Amg with a twist of eco-warrior.
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance Coupe is an unusual beast. It’s an SUV, but it’s got enough power to make a sports car blush. It’s a plug-in hybrid, yet with a claimed electric range that barely handles a coffee run. And, oh yes, it’s packing a four-cylinder engine instead of the thunderous V8 you might expect. A bit like trading a lion's roar for a high-pitched growl, yet somehow still turning heads.
Under the hood, AMG has fitted the world’s most powerful production four-cylinder, a turbocharged 2.0-liter punching out a hefty 350 kW (469 hp). But they didn’t stop there. Add to this a 150 kW electric motor mounted on the rear axle, and you’re looking at a combined output of 500 kW (671 hp) and a borderline absurd 1,020 Nm of torque. Translation? This hulking SUV hits 100 km/h in a brisk 3.5 seconds. So yes, it’s quick. But with its 2.3-tonne weight, quick in a “How-does-this-thing-even-move?” way rather than with the featherweight finesse of a hot hatch.
Now, about that hybrid system: Mercedes-AMG’s engineers have gone all-out here, drawing inspiration from Formula 1. The electric motor not only gives the GLC 63 a pure-electric range of about 14 km (ideal for gliding silently through town) but also helps smooth out the turbo lag, delivering near-instant torque. However, one quirk stands out—when you need to slow down, the braking feel is oddly vague, likely due to the brake regeneration system. It’s not a “throw-out-the-anchor” type of stop, more of a “I-hope-this-stops-in-time” experience, which can feel disconcerting when managing such mass.
What about the drive? Well, on paper, this SUV should corner like a small sports car thanks to the magic of rear-wheel steering, torque-vectoring, and active anti-roll bars. And it almost does. In Sport+ or Race mode, it’s a ferocious machine, hunkering down into turns and firing itself out with remarkable poise. Mercedes has equipped it with eight drive modes and nearly endless settings for things like suspension stiffness, stability, and even the amount of synthesized exhaust sound piped into the cabin. But in reality, the SUV’s sheer weight can still make it feel like a giant pretending to be a ballerina.
The GLC 63’s interior is classic Mercedes meets AMG muscle. There’s leather, metal trim, and an overwhelming number of controls on the 11.9-inch MBUX touchscreen. The seats, however, are more race-car than SUV, hugging you tightly—a little too tightly for long-haul comfort, but perfect for spirited drives. Every drive setting is available at the tap of a screen or the twist of a dial, letting you shift from eco-cruiser to ferocious SUV at a whim.
Yet, while the GLC 63 excels in creating a sophisticated ambiance, it falters on practicality. The rear motor and battery eat up a significant portion of the cargo space, leaving you with 470 liters, down from the already modest space in a regular GLC. This isn’t your family’s road-trip warrior. But maybe it doesn’t need to be; after all, who needs boot space when you’re behind the wheel of a machine this fun?
It also sports that high-tech, synthetic growl, replacing the traditional V8 rumble with AMG’s electronic symphony. This may disappoint some die-hard fans, but Mercedes compensates with exhaust pops and crackles on deceleration, a playful touch that hints at the car’s wild side. It may not have the classic AMG soundtrack, but it’s entertaining nonetheless, providing a new experience in high-performance SUV sound.
And despite its few oddities, the GLC 63 S E Performance Coupe is a thrilling, unapologetically wild SUV that manages to blend outrageous speed with a sophisticated, luxury driving experience. It’s a vehicle that shows AMG is willing to take risks, redefining the idea of an SUV with cutting-edge hybrid tech. While it may leave you wondering if this hybrid experiment is worth the price, the thrill it delivers answers that question with a resounding “yes.”
