Sometimes as a car reviewer, you jump into the vehicle they brought you, in a hurry usually, hit the start button and then say to yourself: “What the Hell have I got here?” I had one of those moments this week. All I knew was I had a Mercedes-Benz GLC plug-in hybrid being delivered. OK, good, I said to myself. I like plug-in hybrids and get a lot of questions on them. Then I hit the start button. Wait. WHAT? No hybrid sounds like a NASCAR, this can’t be. But it is.
So, just what is this beast called the AMG GLC 63 S E Performance SUV? Glad you asked. It is a relatively small 2-row SUV with a hand-built 2-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine that partners up with an electric motor and a 9-speed shiftable transmission, and the Mercedes 4Matic all-wheel drive system.
OH, and it’s a 4-banger you sigh, as you chuckle to yourself. You better sit down. This little rocket is packing 671-horses, 752 pound-feet of heart-thumping torque, it will take you from a dead stop to 60-miles per hour in 3.1 seconds, and it will top out at 171-miles per hour. You still chuckling? I didn’t think so.
If this combination of a gas engine and a battery sounds complicated, that is because it is. I had to really study this drivetrain to attempt to break it down for you (and myself), so here goes:
This beautiful SUV in Starling Blue Metallic uses a plug-in hybrid gasoline powertrain that combines with a rear-mounted electric motor and a high-performance battery to deliver all that horsepower and torque.
Here’s how it works:
- Gas Engine: Under the hood, there’s a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 that produces 469-horses on its own—making it the most powerful production four-cylinder engine in the world. It’s paired with an electric exhaust-gas turbocharger that virtually eliminates any turbo lag and maintains boost pressure across a wide rev range.
- Electric Motor & Battery: At the rear axle, there’s a 201-horse Mercedes permanently-excited synchronous motor (their words) integrated with a 2-speed transmission and a limited-slip differential. It’s powered by a 6.1 kWh battery developed by AMG for fast energy delivery rather than long EV range. The battery is cooled directly by fluid to maintain optimal temperature during aggressive driving.
- Power Flow: The system uses AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive. While the engine powers the front and rear axles through a 9-speed MCT transmission, the electric motor drives only the rear axle directly. If needed, torque from the electric motor can also be routed to the front wheels via a mechanical link for full all-wheel drive.
- Driving Feel: The result is immediate, electric torque fill at low speeds, with the turbo-four doing the heavy lifting at higher RPMs. The car can coast, regenerate energy under braking, or drive for a short distance in EV-only mode, but the hybrid system is designed for performance—not fuel-efficiency.
So, don’t be thinking you have a typical plug-in hybrid here that you can make your daily commute in using only battery power. You’ll be lucky to get to your next door neighbor before the gas engine kicks on. They say it’ll go 1-6 miles on EV power, but not with me driving. No sir, I’m using that battery power to try to beat the 0-to-60 time of 3-seconds.
That begs the question, so what is it like once the battery dies?
When the battery is depleted, performance, of course, is reduced—but not dramatically. Here's what I learned:
- You still have the gas engine, which alone produces 469-horsepower, more than enough to move the 5,100-pound SUV quickly. Acceleration won’t be as explosive, though, since you lose the electric motor’s 201-horse torque assist at the rear axle.
- The GLC doesn’t become sluggish, but 0–60 times will increase noticeably from the 3.1-second range to something closer to 4.5–5 seconds, depending on driving conditions. It’s still quick—just not the launch-you-into-next-week quick that comes with the full hybrid system online.
- AMG’s hybrid system is designed to recharge fast, especially under braking and aggressive driving. Even with the battery "depleted," the system maintains a minimum charge reserve to provide occasional boosts and torque-fill. In Sport or Race mode, it prioritizes keeping the battery ready for those moments.
- It won’t drive in EV mode with a depleted battery, but that’s expected—EV-only range is just a few miles anyway. Think of the battery as a performance tool more than an energy source, so if you are thinking about this SUV for fuel economy, don’t.
So, when the battery is drained, you lose the punch and rear-axle thrust from the electric motor, but the GLC 63 S E still behaves like a potent turbocharged AMG with AWD—just without the extra hit of electrified madness.
What is interesting is under normal or sporty driving, you’ll get enough battery power restored for boost in 10–15 minutes; in comfort mode or stop-and-go traffic, it may take longer, and the boost may not be as frequent or full. If I choose to charge with my Level 2 charger at home, I can get a full charge in an hour and a half. It does not have capability of a DC fast charger. You’ll only be six hours or so charging from a 110-outlet.
So, there you have it. A thorough explanation of possibly the most complicated power train system I have ever reviewed. Now let’s talk about the SUV itself.
Exterior
This is a great looking SUV with the massive 3-point star in the middle of grill, just above the active shutters to feed air into the hungry turbo.
21” multi-spoke AMG wheels look great, and brushed aluminum adorns the bottom of the Benz, around the windows, and on top serving as roof rails. I think my favorite view is the rear.
There is a big spoiler, the GLC 63 S emblem on one side, AMG on the other, and the quad exhaust are in chrome. Yes, the rear wiper should be under the spoiler instead of exposed, that really detracts from the beautiful posterior.
Interior
The interior of this Mercedes feels very much at home to me. I personally own the next size up 2025 AMG GLE 63S, but it is a V8 with a paltry 603-horses. The dash layout and overall feel are the same, however.
The GLC combines luxury with performance-oriented design, featuring advanced technology and high-quality materials and that is evident from the minute you open the door. Soft-touch materials surround you starting with the door panels and continuing across the dash, and metal weave trim surrounding the center console looks terrific. As you sit down, sport seats upholstered in Nappa leather upholstery are bolstered, heated, massage you, have power lumbar supports, and they both have memory settings. Up high are metal AMG logos, just below the large, fixed, integrated headrests molded into the seatback front headrests.
The flat-bottomed AMG Performance steering wheel is wrapped in Nappa leather, it includes buttons and AMG-specific controls to configure the 12.3-inch digital driver display that provides customizable information, with different display styles that include Classic, Sport, and Supersport modes.
There are two round knobs on the steering wheel that are part of the AMG Drive unit. The left knob on the AMG steering wheel is a dual-function hotkey that lets you assign and rapidly toggle two performance features such as suspension mode, exhaust sound, regen, etc. without taking your hands off the wheel. The right nob controls let you quickly select and switch between drive modes such as Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Race, Electric, Battery Hold, and Slippery.
Center dash is the MBUX screen that measures 11.9 inches and is vertically-oriented. It controls nearly all vehicle functions, including navigation, the Burmeister 3D Surround Sound System, climate, seat settings, ambient lighting, phone connectivity, and hybrid powertrain displays.
It also includes AMG-specific menus for performance data, Track Pace lap timing, regenerative braking settings, and drive mode customization. Voice control with "Hey Mercedes" functionality is standard, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included. The system is fast and very intuitive.
Check out the Performance Page, it’s slick and has a large timer to prove it will do 0-to-60 in 3.1. Major complaint, no knob for the radio volume, but it can be changed from the steering wheel.
The center console features two USB-C ports and a wireless phone charger that you can hide behind a sliding door, but the charger is a bit hard to get to and you can’t see the face of the phone. Your elbows rest on a very soft cover with a deep compartment underneath to store things, and there are two more USB-Cs in there as well.
Backseat room was larger than I expected, but still only suitable for two people that are not overly large and a child. Headroom and legroom are both OK. Backseat passengers get their own air vents, a pull-down armrest, but no USB-Cs or climate controls.
Utility
The cargo space offers 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and up to 54.0 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.
The seats fold easily down with levers in the rear and the backseat folds flat. Under the load floor is a small space for a tire repair kit and air compressor, but the hybrid battery takes some of the room you usually find on the GLC.
Standard Features
This is a Mercedes, so it comes with notable standard features that include: The panoramic moon roof with power cover, dual power front seats with memory, power tilt wheel, shift paddles, electric tailgate, keyless remote, 64-color ambient lighting, navigation with augmented video, and AMG Drive Unit steering wheel controls.
Performance equipment includes AMG Ride Control+ air suspension, adaptive dampers, rear-axle steering, AMG high-performance brakes, and the AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel-drive system.
Safety
In the safety department you get adaptive cruise control, active steering and lane keeping assist, blind spot assist, active brake assist, traffic sign and speed limit recognition, a surround-view camera, PARKTRONIC with parking sensors, LED Digital Light headlamps, Pre-SAFE collision protection, seven airbags, and a full suite of stability and security systems.
Options
My tester has over $24,000 in optional equipment. It has:
- AMG ceramic braking $4,200
- 21” AMG wheels $2,250
- AMG active ride control for $3,400 uses adaptive air suspension with active roll stabilization to enhance handling, ride comfort, and cornering stability by continuously adjusting damping and reducing body roll.
- Cooled front seats $450
- Driver assistance package $1,950 which includes adaptive cruise control with Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Steering Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Evasive Steering Assist, Active Brake Assist with cross-traffic function, Active Emergency Stop Assist, and Traffic Sign Assist for enhanced semi-autonomous driving support and safety.
- AMG Design Package $4,000 adds red brake calipers, a higher top speed limiter, the AMG Track Pace data logger, and an AMG Performance steering wheel in Nappa leather and microfiber for a more aggressive appearance and enhanced driver engagement.
- Pinnacle Trim $4,300 adds a head-up display, Burmeister 3D Surround Sound, augmented reality navigation, 360-degree camera, illuminated door sills, heat- and noise-insulating glass, enhanced ambient lighting, and Digital LED headlamps with projection capabilities.
Ride and Drive
Driving characteristics are great, especially with the rear-axle steering, the overall steering is precise with good feedback and the car is incredibly quiet inside. Acceleration is insane, especially in sport+ mode. This SUV just absolutely feels solid and very well built. The exhaust sound is amazing, and you get a good amount of pop-back when you let off the accelerator.
Just a bit more on the rear-axle steering system. The rear wheels can turn up to 2.5 degrees, and the direction they turn depends on your speed. At lower speeds under 37 miles per hour the rear wheels turn in the opposite direction of the front wheels. This shrinks the turning radius, making tight maneuvers like U-turns and parking easier. At higher speeds, over 37, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front wheels. This adds stability when changing lanes quickly, and when cornering.
When you come to a stop, if you push a little harder on the brake, the brake hold will kick in allowing you to take your foot off the brake. When you touch the gas, the brakes release. This is a feature you will absolutely love when you get used to using it.
You’ll get a combined fuel economy rating of 36 MPGe city / 26 MPGe highway, or about 20 MPG when driving on gasoline alone. If fuel economy is important to you, this may not be the SUV for you.
Verdict
MSRP is $111,260 and to me for what you get, how beautiful and luxurious this SUV is, how well it drives, and 671-horses, I have no quarrel with that price. You’ll realize what a great value this car is after driving it and looking at all the things it will do.
2025 Mercedes AMG GLC 63 Plug-in Hybrid
- What I liked most: The way it drives and handles, acceleration, the beautiful appearance, and the luxurious interior.
- What I would change: Just a radio volume knob, and the rear wiper under the spoiler.
- MSRP: Base price $86,050. As equipped, $111,260 with transportation.
- Fuel Economy: 36 MPGe city/26 MPGe highway/overall 20 on just gasoline.
- Official Color: Starling Blue Metallic.
- Weight: 5,126 pounds/GVWR 6,150 pounds.
- Spare Tire: Repair kit.
- Length-Width-Height: 187” long/75.6” wide with mirrors folded in/64.4” high.
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 17.2 gallons with the filler on the passenger side.
- Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds.
- Odometer reading when tested: 2,600 miles.
- 2025 AMG GLC 63 S E Performance in a few words: On the track on Sunday or on the drive to Sunday School, it is an amazing SUV and a technological marvel.
- Warranty: 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper with roadside assistance, 96-month/100,000 mile hybrid & electric component warranty.
- Final Assembly Location: Bremen, Germany.
- Manufacturer’s website: Mercedes-Benz
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