2027 Mercedes-Benz GLC400 electric: New EV priced to take on BMW iX3

The new electric Mercedes-Benz GLC is now available to order, and will join existing petrol and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) GLCs in local showrooms from October 2026.

Available in a single GLC400 variant with dual-motor all-wheel drive, the new mid-size electric SUV is priced at $112,200 before on-road costs.

However, Mercedes-Benz Australia will offer a special Launch Edition priced at $110,000 plus on-roads, which brings no extra equipment but comes at a slightly lower cost.

Standard equipment on the GLC400 includes a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system, plus a head-up display, open-pore birch wood trim, Digital Light headlights with micro-LED technology, and 21-inch alloy wheels.

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A panoramic fixed-glass roof is standard, featuring nine segments that can be turned from clear to opaque with the push of a button thanks to Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal technology.

There’s also 'Artico' leatherette trim for the seats – which are heated up front – and the heated steering wheel.

A Night Package is standard with high-gloss black exterior accents and a dark chrome grille, though this package can be deleted as a no-cost option.

Standard safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, and safe exit warning.

Options on the standard GLC400 include a Luxury Package for $8200, which brings heated, ventilated and massaging front sport seats, heated rear seats, an illuminated star pattern in the panoramic glass roof, and a Burmester 4D surround sound system.

It also brings what’s called the MBUX Hyperscreen, which adds a passenger touchscreen to form a huge 39.1-inch pillar-to-pillar screen array up front.

MB. Drive Assist is also included in this package, and brings additional safety technology like lane-change assist, steering assist, and Pre-Safe Impulse Side which helps move occupants to the centre of the vehicle if an imminent collision is detected.

An Agility and Comfort Package is available for $5200 and adds Airmatic air suspension and rear-axle steering, while aluminium-look running boards with rubber studs are available for an additional $1100.

The GLC electric sits on different underpinnings to the combustion-powered GLC, riding a dedicated electric vehicle (EV) architecture. It also features markedly different styling to the popular ICE and PHEV GLC lineup.

Compared with the combustion-powered GLC, it rides an 84mm longer wheelbase and features greater headroom and legroom.

Boot space is 570L in the rear, expanding to 1740L with the rear seats folded, while a 128L storage compartment can be found under the bonnet.

The GLC400 features dual-motor all-wheel drive, system outputs of 360kW/800Nm, a two-speed gearbox on the rear axle, and quotes a claimed 0-100km/h time of 4.3 seconds.

A 94.4kWh nickel manganese cobalt battery delivers 630km of range on the WLTP cycle – down on the maximum claimed range of 673km in the European market – with an 800V electrical system allowing AC charging at up to 22kW and DC fast charging at up to 330kW.

Mercedes-Benz claims up to 300km of range can be added within 10 minutes at 800V fast-charging stations.

Claimed energy consumption is 17.1kWh/100km.

The GLC400 will take on the BMW iX3 50 xDrive, priced slightly lower at $109,900 before on-road costs, while offering outputs of 345kW/645Nm and 805km of WLTP range with a DC fast-charge rate of up to 400kW.

The iX3 further undercuts the GLC in single-motor rear-wheel drive 40 guise, priced at $89,900 plus on-roads – bringing it under the current Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold and making it eligible for Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemptions.

Mercedes-Benz has yet to lock in lesser GLC EVs for Australia. These comprise the single-motor rear-wheel drive GLC250, which has 260kW of power and 647km of WLTP range, and the all-wheel drive GLC300 with 310kW of power and 613km of range.

Other rivals for the GLC and iX3 EVs in Australia include the Audi Q6 e-tron ($99,818-$104,018 + ORCs), the Volvo EX60 ($86,990-$101,990 + ORCs), the Lexus RZ ($84,500-$105,000 + ORCs), the Polestar 4 ($78,500-$100,050 + ORCs) and the Cadillac Lyriq (from $90,000 + ORCs).

MORE: Explore the Mercedes-Benz GLC showroom