New Mercedes GLC with EQ Technology prototype review: the perfect EV to fight back against BMW

We’re driving the finally undisguised GLC 400. We’re sitting in air-conditioned massage seats, surfing the dunes in near silence. The GLC kicks up massive fountains of sand, and its advantage here is clear: the dual electric motors.

With 482bhp (360kW) and 800Nm of torque, there’s serious muscle to haul this 2.5-tonne SUV over this unconventional terrain. But the real win is the instant response; unlike a petrol 4×4 where you have to keep the power on constantly, here you can relax, applying precise power exactly when needed.

Flip the dash-spanning Hyperscreen into ‘Terrain Mode’ and the optional air suspension, which includes rear-axle steering, jacks the car up by 25mm. Need more? Another 25mm is available at the touch of a button. This, combined with an ‘ESP off’ mode, turns the dunes into a giant sandpit. While we’ll have to wait a little longer to drive the car on the road, we can’t deny it’s a lot of fun.

The new GLC is also seriously practical. It’s grown to 4.85 metres long and features a massive 128-litre frunk (perfect for tow ropes or sandy boots), a 570-litre boot, and an extra 80mm in the wheelbase – much to the delight of those sitting in the back.

Worried about range? Don’t be. Even with the air-con blasting in the desert heat, the 94kWh battery claims up to 406 miles on a charge, and with a rapid 330kW charging capability, a 10 to 80 per cent top up is possible in just over 20 minutes.

Mercedes has finally rolled the dice on price, too: the GLC 400 will start from £60,350. That’s about 10 per cent more than the combustion-engined model, which will remain on sale alongside the EV offering a choice of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

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