GLC Electric

The GLC 400 4MATIC is rated at 630km on the WLTP test cycle from its 94kWh battery, with a claimed energy use of 17.1kWh/100km. That is a realistic week of city and suburban commuting between charges for most drivers, though highway running and cold weather will trim it as they do with any EV. Note the 630km figure is the Australian rating; some overseas markets quote a higher number on a different test, so stick to the local figure when you compare it with rivals like the BMW iX3 and Volvo EX60.

The GLC runs an 800-volt electrical architecture. That lets it accept up to 330kW on a DC fast charger and, Mercedes says, add up to 300km of range in ten minutes. A 10 to 80 per cent top-up takes 22 minutes in ideal conditions. The catch is the Australian charging network: very few public chargers deliver 330kW today, so in the real world most owners will charge at 75 to 150kW and take longer than the headline. At home, it charges overnight on AC.

As of mid-2026 the GLC 400 4MATIC is priced from $112,200 before on-road costs, which makes it dearer than the equivalent BMW iX3 and Volvo EX60. A limited Launch Edition undercuts it at $110,000 but deletes the front passenger touchscreen for a decorative static panel. Two option packs add cost: a Luxury Package at $8,200 brings the big Hyperscreen, Burmester audio and massaging seats, while an Agility and Comfort Package at $5,200 adds air suspension and rear-axle steering. Both packs are options on the standard car, not standard fit.

As of its Australian launch the electric GLC does not carry an ANCAP rating; it is a new model on a new platform and ANCAP has not tested it. The five-star result you might find online is for the petrol GLC, which is a different car, so it does not transfer. What the electric GLC does have is a full standard safety package, with autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control and exit warning all fitted as standard.

Despite the shared badge, the electric GLC and the petrol or plug-in hybrid GLC are different cars. The electric model rides a purpose-built 800-volt EV architecture rather than an adapted combustion floorpan, wears markedly different styling led by the illuminated grille, and runs a longer wheelbase that frees up rear-seat space. Mercedes sells all three alongside each other, so the electric car is an addition to the range, not a replacement. Treat it as its own model when you cross-shop, not as a petrol GLC with batteries.

With a single GLC 400 4MATIC grade, the decision is simpler than most. We would take the standard car over the $2,200-cheaper Launch Edition, because that saving removes the working front passenger touchscreen for a decorative panel, which is a strange thing to pay to lose. From the options list, the Agility and Comfort Package is the one to add first if ride quality matters to you, since its air suspension and rear-axle steering do more for everyday comfort than the larger Hyperscreen in the Luxury Package.