2018 Mercedes-AMG GLC63 Road Test and Review

Of all the places one might expect to find a V8 engine — in a truck, a sports car, or even a living room (can you imagine a cooler coffee table?) — a compact SUV seems the least likely. Yet that’s just the place Mercedes-AMG has wedged its 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged mill (among other AMG-badged hotrods).

The Mercedes-AMG GLC isn’t in need of more power. After all, the 362-horsepower GLC43 model is already among the most potent crossovers on the market. But luxury car buyers want more, lifting the ceiling for performance and extravagance beyond present reach. As the only V8-powered model in its class of compact premium crossovers, the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GLC63 is the sort of exclusive experience consumers crave in the hottest vehicle segment today. Our first drive of the range-topping GLC takes us to Nashville, Tennessee — America’s live music capital. Let’s see if AMG’s latest act is worth the price of admission.

The 2018 Mercedes-AMG GLC63 SUV is the first AMG model to adopt the wider “Panamericana” grille and lower front fascia from the AMG GT sports car. The 63 is also lower and wider than other GLC models, with more standard features.

Unique highlights of the GLC63 include an AMG-tuned performance exhaust and AMG-specific air suspension. Graduating to the S version (only available in Europe) trades a mechanical limited-slip differential for an electronically controlled unit. In addition to the standard "SUV" body style, Mercedes-AMG also offers a “Coupe” version of the GLC63 and GLC63 S for both U.S. and European markets.

The AMG GLC63 is styled for distinction among all other family haulers. At the front, large air intakes, a wide grille, prominent badge, thin LED daytime running lights, and a creased hood exude power. In profile, splayed rocker panels, black fender flares, and unique 20-inch wheel designs (21-inchers are also available) add visual width and stockiness to the 63’s curvaceous body. Here the Coupe breaks from the SUV with a gently sloping roofline that ends in a prominent spoiler, available in black or matching the body color. 

From the rear, the GLC63 looks like a Tour de France rider, with narrow shoulders and massive legs. A restyled bumper features a black diffuser and four trapezoidal exhaust ports. The Coupe’s rump is less cohesive, with lots of black body cladding and oversized LED taillights. Brilliant Blue Metallic and Cardinal Red Metallic (paired with black painted wheels) are our favorite color combinations for both SUV and Coupe.

The Mercedes-AMG GLC63 borrows much of its interior design from the C-Class (upon which the GLC is based). Sifting through climate control, media, navigation, and vehicle settings is a breeze via the steering wheel-mounted buttons, voice commands, or the console controller. Oddly, there's no touchscreen functionality, but the responsive, vivid display still feels contemporary. Appropriately for a performance vehicle, the steering wheel has Alcantara inserts at the 9 and 3 positions, a thick leather rim, and a flat bottom to ease entry and exit. Other sporty elements include carbon fiber trim panels, MB-Tex leather seats with high side bolsters, and available contrast stitching for the leather-trimmed dashboard and seats. 

Performance intent is matched by premium construction. Brushed metal surfaces, comfortable seats for four adults (accommodating five is tight but manageable), dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, heated seats, dual USB ports, and an optional Burmeister sound system. Riders in the rear of the GLC SUV have sufficient legroom and headroom, but taller passengers will find the GLC Coupe’s back seats lacking in head clearance. Apart from the low V8 rumble, the cabin is well isolated from external noise.

Some enthusiasts rally behind the saying, “There’s no replacement for displacement.” But V8 engine development has evolved. Forced induction and advanced tuning technology make it possible to extract 469 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque from the GLC63’s hand-built 4.0-liter V8 (or 503 hp and 516 lb-ft in the case of the S Coupe). Both the SUV and Coupe use a Speedshift nine-speed automatic transmission with multiple clutch plates to reduce shift times and smoothen the transition between gears.

As to be expected with a V8, the GLC63's fuel economy is acceptable but not great. The EPA estimates 16 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and 18 mpg combined — 2 mpg less than the six-cylinder GLC43. Without an “Eco” drive mode to cut throttle, de-active cylinders, or rush the transmission to a higher gear, buyers must accept more frequent fill-ups. The payoff, however, is a consistently thrilling ride.

With a 0-60 mph sprint of just 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph, driving the GLC63 is like carrying around a wonderful secret. No one knows your SUV is as fast as a Porsche 911 — until you show them. Mercedes-AMG’s 4Matic + all-wheel drive system and a mechanical limited slip differential (an electronic diff is standard on the S Coupe) do a brilliant job of getting all that grunt to the ground, while air springs and adaptive dampers sort out every road imperfection to deliver a smooth ride.

Only the GLC63’s ride height betrays its SUV positioning; every other sensation is pure sports-car excitement on par with AMG’s C63. High-speed cornering is all in a day’s work for the tuned utility vehicle, and powerful brakes shave off speed just as effortlessly. When you aren’t blitzing through a canyon, the 63 coasts beautifully on the highway and tapers its performance appropriately through four drive modes: comfort, sport, sport +, and individual. The AMG-built GLC is clearly much more than a snarling V8 engine.

The GLC63 isn’t quite on the cutting edge of interior technology like Mercedes-Benz’s S- and E-Class, but there’s no shortage of advanced features. Standard features include the automaker’s COMAND infotainment system, a 7.0-inch center display, a full-color TFT driver monitor, Sirius XM, two USB ports, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Optional extras include an 8.4-inch monitor, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a head-up display.

Standard safety features include a comprehensive airbag system, emergency braking assist, blind spot monitoring, a backup camera, driver attention monitoring, and Mercedes-Benz PreSafe. If the GLC detects an accident is about to occur, PreSafe will tighten the front seat belts, adjust the front head restraints and passenger seat, and close the windows. Optional safety systems include Pre-Safe Plus with rear-end collision prevention, pink noise emission, cross-traffic alerts, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, a surround-view camera system, and speed limit assist (which regulates your speed based on posted speed limits).

The 2018 Mercedes-AMG GLC63 starts at $69,900 plus $995 in destination charges. Standard features of the entry-level four-cylinder GLC300 ($40,050) include a backup camera, power driver’s seat, automatic emergency braking, Mercedes-Benz Pre-Safe, dual-zone climate control, a power liftgate, power folding mirrors, and a 7-inch infotainment screen. Stepping up to the six-cylinder GLC43 ($56,250) adds Sirius XM Radio, blind-spot monitoring, keyless entry and ignition, power-folding side mirrors, heated front seats, MB-Tex dashboard upholstery, and a three-stage electronic stability control system. Atop the GLC range, the V8-powered 63 includes the aforementioned performance upgrades plus LED headlights.

Options exclusive to the AMG 63 models include an active exhaust system, an AMG Night Package with high gloss black exterior and interior trim pieces, a Carbon Fiber Package, 20- or 21-inch light alloy wheel designs, and AMG’s Performance Studio Interior with more aggressive sport seats and a Nappa leather interior.

Highs:
- Sinister exhaust note
- Cornering stability and speed
- Phenomenal acceleration and braking
- Sublime ride quality

Lows:
- Older generation of Mercedes-Benz interior displays and tech integration

The GLC63 may be the only model in its class with a V8, but it isn’t without direct competition. Both sporting forced-induction V6 engines, the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Porsche Macan Turbo offer incredible performance to match AMG’s super-SUV.

Porsche’s hottest Macan ($87,495) wields a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6 that makes 440 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. Power is routed to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, sending the Macan Turbo to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. Alfa fires back with a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, producing 505 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. Connected to an eight-speed automatic, the AWD Stelvio Quadrifoglio ($81,590) rockets to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and tops out at a segment-best 176 mph. Both the Macan Turbo and Stelvio QV achieve 19 mpg combined, besting the GLC63 by 1 mpg.

There’s no good reason for a compact SUV to wield this much power — and that’s what makes it great. Vehicles with a fraction of the GLC63’s power make do while scooting around town, coasting along the highway, and hauling a full family. By the same token, the entry-level GLC300 can be equipped with the same luxury goodies for substantially less money. None of that matters, though. The AMG GLC63 satisfies every need among compact SUV buyers on its way to fulfilling desires they didn’t know they had. It’s childish fun in a grown-up package.

The Stelvio Quadrifoglio’s and Macan Turbo are strong contenders, but within a category that’s anything but serious, we’d choose the most outrageous and exciting of the lot — the Mercedes-AMG GLC63.