2027 Mercedes-Benz GLC With EQ Technology: Hitting a Stride
Key Points
- A distinct stylistic step away from Mercedes-Benz’s prior EQ products
- Impressive interior with great materials and presentation
- New optional 39.1-inch Hyperscreen is quite the technologic showpiece
We never got the Mercedes-Benz EQC here in the states. We got the EQB SUV, EQE, EQE SUV, EQS, EQS SUV — now that’s what I call alphanumerical! — and all of the AMG and Maybach variants thereof, but Mercedes’ mid-size all-electric SUV never landed on our shores. As things have shaped up over the past five years in the U.S. electric-vehicle market, that might not have been the worst decision.
So, much like rival BMW, Mercedes is rethinking its EV strategy. Part of this is a slow, protracted sunsetting of the stand-alone EQ sub-brand that will see model replacements integrated directly into the mainline Mercedes-Benz catalog, with the all-electric variants of cars like the E-Class and S-Class labeled “With EQ Technology.” We’ve already seen this with the electrified G-Wagen and new CLA, the former officially labeled the G580 With EQ Technology and the latter the CLA With EQ Technology.
Got it? OK, now take a stab as to what Mercedes might call its next-gen electrified GLC. Correct! Welcome to the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLC With EQ Technology.
Related: Mercedes-Benz Reveals All-New, Electric 2027 GLC With EQ Technology
A Top-Notch Interior
- Takeaway: The new GLC’s interior is all-new and an impressive step away from both the existing gas-powered GLC and any EQ product.
Right off the bat, things are looking sharp. I got a short chance to crawl around the fresh GLC at Consumer Electronics Show 2026 in Las Vegas, and much like the all-new (and also present at CES) BMW iX3, this is a thoughtful and well-considered rework of the automaker’s electric architecture and aesthetic. I’ve never been the biggest fan of Merc’s EQ products, particularly when it comes to their interiors; the overuse of gloss plastic and distinct lack of both personality and elegance always felt at odds with the badge and price.
Not so with the new GLC With EQ Technology. At least on the high-spec example I explored at CES, form, fit and finish is top-notch and a welcome stylistic departure from the staid, corporate vibe found in many an EQ. It’s a collection of many little things: The repositioned device charge pads incorporate a few lines of genuine stitching around their integrated ventilation, itself surrounded by an expanse of fabulous matte metal trim inscribed with a herringbone motif.
Note the large stitching on both the console armrest and outer seat bolsters — I can’t recall seeing that in a Mercedes at least in the past decade. It adds character, as does the pseudo-sporty shape of the seats, which in the CES show car were upholstered in the GLC’s new “certified” vegan material. It’s a nice, rich tan color and feels absolutely on par with Mercedes’ prior applications of synthetic leather.
Related Video:
Get the Hyperscreen
- Takeaway: An optional one-piece 39.1-inch infotainment touchscreen is available on upper trims of the new GLC.
I’m beating around the bush a bit here. The interior showpiece is, of course, the optional single-piece 39.1-inch Hyperscreen display that stretches nearly the entire length of the dash. All GLC With E — oh for heaven’s sake, I’m going to refer to this new electric GLC simply as the “GLC” for the rest of this up-close look — are fitted with a 10.25-inch driver display as standard with a 14-inch center infotainment display. Adding the optional 14-inch front-passenger screen unlocks the “Superscreen” denotation.
But you should definitely get hyper. I’m not going to bemoan the death of physical controls here — I’m hoarse from screaming about it in the iX3 hands on — but this new display is as nice to operate as it is impressive. It’s powered by the latest iteration of its MB.OS digital architecture, which now comes with integrated AI, facial recognition, video streaming, video conferencing and over-the-air updates.
I didn’t play with any of that stuff. No, I went right to a demo of the new Dolby Atmos experiences now accessible through Apple CarPlay, and I also played with the new emotional motifs, a selection of active visual landscapes that ranged from a crackling campfire to an aquarium scene to a lush forest. Said visuals were a little AI-ish in appearance, but I found its integration with the cabin ambient lighting and seat temperature controls modestly charming. I hope it rains when I finally get some wheel time — the collective tableau of those forest visuals and the patter of rain on the standard panoramic roof will zonk me right out as I charge.
Larger Than the Regular GLC
- Takeaway: It is indeed larger, with a 3.1-inch wheelbase stretch against the gas-powered GLC.
The exterior is far less interesting than the new cockpit, but kudos to Mercedes for scaling back the EQ’s beluga-whale design language to one more in line with the familiar gas-powered models. You won’t mistake it for the latter, however, given the EQ-ified GLC’s (relatively) rakish profile and extra 3.1-inch wheelbase stretch — ah, and that illuminated front grille that renders it borderline unmistakable at night.
I’ll withhold any takes on the powertrain and mechanical aspects until we get our first drive, but make sure you check out the main specifications in our first look from late 2025. The 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLC With EQ Technology won’t hit production until around summertime 2026, so stay tuned for updates closer to then.
Read More Mercedes-Benz EV News on Cars.com:
- All-New 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLB Debuts With Electric Power
- 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 With EQ Technology Review: Pricey and Portly, But Plenty Potent
- These Cars Have Been Discontinued for 2026
- Is the 2025 Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV a Good Electric SUV? 5 Pros, 2 Cons
- Mercedes-Benz EVs to Access Tesla Supercharger Network in February
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
Conner Golden joined Cars.com in 2023 as an experienced writer and editor with almost a decade of content creation and management in the automotive and tech industries. He lives in the Los Angeles area.
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