Here is one of the most popular compact SUV classes, where Europeans can choose from nearly fifty different models with various options and price levels, and buyers no longer settle for just an efficient engine or leather interior. The modern sophisticated driver demands more and more, especially those looking at top-class (“premium”) segment brands.
Drivers expect unparalleled comfort from Mercedes-Benz, impressive dynamic capabilities from BMW, and Lexus buyers hope for the efficient hybrid technologies and attention to detail characteristic of this brand. In such a highly competitive environment, every move by manufacturers is critically evaluated – what will they surprise us with this time?
Advantages of electric drive
So today’s luxury cars often make even experienced drivers raise their eyebrows. New manufacturers constantly appear on the market, trying to attract buyers with different visions, but traditional leaders still maintain their positions, setting trends and raising the bar for each other.
Car enthusiasts know that when switching to new energy sources, the issue of dynamics is very important. Mercedes-Benz recently introduced the new compact crossover GLC with a highly efficient electric drive. This model is very important for the manufacturer as it has been the company’s most popular and best-selling creation worldwide for several years in a row. However, the new generation stands out because it is primarily offered with an electric drive.
Its all-wheel-drive version, the “GLC 400 4MATIC,” reaches 483 hp and 800 Nm of torque and allows driving up to 715 kilometers on a single charge. These parameters of the new electric drive essentially match the capabilities of previous generations’ gasoline V8 engines, allowing fans of top-class brands to transition to new era technologies without compromise.
Other premium segment manufacturers are following a similar path. The new generation electric SUV “BMW iX3” with all-wheel drive produces 463 hp and 645 Nm, the “Porsche Macan 4” – 408 hp and 650 Nm, and the “Audi Q4 55 e-tron quattro” develops 340 hp and 679 Nm of power.
Understand instantly
31 teams from 4 countries already in the “Ignitis ON” electric car race: on the track and a 1000 hp electric SUV
7 German SUVs that won’t disappoint you and will retain their value
For buyers seeking extreme sportiness and adrenaline, Mercedes-Benz created the hybrid “AMG GLC 63 S E PERFORMANCE” version born from Formula 1 track technologies. It boasts impressive power parameters: 671 hp and 1,020 Nm. Thus, the electric drive has further unleashed the hands of luxury car manufacturers.
Car reviewer Vytenis Kudarauskas points out that the combination of power and efficiency is one of the most important factors when choosing a modern top-class SUV.
“Speaking about general trends, probably the most progress is noticeable when evaluating the driving characteristics of crossovers in this class. If earlier the handling was imprecise, lacked stability, and ensuring it required significantly reducing comfort levels, today these characteristics are much better balanced. Many models provide more confidence, feature more precise handling, and sportiness does not mean discomfort,” evaluates the “Autopilotas” show journalist.
Demonstrating progress
Equally important are new era technologies and inventions. For example, to precisely control the huge energy generated by the electric drive and ensure maximum safety and comfort, Mercedes-Benz engineers applied the innovative “One-Box” braking system in the GLC model.
This technology, increasingly implemented in modern electric and hybrid models, smoothly combines regenerative electric motor braking, where energy generated during deceleration is returned to the battery, with the operation of traditional mechanical brakes.
Many drivers of electrified cars are familiar with the unpleasant, sometimes unpredictable feeling of switching from electric deceleration to mechanical braking, but the “One-Box” system ensures very smooth and reliable brake pedal feedback. The driver feels no jerking, only confident, precisely controlled deceleration.
“Evaluating premium segment models, competition is intensifying in the field of technologies: there is an effort to surprise, in some models we see new ergonomics and instrument control solutions, larger and larger screens, and other convenient solutions are being sought. Therefore, everything develops as always: top-class segment models are a step ahead compared to cheaper cars,” says V. Kudarauskas.
For example, in the new GLC model, its creators did not spare technologies previously characteristic of the brand’s flagships. For instance, the optional “AIRMATIC” pneumatic suspension borrowed from S-class limousines – a complex damping system that constantly analyzes the road surface and automatically adapts to irregularities and driving speed.
Additionally, the SUV can be equipped with a rear axle that turns up to 4.5 degrees. At low speeds, the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction to the front wheels – significantly reducing the turning radius and easing maneuvering in tight city streets. At highway speeds, the wheels turn in the same direction: this gives the car the stability of a sports model and ensures smooth lane changes.
Impressive visual solutions
With users favorably receiving larger screens that make it more convenient to control information and entertainment systems, the evolution of multimedia is also easily noticeable. In the new GLC SUV, Mercedes-Benz offers the choice of the “MBUX Hyperscreen” curved glass module with a diagonal of 39.1 inches – essentially stretching across the entire front console. The screen is designed not only for the driver but also for passengers’ needs, without overly distracting their attention from the road.
This step is currently the most telling in the traditional premium model market: the “MBUX Hyperscreen” screen significantly stands out from competitors.
Its information and entertainment system is controlled by a completely new architecture operating system MB.OS. This is the car’s “brain,” connecting hardware (chips, sensors) with cloud computing (chip-to-cloud) and controlling everything – from the electric drive to safety systems.
