Mercedes AMG GLC 63 S | Review | Auto Class Magazine

Mercedes AMG GLC 63 S | Review

4 June 2022 Redazione News, Tested

MERCEDES AMG GLC 63 S

Words Marco Mancino / Photos Mercedes-Benz Media

Elegant, sporty and even more practical than the one they called Coupe, that with a sloping tail which is nothing more than a GLE – Coupe, got it – slightly centrifuged to allow those who want to spend a few bucks less to take home what is considered as the more glamorous version of the three-pointed star SUV. Not today, since we are dealing with the GLC, the medium-small variant equipped with a classic tailgate that gives the rear the traditional look of a large five-door hatchback, raised enough not to be bothered by a road that is anything but dedicated to emphasizing the dynamic qualities of the AMG 63 S version, the most powerful in the list.

In addition to the AMG 43, powered by a 390 horsepower V6, and the 476 horsepower AMG 63, the peak performance is precisely represented by the GLC 63 S, which not only has a more consistent specific power, but also various details such as more sporty seats and Race mode, the ideal step to let you forget about carrying two tons of weight and a car body that, at least in theory, was designed to guarantee the best way to move from one point to another during the whole week for families who need huge space on board for people and things.

Free your mind for a second, at least until you approach the GLC as you would with any of its twin not all focused into turning your daily commutes into the most hectic situations can come to mind. In fact, if outwardly it is easy to distinguish an AMG from any other engine, mainly thanks to the front grille with vertical profiles reminiscent of the “Pan-American” design made famous by sacred monsters such as the 300 SL Gullwing, an AMG lookalike spec and a cabin substantially similar to the basic one could be misleading, at least until you give life to the engine, maybe setting it immediately in Sport + and thus opening the valves of the sports exhaust.

Under the bonnet a 4-liter twin-turbo V8 beats loudly, probably the latest evolution of this special Made in Affalterbach jewel, the result of dedication, love and passion for craftsmanship, now ready to give the baton to what could be a 4-cylinder hybrid unit. Better enjoy it as long as possible, with its peak of 510 horses made even more impressive by a torque of 700 Nm available immediately, at just 1,750 rpm. The four-wheel drive and the generous size of the tires, which fit 20 or even 21-inch rims, allow you to put all the power available to the ground, further confirmed by the soundtrack unleashed by the two pairs of tailpipes, unmistakable for the dark tone and that steadily rising roar as you fire the nine-speed AMG Speedshift gearbox in rapid succession.

With figures that say 4 seconds flat for 0-100 kph and a top speed of 280 per hour (with limiter), the GLC does not hide its desire and ability to toss you in the comfortable passenger compartment which is also equipped with a technological triumph capable to surprise for effectiveness and practicality. In fact, after a moment of bewilderment, navigating among the many functions and shortcuts that can be recalled from the steering wheel thanks to the driving modes selector and other dynamics settings is child’s play, while the two fully digital displays located in front of the driver and in the center of the dashboard offer an exceptional overview of the satellite navigator and the entire infotainment system that the GLC is equipped with.

Being child of the AMG department and with a soundtrack that suggests how frequent stops at the petrol pump will be, it will not be easy to spend time with your right foot resting. The desire to unleash all the power here is always strong and the driving dynamics proves surprising, even if through demanding bends-filled sections, the weight enters with arrogance on the scene and penalizes a fluidity in weight balance that I would have thought better, especially when you have available an engine of this kind, a very fast gearbox and a more than generous braking system, with 390 mm diameter front discs. The ideal connection point with the GLC 63 S seems to be a half-life coexistence, which enjoys a technologically advanced cabin, but which continues to present plastics and finishing we would not want to see at all on a Mercedes, while on a dynamic point of view, being aware of an exceptional engine/gearbox duo, it seems you can just exploit all the goodies as long as the limits imposed by chassis and weight do not remind that there are more convincing alternatives, especially when it comes to a five-zero price and an image that looks way more obsolete than it actually is.