The SUV for Family Trips AND Track Weekends: Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 43
Connie Peters
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The Mercedes-Benz AMC GLC 43 performance SUV is the epitome of weekend fun—whether it’s at the track or on a family road-trip.
It’s an all-around winner for me and my family. The Mercedes-Benz AMC GLC 43 packs a real punch by combining an amazing performance car with the cargo and space of an SUV.
I get it—I’m a mom who still needs to get 3 kids to school and back every day (yes, even during a pandemic). My high schoolers are hybrid virtual which means I’m still driving them there and back every weekday and getting to the elementary school full-time. An SUV helps me maintain my sanity with 3 girls. I love the space, the handling and the safety features—and I’ll tell you why.
So yes, I want a fun car, but it also has to be practical for hauling, commuting and family life. This GLC ticks all the boxes.
Related: The SUV/Sedan/Performance Car You Didn’t Know You Needed: 2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 43 Coupe Review
The unique SUV body lines on the GLC don’t disappoint. Photo: Connie Peters
The sounds and handling are bar-none.
Let’s talk about the fun stuff first. This Mercedes-Benz AMC GLC 43 offers Sport+ mode and even Track Pace, which can record your response times, track times, and gauge data if you do take it to a real track. I know that this isn’t something everyday moms want to do, but hey, I’d be bringing this baby to our local street-legal drag night at our track here where my husband drag races his 1970 Chevy Nova. I’d maybe even race against him!
There are also track days at local circuits where you can learn how to performance drive in your own car, and this would be the perfect car for that.
This Cranberry red and black interior is ?! Photo: Connie Peters
It’s all fun and games… and then you realize it’s also a great family car.
The space available in the GLC 43 is 17.6 cubic feet behind the passengers so you have space for luggage, gear, strollers or any of the above. Yes, this is only a 5-seating SUV, but for most families, this is plenty.
I particularly love the beauty of this interior with the Burmester sound and Cranberry red and black leather seating (USD $1620 or CAD $1900 option) that offer heated seats in both front and back. It looks as gorgeous as it is practical for my family’s needs.
Related: Performance Driving on a Track: You Simply MUST DO THIS!
I love the contrast of the red and black interior. Photo: Connie Peters
All the technology is here.
Lange change assist—what does that even mean? Well, it WILL change lanes for you. I was test driving the GLC in Atlanta, Georgia in 2019 for the first time, for the A Girls Guide to Cars conference, driving on busy highways when I gave it a shot. I was driving about 55 MPH and made sure the lane next to me was clear for changing lanes. You put your lane change signal on, take your hands off the wheel and it will change lanes for you. It feels super futuristic to me, but this is the beginnings of autonomous driving.
And that’s only one of the many features this beautiful machine offers.
This Sport steering wheel had me swooning. Photo: Connie Peters
Safety? Yes, that too, The GLC has it all with the right package.
Let’s work this out. If you’re buying a pricey Mercedes-Benz AMG performance SUV, you want all the available safety features. So if you want this:
- Active distance assist
- Active Steering assist
- Evasive steering assist
- Active braking with cross-traffic check
- Emergency braking
- Speed limit assist
- Lane keeping with lane change assist
- Blind spot monitoring
- Adaptive cruise with stop and go
You’re going to need to option these packages:
Driver’s Assist (USD $1700) or Intelligent Drive package in Canada (CAD $2700).
Related: All-New for 2021, The Mercedes-Benz GLA 250 Is Compact and Ready For Anything!
The GLC body-style is unique for an SUV. Photo: Connie Peters
Who is this Mercedes-Benz AMG GLC 43 for?
If I hadn’t already made this clear, a family who wants a performance SUV with the space and capability of an SUV. Is that you?
If not, you might still love it:
- Single in the city, wanting performance and space
- Off-road performance capability for winter driving conditions
- A fun daily sans-kids commute
As far as power goes, this biturbo 3.0L 6 cylinder puts out 385 horsepower and 384 lb-feet of torque. It is most definitely a powerful and fun-to-drive performance SUV. That’s the perfect amount of power for anyone who wants to have fun but also needs to stay reasonable in the school drop-off lane.
This grille is unique to the AMG trims of the GLC. Photo: Connie Peters
What will this AMG GLC 43 set you back?
The starting price of the FWD AMG GLC 43 (2021) is USD $64,900 or CAD $65,500
The packages and options are all called and priced differently in the US versus Canada, but as driven, this AMG CLC 43 was equipped with the Intelligent, Drivers, Night, Premium and Tech packages with a few extras like the Carbon Fibre interior trim (USD $975, CAD $1500), sport steering wheel (USD, $500 CAD AMG Driver’s package), head-up display (CAD $1500, USD $1100), and performance seats (CAD $2300).
As driven with everything listed, this AMC GLC 43 4MATIC (all-wheel-drive) SUV is USD $76,900 or CAD $84,990
If you don’t need the performance of the AMG, you can get this same body style with some design differences in the GLC 300 for starting price USD $51,650 or CAD $49,900 for a 255 HP 2.0L 4-cylinder engine fitted in the same sized SUV.
This driver’s cockpit is both functional and beautiful. Photo: Connie Peters
Related: 2020 Mercedes Benz GLC 300: Technology and Luxury at Your Service
Full disclosure: Mercedes-Benz Canada provided this AMG GLC 43 for review. All reviews are my own.
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