The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e Is Fun, Fancy and … Free? With Plug-in Hybrid Power, It’ll [Almost] Feel Like It
Electric range meets high-end refinement in a crossover that almost feels too good to be true.
Go ahead and budget an extra $10,000 for the plug-in hybrid electric version of the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350. If you have this quintessential Mercedes-Benz SUV, priced from $60,000, on your shopping list for its posh cabin, cutting-edge tech, and modern feel, the plug-in hybrid version will put it over the top for its incredible EV range.
It delivers 60 miles of electric driving before the gas engine takes over.
By PHEV standards, the GLC 350e has a lot of electric miles. Enough to truly skip the gas station for months at a time. But not enough that, even if you charge it daily, you’ll seriously ding your electric bill.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
This Driving Range Will Make the GLC 350e Feel Less Pricey
I just spent several months driving an electric Mustang Mach-E and diving into what it cost to charge it. I paid bout $3-$4 to replenish about 100 miles using my home charger. That’s about double the range of the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e, which should cost about $1-$2 per full charge using a home charger.
You can also take it to a public charge station where it can accommodate DC fast charging, something most PHEVs can’t do. There, it’ll take about 30 minutes and cost $7 – $10 to fully charge, depending on the rate per kWh and additional charges; look out for the upcharges, though, they can really run up the bill.
Charging the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e at public chargers may make sense in certain circumstances, such as when it’s free at your office, on a road trip, or to get that coveted parking spot at the mall on Christmas Eve, but this isn’t how I’d charge it regularly. I’d install a level 2 charger in my garage and plug it in every day. A level 2 charger will recharge the battery in several hours, though you can also use a regular household outlet and charge it overnight, which takes about 10 hours.
READ MORE: Lucy Liu Is Now a Car Girl, Thanks to Mercedes-Benz. But Which Model Should She Drive?
Doing the Math: Is It Worth Opting for the PHEV?
Even with the cost of adding a level 2 charger at home, which is typically several hundred dollars, you’ll end up saving time and money. Drivers with regular commutes, those who do a lot of short trips around town, and drive less than 50 miles a day can drive completely on electric at a cost of about $30 (assuming $1.50 per charge). To do the same with a purely gas-powered engine would cost $136 (assuming 22 MPG and $3 a gallon for gas).
You’ll barely feel the addition to your power bill, but you’ll definitely feel the lack of gas station stops. Meting out the math, installing the charger, and paying the higher price for the PHEV, it will take about 7 years to recoup the investment. So really, this is a lifestyle question more than a financial one, placing a higher value on your time and convenience. But it’s also a Mercedes-Benz, which is a choice of style more than value.
READ MORE: This Mercedes-Benz Shopping Experience is Simply Epic. Say Good-bye, Typical Test Drive
Don’t Let the Electric Powertrain Fool You. This Thing is Fun
This is the other reason I’d charge the Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e daily: Save your gas money for sport mode. Put it in sport, floor the accelerator, and it takes on a different character, tossing you back in your seat as it bolts forward with a loud, growly burst from the engine. It’s actually sort of surprising coming from this elegant SUV, but not surprising coming from Mercedes-Benz; this is what fans expect, and the GLC 350e delivers.
All that gurgly fun comes at a price: Gas. While the electric power boosts the performance of the car, it really operates in hybrid mode, engaging both motors and delivering a proper sound. Tap the ‘dynamic’ button again and put it back into hybrid mode, and it goes back to its stealth self.
If you love the EV range game—nudging up the battery range by using regenerative braking— you can do that too by pulling the left paddle to engage recuperation. There are 3 settings: None, Normal, and Strong. If you’re like me, you love using strong recuperation, you’ll have to pull the paddle each time you start the car to activate it.
READ MORE: The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 Modernizes the G-Wagen: Electric Powered, Still Rugged
The Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e Delivers on Expected Poshness, Too
The nice thing about this Mercedes-Benz GLC 350e is that it makes no compromises on design, luxury, and experience in the cabin. Our test model was finished in beautiful light gray leatherette that you’d be hard-pressed to tell from leather, and dark lower panels and carpets. An assembly of beautiful materials, including carbon fiber, open-pore wood, and brushed satin chrome, gives the interior the feeling of being very put together; glossy black accents call out specific details, such as the starter button and the turbine-style air vents.
Ambient lighting, which allows you to pick the color you’d like to see surrounding you—lining the cup holders, seat control panels on the doors, and the footwells—adds a posh feel at night; it makes the cabin feel like someplace special.
All the Mercedes-Benz Magic Is Accessible Via the Center Screen
The centerpiece of the cabin is the vertical screen that anchors the dash. This is where you’ll find most of the car’s controls, from music and navigation to ambient lighting, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the car’s EV functions.
You can customize many of the functions, access them as needed or simply let the system do the work: “Hey Mercedes” voice assistance is a truly helpful tool that will do things like change the cabin temperature, set the ambient light color, or answer your kid’s math question.
This Beautifully Edited GLC Feels Elegant, Not Expensive
Probably the thing I liked most about our test model was the area of confidence this car exudes: Ours was nicely appointed but not extravagant; in all truth, $70K is not a lot for a Mercedes-Benz, and still, our test model delivered all the features and spoiling features you’d expect.
There were savings on upholstery—opting for leatherette instead of leather probably saved several thousand dollars, and the wood trim and woven carbon fiber are standard options. I would have probably skipped the AMG Line package for $3,450, but not the panoramic sunroof for $1,500; it floods the cabin with light and has a cool swipe-to-open function that itself feels really special.
READ MORE: Ready for a Dreamy Electric Car? 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE Sedan
Isn’t Feeling Good In Your Car Important?
Our test model had a base price of $59,900 and $10,900 in options. With the destination charge, it came to $71,950. It might be a lot by most new-car standards, but not a lot in Mercedes-Benz-land. And with all the extra time you’ll spend not getting gas and not feeling the pinch of paying for power, it will feel like it costs a lot less. Which feels pretty good.
More About:Car Reviews Electric Cars