2016-07-05

AOSTA, Italy — Surrounded by Europe’s mightiest massifs – Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, Monte Rosa and Gran Paradiso – the Aosta Valley is a natural amphitheatre that every year plays host to a rather bizarre competition.

The people of the Valle d’Aosta are themselves a unique bunch. Under French dominion from the early Middle Ages, they became part of the Italian Kingdom – the Province of Turin to be exact – by the 19th century. But in order to preserve the valley’s Franco-Provençal heritage, they fought to be declared an autonomous region in 1948, governed by their own constitution.

Winding our way up alpine roads in a luxurious new Mercedes crossover, past ancient fortresses that had withstood Napoleon’s army, and the Dora Baltea river just a tiny, silvery thread thousands of meters below, the “Queens of Aosta” were the furthest thing from our minds. Though we’d been warned, the threat of encountering highly aggressive, pregnant fighting cows was a hard one to take seriously. Yet cresting a hill onto a narrow roadway we discovered ourselves face-to-face with a throng of fierce black cattle. Creeping through as inconspicuously as was possible in a 2,530-kilogram SUV, noting their rolling eyes and waving horns, we didn’t exhale until the last clanging bell disappeared down the mountain.

Fortunately, aside from the quilted hides beneath our backsides, the rest of our drive was bovine-free. Mercedes’ new crossover, derived from the GLC that debuted earlier this year, is the latest to adopt the “coupe” moniker and trademark raked-back style. Like the larger GLE coupe of last year, the GLC coupe is based on its traditionally shaped boxy sibling, but concentrates on stylish sportiness instead of a rugged, off-road image. It rides on the same wheelbase, but is 76 millimetres longer, 38 mm lower and comes standard with 19-inch wheels. Coupe variants also receive a diamond front grille with enormous badge and restyled rear fascia.



2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving



2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving



2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

Although there are a variety of both diesel and gas variants available in other markets, Canadian vehicles will be limited to two for now: the GLC 300 4Matic Coupe and the 300d Coupe. An AMG-packaged GLC 43 4Matic Coupe will arrive next spring, and there are plans to eventually bring a plug-in hybrid version to Canada; an off-road package should eventually be available here, too.

Mercedes-Benz refers to the compact luxury crossover as a “Sport Utility Coupe” to compete against the similarly styled BMW X4, and the Porsche Macan. A sports suspension with adaptive dampers is standard, but there’s an optional air suspension with continuously adaptive damping. Drivers can choose, via a switch on the console, between five drive modes which adjust engine, steering and shift parameters according to the selected setting.

Mercedes’ revised nomenclature aligns the crossover lineup with corresponding car model – in this case, the recently refreshed C-Class – and is therefore similarly appointed. Sleek and refined, the interior is finished in two-tone leather in a variety of colours and augmented with aluminum, wood or carbon fibre trim. The cabin is bisected by a sloping centre console; smooth and uncluttered, it houses the touchpad Comand controller and Dynamic Control switch, and topped with seven-inch standard or 8.4-inch optional display. Available is a high-resolution, full-colour head-up display, but it disappears if viewed through polarized sunglasses.

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It’s a serene environment, well-insulated from wind and road noise. The only blip in our comfort level was the pervasive smell of tea-tree oil, each of us suspecting the other, until we realized it was emanating from the glovebox-located scent dispenser. Tossing the offending “stinkpot” in the trunk, we continued in scent-free serenity.

Standard features include rearview camera, sunroof, heated folding mirrors, LED running lights, hill start assist, acceleration skid control, stability control with crosswind assist, attention assist and brake pad wear indicator.

Notable options include: trunk pass-through with Ski Sack, heated steering wheel, trailer hitch, Burmester sound system, acoustic glass, head up display, air suspension and rear roller blinds.

Rear headroom isn’t affected by the sloping roofline; however, cargo space at 500 litres, and 1,400 with seats folded, is less than the GLC 300 SUV’s 550/1,600 L.

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe a the Palace of Venaria, a UNESCO heritage site.

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe

Lesley Wimbush, Driving

There are a variety of optional packages with myriad luxury and technology upgrades. These include Intelligent Drive – a suite of driving assist features such as active lane keeping, pre-safe braking, a radar-based intelligent cruise control that monitors vehicle distances and can even detect pedestrians and cyclists, and steering assist, which keeps the vehicle within the lines and can operate up to 30 seconds hands-free.

Active parking assist with 360 camera is available with the Premium Package, which also adds heated rear seats.

We receive two engines: a 2.0-litre turbo-four with 241 horsepower and 273 lb.-ft. of torque, and a 2.1-litre turbo-four diesel producing 200 horsepower and 369 lb.-ft. of torque. Standard on all models is a 9G Tronic nine-speed transmission with start/stop function.

On these narrow, twisty, shoulder-less alpine roads, the compact GLC is certainly more at home than the GLE we tested last year. We sampled the more powerful V6 models available in other markets, and are happy to say that the less nose-heavy turbo-fours we’ll be getting are more agile and balanced through the tight switchbacks. The diesel engine (arriving late next spring) is a sweetheart, with a 369 lb.-ft. dollop of torque arriving at 1,600 to 1,800 rpm. With optional air suspension, the GLC drops 15 mm at speed, and will raise 15 mm for clearance on rough roads. Max towing capacity is 3,500 pounds; strangely enough, the same vehicle is rated at nearly 5,300 lbs. in Europe.

Pricing won’t be available until closer to arrival, but will probably be somewhat higher than the $45,000 to $70,000 GLC 300 SUV.

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