√2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC to be cut to one variant for Australia, no plug-in hybrid

Australia will get just one model grade of Mercedes-Benz’s best-selling medium SUV when it arrives early next year – with the plug-in hybrid to be axed from the local range.

The new 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC mid-size SUV range will consist of just one variant when it arrives in Australia early next year.

Mercedes-Benz Australia confirmed at the global launch of its all-new GLC medium SUV that Australia will receive just one well-equipped GLC300 petrol variant – spelling the end of the entry-level GLC200 petrol, and GLC300e plug-in hybrid.

Prices are yet to be confirmed, but it may cost in excess of $100,000 before options and on-road costs – or about $10,000 to $15,000 more than the outgoing GLC300 ($87,892 plus on-road costs).

The slim local range is in stark contrast to overseas markets, where at least seven variants – including three plug-in hybrid models – make up the broader GLC range.

A Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesperson told Drive last week its customers were entrenched in one of two camps – wanting either petrol power, or full battery-electric.

“We think in Australia, the market is taking one or the other, which is either petrol or full electric,” said the spokesperson. “And with what we’re offering with EQB and EQE [electric cars] – obviously we have EQC [an electric SUV based on the old GLC] as well – there is another offerings for people to not want the plug-in hybrid.

“It would be great to offer it for the small group of people that might want that vehicle. But we think it’s better to offer one or the other.”

Three plug-in hybrid models – two petrol and one diesel – are offered in overseas markets, all with around 100km of claimed electric-only driving range under European WLTP testing.

Australia will also miss out on the entry-level GLC200 petrol, as well as the diesel-powered GLC220d and GLC300d models – leaving the GLC300 as the sole variant in local dealerships.

According to sales data provided by Mercedes-Benz Australia earlier this year, the mid-spec GLC300 variant accounts for about 50 per cent of GLC sales in Australia.

And Australians have bought more than 200 plug-in hybrid GLCs to the end of June 2022, or around eight per cent of total model sales.

But asked if the decision to slim the range down to just a single model could impact overall sales of the GLC, a Mercedes-Benz Australia spokesperson said, “No, we don’t think so.

“We’ve had some early indication already with C-Class that 300 [a 190kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol] is the preferred engine choice. Even though they’re not the same customer, we think [the GLC] customers will either gravitate towards the 300 or look at the [small SUV] GLB.”

Pricing for the lone GLC variant is still to be confirmed, as the new model not expected in Australia until early next year.

But with Mercedes-Benz indicating the single model would bring a higher level of standard equipment than in the current model, it is possible the starting price may sit in excess of $100,000 before on-road costs when the GLC300 arrives here in early 2023.

The current-generation Mercedes-Benz GLC300 starts at $87,892 plus on-road costs.

MORE: 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC300 review: International first drive

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