If you want an SUV that looks great zipping across town yet rugged enough to survive the rougher terrains when you head out of town, then the new Mercedes-Benz GLC200 is your calling.
We were intimately acquainted with the new luxury SUV recently when Mercedes-Benz Malaysia invited Lifestyle Asia KL to experience #HungryForAdventure with the GLC200 all the way in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
Perhaps the biggest test of how well the Mercedes-Benz GLC200 performed was during the uphill drive towards Kinabalu Park, and back down. Over 70 kilometres away from our hotel and at an elevation of 1,563 metres, the journey would be a daunting one for a driver inexperienced with its terrains.
The GLC200 comes equipped with an off-road exterior design, yet manages to look impeccably sleek. There are chrome accents in the simulated underguard, exhaust system with two visible, chrome-plated tailpipe rims, and the radiator trim with the Mercedes star and two louvres in matte iridium silver with chrome inserts. The luxury SUV also includes 19-inch 5-spoke light-alloy wheels and LED high performance headlamps, which came in handy during the uninvited fog we experienced heading back down to the city.
Performance-wise, the Mercedes-Benz GLC200 is powered by a 2.0 litre 4 in-line engine with an output of 135 kW and 300 Nm of torque, as well as the nine-stage 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission. The automatic transmission made the steep uphill terrain an easy drive with additional power for overtaking purposes, and the torque converter also made for excellent agility and responsiveness.
Inside the car, luxurious comfort remains a main staple for the GLC200 with the Exclusive Line of interiors. Take your pick from Artico leather or fabric, a leather dash, and brown open-pore ash wood trim. A Garmin Map Pilot in the media features ensure that you won’t lose your way when escaping into the great off-road, especially when network coverage on your phone is compromised.
Finally, just in case you’re knackered from all that off-road driving and can’t be bothered to properly park your SUV, the Mercedes-Benz GLC200 also has the Parking Pilot with Parktronic to do the deed for you.
(All images: Mercedes-Benz Malaysia)
PohNee Chin
Editor, Kuala Lumpur
Poh Nee is the editor and writes about travel and drinks. When she's not living out her holiday dreams via Google Earth and sipping on an Old Fashioned down at the local bars, you can find her snug at home bingeing on Netflix and mystery fiction.
