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A dual-motor GLC400 will lead the global launch of Mercedes-Benz's most important electric car, ahead of a cheaper rear-wheel-drive variant next year.
Electric Cars
The electric version of one of Mercedes-Benz's biggest sellers, the GLC mid-sized SUV, is due in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2026 (October to December).
First to arrive will be the electric GLC400 4Matic with EQ Technology, to use its full name, estimated to be priced from about $110,000 before on-road costs.
It is due to be followed by a rear-wheel-drive, long-range GLC300+ by the middle of 2027, ahead of a high-performance AMG GLC anticipated by the end of 2027 or early in 2028, pending global demand.
The GLC debuts a new MB.EA platform for electric vehicles, which is set to be shared with an electric C-Class sedan scheduled for its global reveal in the coming months.
The GLC400 packs dual electric motors producing 360kW and 800Nm combined, for a claimed zero to 100km/h acceleration time of 4.3 seconds, while a 94kWh battery is rated to enable 715km of WLTP driving range.
Pricing is estimated to start at approximately $110,000 before on-road costs, in order to compete with its nearest rival, the BMW iX3, which arrives in mid-2026.
A second variant, the rear-wheel-drive GLC300+, is tipped to fall under the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold of $91,387 – unlocking lucrative Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemptions for novated leases – with a single 275kW rear electric motor and more than 750km of estimated range rating.
The electric GLC measures 4845mm in length, 84mm greater than the standard petrol and diesel model, while legroom has grown by 13mm up front and 47mm in the rear.
The boot provides 570 litres of storage, plus a further 128-litre storage area under the bonnet. Braked towing capacity is rated at 2.4 tonnes, but a 100-kilogram towball load rating will be a limiting factor.
Charging is supported by an 800-volt architecture that allows for DC power of up to 330kW, for a 10 to 80 per cent charge in a claimed 22 minutes.
It is rated to enable the addition of 305km of range in 10 minutes at a compatible high-power station, with Australian cars to be fitted with hardware also allowing them to use less powerful 400-volt charging stations.
The GLC400 4Matic uses the brand's latest MB.OS operating system integrating AI from Microsoft Bing, Google Gemini and ChatGPT as a virtual assistant for most vehicle and navigation functions, and includes a 39.1-inch MBUX Hyperscreen display setup.
The arrival of the GLC400, which was earlier estimated to begin halfway through 2026, has been impacted by high demand in the European market.
Reports indicate that global demand for the Mercedes-Benz GLC EV is currently exceeding production capacity. At the start of the year, the Bremen factory in Germany was already operating three shifts to meet demand.
Mercedes-Benz Australia still expects to start local deliveries of the GLC400 in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Electric Cars Guide
Samantha has been obsessed with cars and combustion engines for most of her life, and has spent the past 25 years deep in the automotive and motorsport industries. An automotive awards judge, rally driver and motorsport tragic, she spends weekdays writing about cars and weekends off-road, off-grid or running amok at the track.
