The new Mercedes‑AMG GLC 53 4MATIC+ offers lots of everything

If you're regularly travelling long distances in your lease car, you’ll understand the importance of comfort. That, and the ability to soak up the miles as effortlessly as possible. At the same time, nobody wants a car that handles like a narrow boat when you show it a country lane. It’s a harder balancing act than you might think, unless you’re a German carmaker with a very long history of doing exactly that. It’s a history that the new Mercedes‑AMG GLC 53 4MATIC+ is built on.

Mercedes-AMG has sharpened its mid-size performance GLC range, giving the GLC 53 4Matic+ a bit more bark, a bit more bite, and a significant boost in desirability. Available as a sleek crossover coupe or an ever-practical SUV, the new GLC 53 combines sporty driving, a six-cylinder soundtrack, and fully variable all-wheel drive with dynamic Drift Mode for the full AMG experience.

At the heart of the new model is a comprehensively redeveloped 3.0-litre engine with twin turbocharging and an electric auxiliary compressor.

That already sounds impressive, but it gets better when you find out that engine produces 449bhp, sending it to all four wheels via a nine-speed AMG Speedshift TCT transmission and the fully variable AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive. It also features an electronically controlled rear-axle limited-slip differential with Drift Mode.

Yes, you did read that correctly… you really can put drift mode in an SUV.

It also features a second-generation integrated starter-generator (ISG) as a central component of the 48-volt on-board electrical system, allowing it to function as both an electric generator as well as taking on hybrid functions. This mild hybrid system controls energy recuperation, load point shifting, gliding, and restarting of the engine during the start-stop function – all of which is a technical way of saying it boosts efficiency so you can still achieve around 30mpg despite the immense power beneath your right foot.

It also translates to impressive performance figures.

Thumping performance and Golden Accents Package

The Mercedes‑AMG GLC 53 4MATIC+ can sprint to 62mph in just 4.2 seconds and has an electronically limited top speed of 155mph. This can even be increased to 167mph if you specify the optional AMG Driver's Package.

Unfortunately, the official launch is still too far away for us to confidently report the finer details of UK specifications yet, but Mercedes has given a few hints with regards to trim levels.

When the GLC 53 launches, you’ll have one year to take advantage of the unique Golden Accents Package to celebrate its arrival.

Finished in either obsidian black or graphite grey, with design details highlighted in “techgold” and an extensive equipment list to complement the special look. The matte black 21-inch AMG forged wheels in cross-spoke design are accented with techgold rim flanges and wheel hub caps, and behind the wheels, glossy black brake callipers feature white AMG logos. The details even extend to the silver chrome fuel filler cap with AMG lettering.

The interior of the Golden Accents Package boasts AMG sports seats in elegant black leather and accented with decorative stitching on the seats. The door panels and instrument panel also feature contrast decorative stitching in the same colour. The AMG carbon trim elements are woven with metallic threads, matching the techgold accents of the exterior, black door sill panels feature an illuminated AMG logo in white, and AMG floor mats with decorative stitching complete the look.

Alternatively, there’s also an AMG Night Package with exterior mirror housings and trim strips finished in high-gloss black, together with dark chrome tailpipe trims and door handles. This can be further enhanced with an AMG Night Package II, finishing elements such as the struts of the radiator grille and the AMG emblem on the hood in black chrome.

The AMG Design Plus Package is also an option. It comprises a front apron with enlarged front splitter, an enlarged body-coloured AMG spoiler on the roof (SUV) or tailgate (Coupé), and a diffuser blade also finished in high-gloss black.

The new Mercedes‑AMG GLC 53 4MATIC+ should be available to lease in the UK later this year, so watch this space for updates as we get confirmation of UK-specific details ahead of the official launch.