlit grille. Mercedes-Benz subjected the model to extensive validation, including nearly 5 million kilometres of global endurance testing (1.1 million km in China) and over 230 vehicle crash tests (nearly 80 in China).

Market Outlook and Verdict

As Mercedes-Benz's first locally produced long-wheelbase model built on the dedicated MB.EA platform, the GLC EV signifies the brand's formal departure from its previous  "ICE-derived EV" approach in China. Starting at RM349,000, the EV undercuts the long-wheelbase petrol GLC L (from RM399,800) by over RM50,000. Amid fierce competition in the RM300,000 to RM400,000 premium EV segment, the GLC EV leverages its 800V architecture, 703 km range, S-Class air suspension, and Momenta-powered ADAS as key selling points. Early-bird incentives include a RM3,000 booking fee expanding to RM10,000 towards the purchase price, alongside complimentary seat and audio package upgrades. The electric SUV will be sold concurrently with the petrol GLC L in the premium mid-size SUV category. Serving as a crucial milestone in Mercedes-Benz's electrification strategy, the GLC EV's competitive pricing and product strength will be a direct litmus test of consumer willingness to pay a premium for electric Mercedes-Benz models.