The new-car market is full of contrived niches and answers to questions no one seemingly asked. Enter the performance SUV, an offering that once prompted buyers the world over to ask ‘what the…?’, but is now very popular. The gurus at Affalterbach have been in the game since the genre’s inception, brandishing myriad high-rise Mercedes-Benz products with the hallowed AMG badge. For 2024 the plot thickens with the axing of the venerable V8 firepower – replaced with four-cylinder turbo, plug-in hybrid tech. So, does the GLC 63 S E Performance rise above its tradition to write a new chapter?
How much does the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 cost?
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC S E Performance 4MATIC+ is priced at $191,814 before on-road costs (ORCs). That’s an increase of about $5300 compared to the final V8-powered versions of the previous generation.
If a swoopy roofline is more your style, then the GLC 63 S E Performance Coupe will be your jam at $198,415 before ORCs.
A familiar competitor would have been the BMW X3 M. However, a direct successor to the current version remains uncertain.
That leaves the $162,700 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio to do battle with the Merc in the performance medium SUV segment.
What equipment comes with the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63?
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance is the halo variant of the range, so it comes loaded with equipment inside and out. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but to this reviewer the SUV body style tested has the more cohesive aesthetic compared to the five-door coupe version.
The AMG treatment comprises vertical front slats in the grille, large lower intakes, air curtains, LED head and tail-lights, 21-inch alloy wheels, quad trapezoidal tailpipes and a black accent pack.
Inside you’re treated to electronically adjustable and heated AMG sport seats adorned in Nappa leather, MICROCUT microfibre AMG steering wheel, a panoramic glass sunroof, powered tailgate and dual-zone climate control (with rear air vents).
The GLC 63 S E Performance is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while the battery exceeds that with a six-year/100,000km plan. Servicing is every 12 months or 20,000km.
How safe is the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63?
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance features the marque’s Pre-Safe system as well as a full complement of nine airbags.
Highlights of the comprehensive active safety suite include autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, active lane assist, traffic light recognition, adaptive high beam assist, and 360-degree camera as well as parking assist and sensors.
On the open road the tech works well, especially the calibration for the lane keeping. The adaptive cruise control can also launch the GLC 63 when the car in front moves forward in stop/start traffic. However, speed is reduced a little too much while cornering on a country road.
While the GLC 300 brings a five-star ANCAP safety score, the GLC 63 S E Performance is unrated Down Under. However, it did acquire the full tally of stars in Euro NCAP testing.
What technology does the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 feature?
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance is a tech tour de force – both under the bonnet and in the cabin.
Two large screens dominate the dash. The portrait-style infotainment system measures 11.9 inches and the digital instrument cluster is 12.3 inches, and a detailed head-up display enhances the driving experience.
There’s wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto if you don’t fancy using the native MBUX system – a feature that also accepts voice commands to perform various tasks. DAB+ digital radio and Bluetooth connectivity are included and all audio plays through the high-end Burmester surround-sound system.
A wireless charge pad lives ahead of the cup holders in the centre console while there are three USB-C ports (no USB-A) up front, but none in the rear.
After an acclimatisation period, overall functionality is high. The central touch-screen display is responsive and houses the HVAC controls as well as dedicated AMG extras like the Track Pace data logging feature.
Numerous menus and displays to showcase the hybrid and performance-orientated tech offer extra detail for the enthusiast. A ‘Supersport’ theme for the instrument cluster has also been added.
