Coupe SUVs are in vogue right now. And you’ll find a smattering of SUV offerings with sloping roofs across the portfolios of the big German trio.

It is widely accepted that BMW created the Coupe SUV. In our eyes the stylists at Ingolstadt were really the first to actually properly integrate this new design ethos into their bodystyle line-up. Mercedes’ past attempts have fallen somewhere in between the two.

But the same cannot be said of the all-new GLC 300 Coupé. Mercedes appears to have further refined the concept, creating a distinctive looking variant that actually looks cohesive.

A Proper Sloping Roofline

The biggest issue with Coupe SUVs is the sense that they have been hastily added to the respective model line-ups as an afterthought. A product designed specifically to tap into an ever growing market.

This is not the case with the latest GLC. Sure, with its high shoulder line and ride height, there’s no doubt that this was designed to have the form factor of your stereotypical SUV. And yet the changes in the metalwork have ended up really complementing the basic design of the car.

There’s no mesh in the front grille. It is made out of many repeating three-pointed star patterns. The Mercedes-Benz emblem sits proudly in the middle of this assembly. It is cosmetically identical to a regular GLC in this department.

The metalwork from the B-pillar back has been thoroughly revamped in the Coupe-ification of the GLC. You’ll also find all-new and slimmer tail lights, as well as a completely revamped rear end. The number plate now sits in a recess integrated into the faux rear-diffuser, and the curvaceous roofline means the car actually looks smart. I’d even go as far as saying it oozes a subtle elegance, which is something its predecessor failed to create.

Included: Latest Iteration of MBUX

Mercedes has never been the company that’d push for revolutionary restyling efforts. The same ethos feels like it has been applied to MBUX Gen 2 – If you are familiar with the previous version of MBUX, you’d instinctively be able to navigate the UI of the latest version. 

This 11.9 inch display occupies most of the centre stack, and serves as your overall infotainment mission control. As with most of their line-up, a bank of physical switchgear can be used in conjunction with the touchscreen.

You can also toggle through many of the car’s settings via the haptic buttons mounted to all four of its horizontal spokes – it will take you some time to get used to it. Expect to get frustrated with this until you properly figure it out.

Cabin material quality is also a step up from the car it replaces. Shoulder and knee room are in no short supply, but those above 1.8 metres in height may find themselves struggling for head room. You’d be better off treating this as a strict four seater, as the middle seat passenger will not appreciate the enormous transmission tunnel.

Reassuring Drive

The GLC 300 feels like a truly quality product on the move. There’s a sense that nothing really bothers or upsets the car, and it’d happily soak up most bumps or road imperfections with little fuss.

Mercedes’ M254 2.0 litre four pot certainly also helps with creating this sensation. It develops 255 bhp, and 400 Nm of torque, and does so with a fairly linear torque curve, with its mild hybrid system acting as torque fill as and when it is needed. Acceleration, therefore, feels effortless.

As power is sent to all four wheels via a nine-speed transmission with properly spaced out ratios, the GLC 300 feels very sure-footed. Forward progress is therefore effortless, and confidence-inspiring.

There is a price you’ll have to pay for this ethos though. Whilst softer springs are good for absorbing bumps, it can create a new issue – excessive amounts of compression when there is weight transfer to either axle. This is most apparent on the brake – slam on them hard enough, and you’ll feel the nose of the car dive.

Subtle Elegance

The second generation GLC has had quite the glow up. It now actually feels like a class up from the GLB, something its predecessor couldn’t really manage. And Mercedes also nailed the styling of the Coupe variant, opting to thoroughly restyle various parts of the car to make the sloping roofline work cohesively with the rest of the vehicle.

With an incredibly refined drive, properly premium cabin and generous trim levels, the GLC 300 Coupe is a compelling buy if you are in the market for a luxury SUV. The only question is, are you willing to spend $407,888 on a Mercedes SUV?

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