Medicus April 2016

D R I V E MERCEDES-BENZ 250 GLC

Dr Peter Randell W ith 99 body styles/engine combinations available in Australia that I could find, you might wonder at the need for Mercedes-Benz to introduce yet another group of three to the market. However, the luxury medium-sized SUV is the hottest segment in Oz, with sales jumping more than 10 per cent in a year, and M-B had a (small) gap, now filled. Available with two diesels and one petrol engine, the GLC is the C-sedan’s equivalent. The 250 GLC has a two-litre fuel injection turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 155kW and 350Nm of torque, driving through an excellent and seamless nine-speed automatic gearbox. That is enough to make this 1.7 tonne SUV jump to 100kph in 7.3 seconds…with a minimum of fuss or noise, as befits the three-pointed star. The slick body shape (helping the economy of 7.3L/100km) has LED lights, 20-inch wheels and sidesteps – declaring all this is an SUV, not just

Mum’s shopping trolley. Oh, and when she does approach the top-hinged rear door with arms full, a simple wave of a foot below the middle of the bumper will open it. Within, the ambience is classical Mercedes, showing leather, wood and soft feely-touchy surfaces throughout. Seat controls are via a clever pictogram, which together with three memory buttons is door mounted. A large touch-screen tablet dominates the centre console to show the easy sat-nav map and works as a rear vision camera, which has predictive bending parking lines when reversing. Have faith and use the Parktronic self-parking system. There is also a marvellous button to pull up a 360 degree surround view. No excuses now for scrapes in the car park! A small textured roller switch allows selection of the dynamism of the car with five choices between ‘Comfort’ and ‘Sport’. Infotainment control is through a rotary dial, touch pad, or voice. Storage is excellent, with large cup and bottle spaces

in the doors and a clever hidden storage area in the back where I would MUCH prefer a spare tyre! There is none. You are relying on run-flat technology tyres, good for 80km only. The second row of seats can flip flat, tripling storage space. This is 2016 and so, there are two USB ports, an SD card slot and a 12-volt socket as well as Bluetooth. “Sensor Fusion” are the new buzz words used to describe the remarkable interplay of yaw sensors, camera sensors (two behind the upper windscreen) and brakes. This produces stability in high riding SUVs hit by cross-winds, and plays a part in adaptive cruise control, adaptive braking with hill-hold, active lane keeping, active blind spot assist, Attention Assist, and brake assist with cross-traffic assist. Phew! No wonder it is a pleasure to drive and feels so safe, with all these inputs to the driver. Fabulous! Mercedes-Benz. I think Australia does need more of you. The GLC should do well, despite the 99 siblings.

RRP from $67,900. Vehicle supplied by Westpoint Star.

Fully loaded: The Mercedes-Benz 250 GLC is a pleasure to drive and comes packed with an array of safety features.

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