2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC 400 4MATIC: The SUV That Wants to Make Range Anxiety Extinct

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC 400 4MATIC doesn’t ask for attention—it commands it. Mercedes took its global bestseller, stripped it down to the electrons, and rebuilt it for the electric age. The result? A midsize SUV that trades exhaust fumes for watt-hours and delivers numbers so strong they’ll make combustion fans check the rearview mirror for good.

Pricing and Market Position

The new Mercedes GLC 400 4MATIC launches in Europe in October 2025, starting at €71,281 (about $76,000 USD). That’s right—same prestige, fewer pistons. Mercedes intentionally priced it close to its gasoline sibling, making the decision between fossil fuel and electric power more like a software update than a lifestyle crisis.

Private leasing starts at €475 per month ($505 USD), or roughly the cost of two luxury gym memberships and a very good espresso habit.

Four more electric Mercedes SUVs are scheduled for release in 2026, meaning Stuttgart’s electrification strategy isn’t just moving forward—it’s gunning for pole position.

Performance and Efficiency

Power? 360 kW (483 hp). Range? Up to 715 km (444 miles). Charging speed? Blink and it’s done.

The GLC 400 4MATIC uses an 800-volt system, similar to what you’ll find in high-end performance EVs, allowing it to recover 303 km (188 miles) of range in just ten minutes. That’s roughly one coffee, one scroll through your messages, and you’re back on the road.

Key technical details:

• Power output: 360 kW (483 hp)

• Energy consumption: 18.9–14.9 kWh/100 km

• Range (WLTP): Up to 715 km (444 miles)

• 10-minute fast charge adds up to 303 km (188 miles)

• Drivetrain: Dual Motor, 4MATIC AWD

• Charging architecture: 800 volts

The efficiency figures are serious—14.9 kWh/100 km is whisper-level consumption for a midsize SUV with all-wheel drive. Mercedes has effectively built a family car that sips electrons like it’s on a diet.

Design and Build

Mercedes knows its customers don’t want to drive something that screams “eco experiment.” The electric GLC looks like a GLC—only sleeker, smarter, and with a grille that literally glows. The illuminated, animated chrome face feels part spaceship, part jewelry, and entirely Mercedes.

Step inside, and the MBUX Hyperscreen steals the show. Measuring 99.3 cm (39.1 inches) across, it’s the biggest display ever in a Mercedes. The interface runs on MB.OS, Mercedes’ new in-house operating system that’s less “infotainment” and more “mission control.”

And yes, you can opt for the Vegan Package, which swaps leather for cruelty-free luxury. Mercedes is the first automaker to earn Vegan Society certification, so your conscience can enjoy the ride as much as your lumbar spine.

Space and Practicality

This GLC isn’t just faster and quieter—it’s roomier. The wheelbase grows by 84 mm, giving everyone more breathing space. The numbers read like a subtle brag list:

• Front headroom: +46 mm

• Rear legroom: +47 mm

• Rear headroom: +17 mm

• Cargo space: 570 liters (expands to 1,740 liters)

• Frunk: 128 liters

• Towing capacity: Up to 2.4 tons

That’s enough room for a weeklong road trip, a family’s worth of luggage, and—if you’re feeling bold—an electric motorcycle trailer. In short, it hauls in every sense of the word.

Comfort, Ride, and Handling

Mercedes didn’t stop at power and polish. The AIRMATIC air suspension and 4.5-degree rear-axle steering make the GLC 400 4MATIC feel both agile and absurdly smooth. Parallel parking becomes less of a chore and more of a flex.

Standard safety and driver-assistance tech include:

• Distance Assist DISTRONIC

• 10 cameras

• 5 radar sensors

• 12 ultrasonic sensors

• MB.DRIVE safety suite

• Over-the-air software updates

That’s more sensors than most people have good decisions, and it’s all working quietly to make sure you don’t become a crash statistic.

Charging Experience and Digital Services

Charging can be the most annoying part of EV ownership. Mercedes knows this. So they created MB.CHARGE Public, which lets you reserve charging stations before you arrive. Think of it as a fast-pass lane for your electrons.

The system integrates with the car’s navigation, charging management, and payment through your Mercedes me ID. No more juggling apps or scanning QR codes in the rain.

By 2030, Mercedes plans to expand its network to 10,000 charging points worldwide, many featuring exclusive reservation privileges. This is how you turn charging anxiety into smug convenience.

Trim Levels and Equipment

Mercedes keeps it simple—one model, three packages—but all versions come well-loaded.

Standard Equipment Highlights:

• AVANTGARDE Line styling

• Panoramic roof

• LED High Performance headlamps

• Heated front seats

• Ambient lighting

• 14-inch media display and 10.3-inch cluster

• Electric front seats with lumbar support

• Smartphone integration

Advanced Plus Package adds:

• MBUX Superscreen

• Illuminated grille

• Burmester 3D surround sound

• Comfort Plus package

• ENERGIZING AIR CONTROL

• Memory Package

Premium Plus Package (with AMG Line) adds:

• Full MBUX Hyperscreen

• Burmester 4D Surround System

• Heated rear seats

• Massage seats with PRE-SAFE Impulse Side

• Digital Light projection

• SKY CONTROL panoramic roof with starry illumination

It’s the kind of spec sheet that makes even base buyers feel like they’ve already won.

AMG Line and Customization

For those who like their silence with a hint of menace, there’s AMG Line and AMG Line Plus.

AMG Line brings 20-inch alloys, sporty bumpers, and an animated light show projected on the pavement when you open the door (because why not?). AMG Line Plus takes it up a notch with 21-inch wheels, a black rear spoiler, red seat belts, and high-gloss everything.

If stealth mode’s your thing, the Night Package blacks out mirrors, trim, and window surrounds. The result? Darth Vader in SUV form—minus the breathing problem.

Competitive Edge

Mercedes didn’t just build an EV—they built a scoreboard. Here’s how the GLC 400 4MATIC stacks up:

• Mercedes GLC 400 4MATIC: 483 hp, 444-mile range, ~$76,000

• BMW iX3: 282 hp, 296-mile range, ~$67,000

• Audi Q8 e-tron: 402 hp, 373-mile range, ~$75,000

• Tesla Model Y Long Range: 384 hp, 330-mile range, ~$52,000

Mercedes beats all three in range and refinement. Sure, the Model Y costs less—but it also feels less. The GLC reminds you where your money went every time you close a door and hear that satisfying “thunk.”

Outlook

The electric GLC isn’t a one-off. It’s the starting gun for Mercedes’ next wave of EVs. Four more models are confirmed for 2026, meaning the GLC 400 4MATIC isn’t just the future—it’s the prototype for Mercedes’ next decade of success.

By blending efficiency with luxury, it’s a statement that electrification doesn’t have to be a compromise—it can be an upgrade.

Conclusion

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLC 400 4MATIC takes everything drivers loved about the old GLC—comfort, quality, confidence—and replaces the fuel pump with a charging port.

With 715 km of range, 800-volt charging, and a digital cockpit big enough to double as a movie screen, it’s the kind of EV that makes the transition from gas not only logical but inevitable.

Mercedes didn’t reinvent the wheel. They just made it spin further, faster, and a whole lot quieter—with a wink and a light show for good measure.