2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e review: a sporty feel and solid electric range

While Mercedes-Benz offers a number of high-end fully-electric vehicles, not everyone is quite ready to make the switch — which is exactly where a plug-in hybrid comes in. The Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e is a plug-in hybrid with a roomy interior and luxury feel, plus it offers plenty of oomph under the hood.

But, because of the fact that not everyone is ready to jump to a full EV, automakers have been working overtime on their plug-in hybrid options. As a result, the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e has some serious competition. Does it do enough to make a serious case for itself — or should you go for one of the others?

Design

The overall design of the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e is the same as the non-plug-in version, which, in turn, is the same as the 2024 model. That, however, isn’t a bad thing by any means. It’s a handsome-looking car with a sporty feel overall.

On the front, you’ll find an oversized Mercedes-Benz logo centered on an intake grille that covers most of the face of the vehicle. It’s flanked by two slanted headlights. The roofline of the vehicle is curved and approachable, a trend we’ve seen from Mercedes-Benz in recent years. On the back of the vehicle, you’ll find two separated taillights that kind of merge into the liftgate.

Our review model comes with a few upgrades too. For starters, there’s the Patagonia Red Metallic color, which costs extra to get. Other add-ons include the AMG Line Package and the 20-inch AMG Multispoke Black Wheels, which look fantastic. All that to say, this isn’t exactly what the base variant of the GLC 350e will look like, but it’s also not too far off, which is nice.

Interior and tech

The premium build quality extends to the interior of the too. The cabin of the vehicle is modern and stylish, with unique-looking air vents and clearly premium materials. The seats are covered with stitched leather, and in the front row, you’ll get adjustable lumbar support and seat heating for an even more comfortable ride. All this is coupled with customizable accent lighting.

Both the first and second row in the vehicle get plenty of space, and I found it perfectly comfortable to sit in the rear seats as a six-foot person. In the trunk, you’ll get 24 cu-ft of cargo space, which is solid but not necessarily massive. It’s about average for a crossover-sized vehicle like this.

Like other Mercedes-Benz vehicles in recent years, much of how you’ll control the vehicle is packed into the main infotainment display. The center touch screen is 11.9 inches, and houses controls for climate, media, mapping, and so on. There are very few physical controls outside of those on the steering wheel, though thankfully you will get a strip of physical controls for volume, exterior cameras, and your hazard lights. I wish there were more physical controls offered by this vehicle, especially when it comes to climate controls.

For the most part, the software is responsive enough, but it still doesn’t match the responsiveness offered by tech companies like Tesla and Rivian. I hope this is an area where Mercedes-Benz continues to improve, especially considering the fact that so many controls are packed into its software now.

The main infotainment display is coupled with a bright instrument display behind the steering wheel. In some variants of the vehicle, you’ll also get a heads-up display showing your speed and some other information.

Range and charging

For the first time, there’s a plug-in hybrid option for the GLC SUV, which is great to see. Plug-in hybrids are a solid option for those interested in electrifying some of their driving but not quite ready to dive into a fully electric vehicle that can’t be gassed up in only a few minutes.

The GLC 350e combines a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 24.8kWh battery pack. Together, these are able to produce 313hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, which is technically an increase over the gas-only model. That said, despite the improved power, the vehicle isn’t as fast as the gas-only model, considering the fact that it’s so heavy.

Still, the plug-in hybrid variant does mean that you’ll be able to drive limited distances using only the built-in battery. The GLC 350e has an electric range of 54 miles, which is solid, though not incredible for a plug-in hybrid. Like all plug-in hybrids, if you want to be able to use the vehicle as an EV as much as possible, you’ll need to be able to charge either at home or at work. If your commute is 15 miles, or 30 total during the day to get back home, you’ll need to charge up every single day. You’re not going to want to do so at public charging stations.

Of course, instead of using the vehicle as an EV, you could combine the battery and the gas engine for more efficient gas-powered driving. The vehicle offers a number of different modes to take advantage of, including a sport mode that prioritizes performance and a fully electric mode, which really only activates the gas engine when you press the throttle all the way to the ground.

To charge the car, you’ll plug it in via its CCS port, and it has a maximum charging speed of around 60kW. That should allow drivers to charge it from 10% to 80% in around 30 minutes. Again, however, it will be more convenient to simply charge it overnight at home or during the day instead of at level 3 charging stations.

Driving experience

Behind the wheel, the GLC 350e felt sporty and responsive. Generally speaking, it was a joy to drive. Mercedes-Benz is offsetting some of that extra weight with the self-leveling rear air suspension system, which helped make the ride smoother in general. In sport mode, the GLC 350e was quite quick. It’s not as fast as an electric vehicle typically is, but it’s able to accelerate to 60mph in 6.2 seconds, which is more than fast enough to quickly overtake someone on the highway or to get up to speed on an on-ramp.

In electric-only mode, its performance was a little less impressive, though of course, the electric powertrain is more there for efficiency than performance. Again, its acceleration won’t break any records, but it’s still nice to be able to use the vehicle in electric-only mode as needed.

I didn’t love the fact that the vehicle constantly defaulted to electric driving, though. To be sure, it makes sense that this vehicle, in particular, will be bought by those who are curious about battery-powered driving. However, I still prefer that the vehicle simply defaults to the last used driving mode. It’s a small complaint but was a little annoying during my use.

When the vehicle runs out of juice, it can make use of regenerative braking to replenish the battery a little, but you’ll really want to plug the car in. That’s because it’s such a heavy vehicle, which means that it uses more gas to accelerate than its fully gas-powered counterparts. You can also tweak the levels of regenerative braking, which can help the battery charge faster at higher levels.

The steering on the vehicle is decently responsive too, though not quite as much as you would expect from a more sports-focused vehicle. This is common among luxury Mercedes-Benz cars, and it’s certainly not a bad thing. The aim of the game here is a comfortable ride, not necessarily an ultra-responsive drive. You get used to how it feels relatively quickly.

How DT would configure this car

I really enjoyed my week with the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e. Again, however, it’s best suited for those who can charge it at home overnight or at work during the day. If you can’t do so, you’ll have to be willing to head to a public charger on a very regular basis, and frankly, I doubt most people would do that, instead falling into simply using the vehicle as a gas-powered car that happens to be a whole lot heavier than a gas-only model and ironically ends up using a whole lot more gas.

Configuration, however, is really down to personal preference, and upgrades are purely aesthetic and tech-focused rather than performance-focused. You’ll have to pay extra for some colors and some wheel options, not to mention the AMG Line package, which adds sportier body styling and some interior features. The vehicle can also come in a base variant or with the Exclusive Trim or Pinnacle Trim. Again, neither of these contribute to better performance, but if I were buying the GLC 350e, I might consider the Exclusive Trim for the upgraded Burmester sound system and the surround view camera system, which I’ve come to rely on.

It is, however, also worth considering alternatives. The Volvo XC60 isn’t as luxurious, but it is a little larger and a little faster. That said, its electric range is much lower, at only 35 miles. Ultimately, if you’re looking for luxury and a solid electric range, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e is an excellent option.