The Mercedes-AMG GLC 53 Coupe Is Still Odd, But The Inline-Six Helps: Review

The updated Mercedes-AMG GLC 53 is better with a six-cylinder engine, but we struggle to understand the target audience.

Photo by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

By: Zander Sutton

May 26, at 6:01pm ET

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Coupe-SUVs are one of those body types we don’t quite understand. Why buy a big SUV with a ton of storage space, only to lob off half of it to make your car look like a coupe? We might never understand it, but clearly, some people do.

Mercedes-Benz has been selling coupe SUVs for around a decade now, and not only will the company sell you a regular one, like the latest GLC, but it will also give you the full AMG experience by way of the GLC 53 AMG, which just received a facelift.

And by facelift, we also mean model change—sort of. See, the GLC 63, what with its controversial hybrid powertrain, is dead. So, the GLC 53 takes the reins as the highest-powered GLC variant you can buy (for now). Is this return to a six-cylinder engine any good, or is the GLC 53 still too safe?

Quick Specs	2027 Mercedes-AMG GLC 53
Engine	Turbocharged 3.0-Liter Inline-Six
Output	443 Horsepower / 443 Pound-Feet
0-60 MPH	4.1 seconds
Base Price / As Tested	TBA

Photo by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

The GLC 53 Coupe is the coupe SUV version of Mercedes’s best-selling GLC, and despite it getting a facelift for the 2027 model year, not much else has changed. The exterior is virtually identical to the pre-facelift model, with the only noticeable differences being a new exhaust setup and a gold accents package that highlights some AMG badging and rims.

Otherwise, the GLC 53 is exactly what it always has been. Given what Mercedes has done to some of its other models, that isn’t entirely a bad thing.

Credit where credit is due, although we don’t love the coupe-SUV style, the GLC 53 is not a bad-looking car. Its smaller size compared to Mercedes’ other coupe-SUV, the GLE, makes it look less bulbous, and the matte-finish paint is very AMG.

Photo by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

Inside the GLC is also more or less the same as the pre-facelift model. The dashboard remains the same, as does the steering wheel and gauge cluster. Although the screen in the GLC is quite large, compared to the screens on the recently revealed electric GLC, we’re more than happy with this setup. Plus, it means actual metal air events on the dashboard, something more expensive Mercedes models like the S-Class miss.

The updated MBUX with an 11.9-inch screen system works well, but we'd like more physical controls for HVAC and radio settings. The physical control issues extend to the steering wheel. While the haptic control is executed better than other brands, with how many different functions are on the wheel itself, it can get confusing. Accidentally nudging or swiping at the wrong one happens regularly. We also have an issue with the navigation system, where it refuses to connect to any waypoints or directions, even in areas with a good cell signal.

Photos by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

The more physical aspects of the interior are executed much better. The AMG bucket seats are appropriately hard, and the carbon fiber, combined with the seemingly infinite amount of customizable ambient lighting, is always a high point for Mercedes-AMG models. However, because the GLC 53 still uses an older Mercedes screen setup, it is plagued by a hefty amount of piano-black plastic that smudges easily, especially on parts of the center console you touch often.

Because coupe-SUVs have that sloped rear roofline, the backseats are never the most enjoyable places to be. The GLC 53 is no exception. While it was no means an uncomfortable place to be, the rear seats themselves are quite nice; the lack of headroom does make for a more cramped environment than the standard GLC, and long drives with tall rear seat passengers are not something we advise, unless you hate them.

Photo by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

That sloped rear end also causes problems in the cargo department. While the regular GLC has 21.9 cubic feet of storage with the rear seats up, that number goes down to 19.2 cubic feet for the GLC Coupe. Sure, this does not mean that half of your storage space is gone, but taller or just generally larger items will have a harder time fitting comfortably in the trunk. And when they do fit, the small rear window will make it even harder to see out the back.

The biggest difference between the pre- and post-facelifted GLC 53 is the engine. Gone is the plug-in hybrid four-cylinder unit from the GLC 63, and in its place is an inline-six powertrain. This engine makes 443 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. However, a boost function can crank that torque number up to 472 pound-feet, but only for a few seconds.

Power is sent to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic, and the GLC 53 coupe can hit 60 miles per hour in just 4.1 seconds. You’ll sail all the way up to 167 miles per hour with the speed limiter removed.

Driving the GLC 53 is, to be blunt, exactly what you would expect from an AMG SUV. The power is sublime, it gets out of its own way, and when you throw on Sport+ in the optional AMG Drive Unit and sail into the left lane of the Autobahn, finding three-digit speeds becomes pretty effortless. For a big car, the GLC 53 also handles itself quite well. There is minimal body roll, and the car feels more composed than some of its sedan counterparts.

Mercedes-AMG GLC 53 Verdict

Photo by: Zander Sutton | Motor1

The GLC 53 simply doesn’t offer the same excitement as other AMG models. Sure, while the 443 hp is nothing to complain about, the extra added weight from that of a CLE 53 is noticeable, and despite having the same snorty exhaust note, it all feels too precise and safe. Nothing about the GLC 53 screams, "I am having the time of my life."

Comfort is also something the GLC 53 lacks. Despite Mercedes-AMG models typically having a better day-to-day ride than equivalent BMW M models, the sport seats in the GLC 53 are a bit hard, even for smooth German roads. Unless you’re throwing this thing around a track, which we doubt, long road trips might be tough. We suggest opting for different seats instead, especially as those come with optional heating and cooling functionality.

Pricing is not yet available for the GLC 53, but considering it is down on power compared to the outgoing GLC 63, we can expect it to start around the $80,000 to 85,000 mark. There are a few true competitors to the GLC 53 due to its coupe-SUV body style, but similarly powered SUVs like the Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio are similarly priced and offer better rear storage.

After our day with the GLC 53, we’re left wondering, "Who is this for?" Sure, if someone handed you the keys ot this car with no expectation of paying taxes on it, you’d enjoy yourself. The GLC 53 is very well equipped, the interior is still a nice place to be, and the engine sounds great.

What do you think?

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Comments

But, with worse headroom and trunk space than the regular GLC 53, and worse handling characteristics than a regular AMG C-Class or CLE, we just don’t see it as the best version of whatever it’s trying to be.

Mercedes-AMG GLC 53 Competitors