Mercedes just unveiled the new GLC at IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich, but unlike the new electric CLA, which shares its platform with the CLA hybrid, the new GLC is an all-electric luxury mid-size SUV built on a bespoke EV platform. Basically, it replaces the EQC, an all-electric SUV sold abroad. A new combustion GLC is expected to follow at some point, and supersede the existing GLC — a worldwide best-seller for the brand.
What’s really exciting is that the GLC EV is filled with super cool tech worthy of being a best electric car contender, like an illuminated pixel grille, a 39.1-inch pillar-to-pillar display, liquid-crystal glass roof, and more.
The electric GLC will be coming to the U.S. in late 2026 (pricing TBD), but back in July, I got the opportunity to see it in person, sit in it, experience some of the tech, use the infotainment system, and even go for a ride in it as a passenger. Here’s what stood out.
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A Glyph Matrix-like illuminated pixel grille
Pixelated design motifs are popular right now. Just look at the headlights, taillights, and cosmetic details in Hyundai’s line of EVs, like the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 9. But this also extends to consumer tech like the Glyph Matrix on Nothing’s Phone 3 and Govee’s Gaming Pixel Light. In fact, the grille on the new GLC EV, which incorporates an optional dot matrix of 942 white “pixels”, feels like Mercedes’ take on Nothing’s Glyph Matrix.
Now, I’ve seen pixelated dot-matrix displays on the exterior of Chinese EVs before — like at the base of the windshield on the Avatr 11 and 12 — but Mercedes is taking a clever approach to this. For the electric GLC and future new models, the company chose to revive its iconic grille design — think Mercedes W114, but with a modern twist. On the GLC EV, instead of letting air through, the square openings are filled with “pixels.”
This makes perfect sense. EVs don’t require as much cooling as combustion vehicles, so grilles on electric cars (if present) are mostly cosmetic. With a dot matrix of 942 white “pixels,” the electric GLC’s grille basically doubles as a pixelated display, hence my comparison with Nothing’s Glyph Matrix. Unfortunately, the analogy falls short because Mercedes doesn’t let you control (or interact with) this illuminated pixel grille.
You can’t customize it, at least not yet
As you can see in the GIF above, right now, the grille only displays welcome and goodbye animations when unlocking and locking the electric GLC. I asked Mercedes representatives if the company plans to provide a selection of animations, or allow you to upload GIFs via the Mercedes-Benz app, or let you scroll text on the grille, or show the charge level on the grille while plugged-in, and they were quite befuddled by my request.
I wasn’t given a clear answer but I was reminded that the grille cannot display anything while the GLC EV is in motion due to various regulations in various markets. Obviously, that makes sense, but what about when parked or charging? The lack of customization and interactivity with this illuminated pixel grille seems like a missed opportunity to me, especially since the electric GLC is a full SDV (software defined vehicle).
Micro-LED matrix headlights, a large frunk, and a sharp-looking exterior
Beyond the fancy grille, the GLC EV packs adaptive matrix headlights equipped with micro-LEDs, making them 50% more efficient. It also inherits the new CLA’s illuminated star inside the headlights and taillamps. What’s also pretty exciting is that the electric GLC offers a large (4.5 cu.ft) frunk and a motorized charging port door. I consider these both to be must-have features in any proper electric car these days.
Overall, I think the GLC EV looks great from every angle. Gone is the awkward egg-like design language of Mercedes’ current all-electric EQ models. The proportions are excellent and, while it’s quite slippery, it doesn’t scream “I’m an EV.” In other words, despite being electric, there’s no mistaking this SUV for anything but a GLC.
Stunning 39.1-inch pillar-to-pillar Hyperscreen
You’re probably familiar with Mercedes’ Hyperscreen, the massive 56-inch surface available on some of the company’s current all-electric EQ models. It’s actually made of three separate OLED displays under a single pane of curved glass, and to be honest, it’s a little overwhelming. The GLC EV introduces a new (optional) pillar-to-pillar Hyperscreen, a 39.1-inch surface that consists of a single continuous IPS display.
Despite spanning the entire width of the interior, this new Hyperscreen is less imposing than its predecessor. But it still looks really impressive. This new screen features local dimming thanks to a matrix backlight with over 1,000 individual LEDs that deliver an OLED-like contrast ratio and allow the brightness to be adjusted separately for the instrument cluster, the infotainment area in the center, and the passenger section.
Like before, the Hyperscreen is your window into MB.OS (the Mercedes-Benz Operating System), a software platform developed in-house that controls four domains: infotainment, automated driving, body & comfort, and driving & charging. You interact with MB.OS via the MBUX (the Mercedes-Benz User eXperience), an AI-infused user interface that is now in its fourth generation, and debuted on the new CLA.
Sky Control panoramic roof and a certified vegan interior
Another interesting new feature is the electric GLC’s Sky Control panoramic roof. This optional PDLC (Polymer-Dispersed Liquid-Crystal) glass roof is divided into nine zones that are opaque (translucent) by default, but become clear (transparent) when a voltage is applied. In of itself, this is nothing new — other cars like the BMW iX and Audi A6 & S6 Sportback e-tron also offer this kind of liquid-crystal glass roof.
But with the GLC EV, Mercedes puts a new spin on this tech by embedding an additional (optional) layer of 162 illuminated stars in the glass roof. By setting the color of these stars to one of 64 hues or matching it to the electric GLC’s highly-customizable ambient lighting, you can enjoy a starry sky at night no matter how cloudy it is. This adds yet another unique touch to this SUV’s ultra-premium interior.
Speaking of which, I think the GLC EV also looks great inside. Mercedes interiors are always excellent, but sometimes feel a little overdone. That’s not the case here: the interior is tasteful, and features a variety of high-quality materials. Plus, the electric GLC is the first car in the world to offer a vegan interior package that’s certified by The Vegan Society.
Solid range, fast charging, and a heat pump
Obviously, being an all-electric SUV, the new GLC must also be good at doing EV stuff. Thankfully, it doesn’t disappoint. It’s built on an 800V electrical architecture and boasts a 94kWh NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) lithium-ion battery with a range of up to 445 miles (WLTP) that charges at up to 330kW (DC) and 22kW (AC). This means the GLC EV can charge from 10% to 80% in less than 24 minutes on an 800V/350kW charger.
The electric GLC will come to the U.S. in two variants: a RWD GLC 300+ with a single motor delivering 369 hp and 372lb-ft of torque and a 5.9-second 0 – 60mph time, plus an AWD GLC 400 4Matic with dual motors that packs 483hp and 596lb-ft of torque and is capable of sprinting from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Air suspension and rear wheel steering are optional, but a heat pump is standard, and so is the 5,291-pound tow rating.
Final thoughts: an impressive all-electric SUV
Back in July, I was given the chance to briefly ride as a passenger in a camouflaged AWD GLC 400 4Matic prototype — without air suspension or rear-wheel steering — outside of Stuttgart. Performance was exactly what you’d expect from a modern dual-motor EV: suitably fast and effortless. The ride was extremely refined for a mid-size luxury SUV perched on coil springs, and the cabin was pleasantly quiet.
Adding it all up, it’s clear that the new GLC is a competitive all-electric luxury mid-size SUV that looks great, boasts lots of cool tech, and delivers excellent range. But what I found most impressive about the GLC EV is that it finally nails the packaging, something that’s sorely lacking in Mercedes’ current all-electric EQ models. I’ll be driving the electric GLC at some point in the future, but until then, check out my photo gallery.
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