Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 53 Review & Prices

The hot SUV has been around for a while, and the Mercedes-AMG GLC 53 is a slightly more modest take on the recipe than its hybrid-powered GLC 63 predecessor. It’s still a hugely powerful car with all-wheel drive and buckets of road presence, but the GLC Coupe lacks the back seat and boot space of the regular GLC model.

So much power in such a high-riding vehicle with this much ground clearance is sort of like having running shoe technology in a hiking boot. Sure, it’s more capable than a regular model when you need to get a move on, but why would you not just buy a smaller, lighter version from the off?

It isn’t the only SUV-sports-coupe fusion-thingy on sale, with the Audi SQ5 Sportback a similarly powerful, practically-compromised alternative. BMW only offers the X3 M50i in boxy SUV form, while the Tesla Model Y Performance and dual-motor Volvo EC40 are all-electric alternatives to consider, too.

Mercedes-AMG GLC 53 Coupe: facts and figures

Price: from £81,250
Engine: 3.0-litre inline-six petrol (mild hybrid), turbocharged
Drivetrain: Nine-speed automatic gearbox, all-wheel drive
Horsepower: 472hp
0-60mph: 4.2 seconds
Top speed: 155mph
Efficiency: 29.8mpg

It also has the poshest-looking interior, behind the BMW X3. The regular GLC Coupe doesn’t feel all that premium in places, but the cabin is spacious and the AMG version spices things up with lashings of carbon-fibre trim and heavily-bolstered sports seats with red stitching.

The 11.9-inch infotainment display is the same as in the non-AMG version of the GLC Coupe, which means it ought to feature pleasant, crisp graphics - while not being quite as snappy as the systems found in alternatives. The driver display features AMG-specific fonts on the readouts, too.

As with the regular GLC Coupe, there ought to be plenty of room to get comfortable up front and plenty of storage space, too, but rear seat space will disappoint. There’s a lack of headroom in the coupe-SUV, and the bulkier sports seats in the AMG will almost certainly make it feel even more claustrophobic back there. The 545-litre boot capacity is the same as in the non-performance GLC Coupe.

Power comes from a 3.0-litre, turbocharged inline-six engine with a mild hybrid boost for 472hp and a 0-60mph time of 4.2 seconds. That puts it ahead of the BMW X3 M50i with 398hp and 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds, as well as the Audi SQ4 Sportback with 361hp and a 0-60mph time of 4.5 seconds.

Check out the latest Mercedes-AMG GLC 53 Coupe deals, as well as GLC 53 Coupe lease offers, to see how much you could save through Carwow. You can also browse used Mercedes from our network of trusted dealers. Carwow can also help you sell your car online.

Starting at over £81,000, the Mercedes-AMG GLC 53 Coupe is a pricier proposition than the £74,000 X3 M50i and the £75,000 SQ5 Sportback. That’s a sizable wedge of cash, and even its quicker 0-60mph time makes it hard to justify the price gap.

However, even the regular GLC feels more premium than an Audi SQ5, and the AMG version is well-equipped with ambient lighting, keyless entry-and-go, 360-degree cameras, a plethora of driver assistance systems and four-wheel steering. That being said, the standard GLC’s cabin doesn’t feel as high-quality as in a BMW X3, and some carbon fibre trim certainly isn’t enough to bridge the gap.