Trying to find inspiration in the Mercedes-AMG GLC43

The Mercedes-AMG GLC43 features an advanced hybrid powertrain wrapped around a pretty body. But it's missing that typical AMG muscle.

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Ah. January. The holidays are over. Football season is coming to an end. The weather is weathering. Seasonal depression is real. Like always, I turn to cars, and driving, to bring me out of the doldrums. And look at this, it’s a Mercedes-AMG GLC43 in my driveway! MANUFAKTUR Magno paint! Red seat belts! Quad exhaust!

You already know where this is headed, don’t you? So let’s do a postmortem and examine why cars like this should work, but don’t.

Get one

  • Hey, good-lookin’
  • Good ride and handling trade-off
  • Typical Mercedes fit and finish

Don’t get one

  • Drinks gas
  • Still a four-banger, and never feels fast
  • Sorry, run that MSRP by me again?
Soul Score

6/10

What’s the point if it doesn’t make you feel special?

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 Overview

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Special editions of cars exist everywhere, all the time. Most are for silly reasons – anniversaries or celebrations of racing victories long past. They mean nothing to you and I. And yet, I’ve always wondered why Merc never put out a special edition of their F1 team’s success. They are seven-time world champions, a feat that might never be repeated again. Maybe they can ask Lewis Hamilton to sign the dashes before he walks out the door.

Lewis might take a look at this Mercedes-AMG GLC43 and say, “You know what? I’m good, thanks.”

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We’re long past smirking at the idea of a sport-SUV that emphasizes sport. They’ve gotten lower. Faster. More powerful. And AMG used to be the “est” or “ful” of them all. Fastest. Most Powerful. Comfiest? It fits. The tradition mostly continues with this GLC. It has a 416-horsepower four-cylinder with hybrid assist, which is more than even the latest X3 M50 and its turbocharged six-cylinder. Rear-axle steering is here, as is an adaptive suspension. This is all terrific on paper. Or your screen. Whatever.

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In 2024 Merc only offered this AMG trim, which replaced a turbocharged V-6 from 2022. But now in the year 2025, they offer the GLC63 S with 671 horsepower. Still a four-banger, but the electric juice is turned up. Doing that will cost you money though.

Can its little brother convince me that it’s all I need? Well…

Performance Score: 5. I’m fine. This is fine.

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An SUV like this was never meant to replace a sports car – simply offer the ability to be fun if you’d like it to be. BMW’s X3 excels at this.

The GLC43 does not, despite having more speed goodies than Iron Man’s suit.

Engine

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Four pipes, but not much sound.

I suppose it’s not fair to pine for supercharged V-8s. Mercedes never installed one in its small SUVs, dating back to the GLK.

And this four cylinder is good. Smooth. Powerful. 416 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque won’t be denied. There’s a 48-volt mild hybrid system here as well, and it augments the power from the engine. As you’d expect, it’s all seamlessly integrated. Hell, the turbocharger is even electrically assisted so it spools faster, inspired by their F1 technology.

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It never feels that fast.

You sure you won’t sign the dash, Lewis?

But from there, the news gets worse. The GLC43 never feels as fast as the equivalent X3 or Volvo XC60. Both are much more fun to drive. The X3 in particular, with its sonorous engine note, feels like a different experience all together. After a few pulls in the GLC, you never really feel the urge to do it again. At that point, you might as well get a lesser model.

From the drone of the engine to the pfft of the exhaust, it’s all just a bit uninspiring.

Transmission

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Shift via the transmission stalk on the steering column. Hooray for paddle shifters in real aluminum.

Here we have something new – a nine-speed automatic that actually has two clutches. Dubbed MCT, it combines a typical automatic with multiple clutches like a DCT might. There are some very technical-sounding words in the press brief like “multi-clutch”, or “SPEEDSHIFT”, or my favorite…race inspired!

Yea, Lewis, come on back buddy!

Driving the GLC43 down the road, I’d call the experience much more “DCT” than “ZF”, and so the Merc sort of clunks and bangs in some very un-Mercedes like ways. You do get very firm and snappy shifts with the paddles behind the wheel, but you also get that with the ZF box in other cars at this point.

It’s fun for five minutes, then you just put it in D and go about your business.

Chassis and Steering

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The best part about the performance of the GLC43.

If the Mercedes-AMG GLC43 has a redeeming point, it would be here in the chassis. There’s a terrific balance of sport and comfort, more so than in other SUVs.

Grip the Alcantara-covered steering wheel and give it a turn to find a surprising amount of feedback. The GLC43 features 2.5-degree rear-axle steering, and though you wouldn’t notice it in daily life, I suspect you would if they took it away. Directional control is excellent, and this feels like it’s on a railroad track down the highway.

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An adaptive suspension is standard, and makes the car nimble.

As is typical of AMG, the GLC comes with Adaptive Damping that goes from Comfort to Sport Plus –Race mode means traction control is off, and it was too cold for shenanigans. Speaking of, this car had winter tires on it because it’s that time of year, and there was more understeer than I’d like because of it. I doubt it would be as much of an issue with proper summers (and weather).

The GLC remains flat in turns, even in Comfort mode, and though it might be firm in Sport, the ride is still excellent, making this a tossable but refined ride.

Brakes

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Red calipers are part of the DYNAMIC PLUS package.

Red AMG-branded calipers that clamp cross-drilled discs barely poke out from the wheels – a minimal hint of crazy in this otherwise Teutonic machine.

They work well, with progressive pedal feel that inspired confidence. We want brakes with no drama, so these sections are usually quiet unless there’s a problem. Don’t be a problem, brakes.

What we’re left with is a very competent, fast and capable SUV that you’d be quite happy to drive each day…if it were a Mercedes. But once you attach that AMG badge, we want some feral to come out. I’m afraid there just isn’t enough.

Lifestyle Score: 7. Not the penthouse

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Look how nice the trunk mat is

I get it – this is middle management. There are still people above you, making more salaries and bigger decisions. Therefore, your Mercedes doesn’t have the kind of seats a GT might. Actually, if I’m honest they are closer to the GLB’s in feel, and that car costs about $10,000 less. They just aren’t that supportive, especially the lower cushion, and that Alcantara? It grips…everything.

Bro, why are you trying to undress me?

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There’s plenty of room in the back, though the bench is oddly shaped.

Now would be a good time to mention the $2,500 optional AMG Performance seats. That’ll get you closer to the bosses in both look and feel. Spend an additional thousand, and they will make then ventilated and two-toned. Such a deal.

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Upgraded buckets would be an improvement.

Otherwise the car is a great package. Roomy back seat, plenty of trunk space with a beautifully-lined carpet floor. The rake of the rear window isn’t even that severe, proving that you can make a good-looking SUV without slashing away the most useful part.

Fuel Economy: 2. Losing the plot

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21 MPG isn’t good for a four-cylinder, regardless of power.

The Mercedes-AMG GLC43 isn’t terrible when it comes to fuel economy – 21 combined MPG. Maybe you’re saying, “Yea but, 416 horsepower…”.

BMW’s X3 M50 has a bit less, with 393 (you know they underrate), and a lot more torque at 428 lb-ft. That car gets 27 MPG combined – that’s a huge difference. And it does it with God’s engine.

The kicker is that the Merc gets to sixty in around 4.7 seconds. The BMW is in the threes. So Mercedes ditched bigger and better engines for what exact purpose?

Features and Comfort: 7. Merc Money

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There’s a lot to like – this is a nearly fully-loaded example. But that does make it one of the most expensive in the segment, and that’s before the 63 trim arrives.

Red and black attack

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Typical Mercedes quality inside.

The GLC43 is undoubtedly a much nicer place to be inside than any other small SUV, from its Piano Black trim, to that famous ambient lighting. But it’s still missing a few things.

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Ambient lighting that everyone should study.

Up front are those meh seats that heat, but don’t cool or massage. A beautiful panoramic roof provides a ton of light into the dark interior, and it actually opens unlike the X3’s. Red stitching on the soft leather seats, doors, and steering wheel are a wonderful touch, and the broad swatch of carbon fiber trim is stunning to look at.

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A large sunroof brings light to a dark cabin.

Maybe everyone else should just steal Mercedes interior designers.

But hey, where is the window tint? $77k and I have to stop by Tints-R-Us to make this look as it should?

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Carbon fiber trim looks great.

We end on the typical Mercedes user interface. Their MBUX system remains confusing, and placing haptic controls on the steering wheel is maddening. I can’t tell you how many times I hit the buttons simply by grabbing the steering you – you know, the most important piece of control equipment in a car.

Say it together – MANUFAKTUR

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The silhouette looks great. Why get the “coupe”?

Mercedes seems to have noticed the success of BMW’s Individual program, and so their MANUFAKTUR process is getting pushed with renewed vigor. Our GLC wears delicious Cirrus Silver Magno paint, and it remains the gold standard as far as finishes go – far beyond BMW and even Porsche. Spend Rolls Royce money to do better; it’s that good.

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Magno paint. Yes.

I think this is a great-looking SUV. Better than the Lego-like X3, or the silly upright GLB. Skip the GLC Coupe because I don’t see why you won’t turn just as many heads in this thing.

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The window sticker shows 21-inch AMG Y-spoke wheels, but you’ll have you use your imagination since 20-inch winter wheels wee mounted. Those red calipers are courtesy of the AMG Plus Package, and it includes dynamic engine mounts for $1,300. Keep checking boxes, and we can reach $90,000 easily – that’s X3 M territory, or really more like X5 M50 value.

But we started at $64,950 – that’s more in line with the kind of driving experience this AMG offers.

Others SUVs to consider

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The Volvo XC60 is a more sporty offering.

The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 is good, but already forgotten

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I’ve started to notice a theme with AMG products – you really have to spend to make it worthwhile.

The GLE53. The GT53. Very nice cars, but missing the big motor. On the flip side, having lived with the SL63, can you imagine that car with a four cylinder? They do make one, after all.

Without that visceral experience, I always come away with a big sense of meh. Not bad cars by any means these lower AMGs – you’d be quite comfortable in one. But once we get to the point of reaching that badge, don’t you want to feel like you’ve finally made it? The GLC43 might not fulfill your dreams.

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But they also have you over a barrel, because this is a far more capable car than a pedestrian GLC. Actually, this sort of feels like what a regular GLC should be.

But things are changing. Maybe the new 63 variant will be different. And the V-8s are returning, slowly but surely. Nature is healing.

For now, maybe bring your GLC43 to the next F1 race. Lewis might be walking by – ask him to sign that beautiful carbon dash.

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2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC43 Specifications

VEHICLE TYPE

Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, four-passenger, two-door coupe

PRICE

Base: $64,950
As tested: $77,575

POWERTRAIN

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four
416 horsepower @ 6,750 RPM
369 lb-ft @ 5,000 RPM
Nine-speed MCT transmission

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase:113.7 in
Length: 187 in
Width: 75.6 in
Height: 64.4 in
Curb Weight: 4,553 lbs

FUEL ECONOMY

Combined/city/highway: 21/19/25 MPG

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