The 2nd-generation Mercedes GLC Coupe is on the roads. Can the new GLC Coupe tow? Maximum C254 towing capacity. Need a GLC II towbar?

The 2nd-generation Mercedes GLC Coupe is on the roads. Can the new GLC Coupe tow?  Maximum C254 towing capacity. Need a GLC II towbar?

Mercedes expects the new GLC Coupe to account for up to 20 per cent of total GLC sales - the GLC itself being the best-selling Mercedes model worldwide. Let's find out why. 

The new GLC Coupes styling has basically the same silhouette as its predecessor and shares many similar design cues too. Most people will probably struggle to differentiate the two.

The 2nd Gen GLC has a subtly restyled exterior. The newly designed LED headlamps extend into a larger grille, with a heavily contoured bonnet, larger wheelhouses and prominent lines along the new body.

As with its predecessor, the new C254 has a distinctive coupe-like roofline with a liftback-style tailgate giving it a more dynamic appearance than the SUV.

The rear has a strikingly new-look - slim LED tail lights and a very defined sporty upturn at the rear of the tailgate.

At 4763mm in length, 1890mm in width and 1699mm in height, the new GLC II Coupe is 31mm longer, 55mm higher and the same width as the first-generation GLC Coupe introduced way back in 2016.

The new GLC Coupe also has a 15mm longer wheelbase at 2888mm, along with track widths that extend by 6mm to 1627mm at the front and by 23mm to 1640mm at the rear over its predecessor. 

The interior changes are much more pronounced and align with those of the SUV version. Mercedes has intensionally provided the new SUV with higher quality materials in a conscious bid to raise the GLC's luxury and comfort appeal. 

The dual digital displays use Mercedes's newest MBUX infotainment system, making use of a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a portrait-oriented 11.9-inch touchscreen, which is angled toward the driver.  The hardware and software of the latest generation of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system offer even better user-friendliness. Brilliant images in the driver and central display make it easy to control vehicle and comfort functions. The two LCD screens present clear and structured information. The full-screen navigation gives the driver the best possible route guidance. MBUX Augmented Reality for navigation is available as an option. A camera registers the surroundings in front of the vehicle. The central display shows the moving images and also superimposes virtual objects, information and markers. These include traffic signs, directional arrows, lane-change recommendations and house numbers. This makes navigation much easier, especially in cities.

The door panels are redesigned to include floating controls for seat adjustments. 
Among the options are a new head-up display, a panoramic glass roof and a Burmester 710W surround-sound system with 15 speakers.

Mercedes has made the steering of this second-generation GLC Coupe a little sharper than the SUV version to give the sporty Coupe a dynamic edge. 

The new GLC Coupe is based on an updated version of Mercedes-Benz’s MRA platform and is underpinned by the same four-link front and multi-link rear suspension as the fifth-generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class and its GLC SUV sibling.

The engine range is identical to the standard GLC II, the line-up will mainly sell in 2.0-litre petrol and diesel forms, both available in some markets with mild hybrid tech. The GLC 220 d diesel has 194bhp; the GLC 200 petrol has 201bhp; and the GLC 300 petrol uses the same engine to put out 254bhp.
The GLC 43 and GLC 63 AMG performance variants will also get 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engines with up to 671bhp. As with the 1st Gen GLC, all models across the line-up feature 4MATIC all-wheel drive and a 9-speed automatic gearbox. Optional is AIRMATIC air suspension and this MK2 model further adds the option of Rear-Axle Steering, the latter vastly improving the car's turning circle(by 90cm) and giving extra stability when the road is not straight.

The extra roof height and 15mm of extra wheelbase length are felt by passengers in the rear. The seats also slide back and forth too, which aids cargo flexibility. The boot is 45-litres bigger at 545-litres than the previous model, and 1490 Litres with the seats flat.  Need more cargo space, or to take your bikes along your next weekend away?  Be sure to fit our Invisible GLC Coupe towbar. Mercedes has rated the new GLC at a max of 2500kgs.

As previously, the new GLC Coupe will be sold with an optional off-road package. It includes a dedicated off-road driving mode, a downhill speed regulation (DSR) function and a 360-degree camera offering a so-called ‘transparent bonnet” in which a graphic within the infotainment system shows a virtual view underneath the front of the car, including the angle of the front wheels.

In some markets, there is a new 'Towing Route Planner' available in the navigation system. Using this, routes can be planned in the central display that are suitable for driving with a trailer, taking into account things like passage width and passage height. And there's an enhanced 'Trailer Manoeuvring Assistant' system that makes manoeuvring with a trailer easier, more comfortable and safer.

When it comes to safety, the closely related GLC scored the full five stars when it was tested by the experts at Euro NCAP in 2022, and won an advanced award for its Car-to-X communication system. The Coupé comes with automatic emergency braking (AEB), tyre-pressure monitoring, seven airbags and a system that can detect the driver getting drowsy.

Consider the new GLC if you want: sharper styling, more efficient drivetrains, an improved interior and the newest driver-assistance systems combined with more agile handling, excellent ride quality and impressive refinement.  Don't forget to add practicality to your GLC by fitting our towbar.  Order today.