Price of BMW X3 rival falls to lowest level in-class amid a facelift coming toward the end of this year.
Mercedes-Benz Thailand has rolled out a new price-led version of the GLC to stand out in-class as the most affordable all-wheel drive compact SUV.
Priced at 3.04 million baht, the locally assembled GLC220d comes with the same OM651-coded 2.1-litre diesel-turbo, nine-speed automatic and 4Matic all-wheel drive as in the GLC250d.
However, their outputs are slightly different. The GLC220d has lower 170hp and 400Nm when compared to the GLC250d’s ratings of 204hp and 500Nm. As well, the cheaper of the two by 250,000 baht runs on 18in rather than 19in wheels.
Such pricing comes amid the fact that the GLC220d faces higher excise taxation of 30% due to its 150g/km-plus rating; the GLC250d undercuts that level for 25%. In fuel economy terms, it’s 16.4kpl vs 17.9kpl in favour of the GLC250d.
Diesel-powered rivals like the Audi Q5 35 TDI, BMW X3 20d and Volvo XC60 D4 all feature 190hp 2.0-litre engines with 25% levy and respective prices of 3.399 million, 3.329 million and 3.19 million baht.
The decision to launch such a GLC in Thailand also comes in the presence of a recent global announcement regarding a mid-life update (pictured below), which includes tweaked exterior and interior design and new diesel engine.
The latest OM654-designated 194hp 2.0-litre diesel-turbo, currently used in the Thai-spec C220d and E220d, appears for the first time in the revised GLC with additional outputs of 163hp (GLC200d) and 245hp (GLC300d).
Local media reports that the updated GLC is set to be introduced in Thailand toward the end of this year.
