Driven: 2027 Mercedes-AMG GLC53 Moves Like the Good Old Days
Key takeaways
- This straight-six SUV goes like it has one of AMG's wonderful old 6.3-liter V-8s under the hood.
- View exterior photos Mercedes-AMGWe love great four-cylinder engines as much as anybody—especially in small, light cars.
- Mercedes seems to have gotten this message and is replacing the four-cylinder AMG GLC43 and GLC63 hybrids with the new GLC53.
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
This straight-six SUV goes like it has one of AMG's wonderful old 6.3-liter V-8s under the hood.
View exterior photos Mercedes-AMGWe love great four-cylinder engines as much as anybody—especially in small, light cars. And we understand the fuel efficiency benefits you can get from high-output, downsized engines. But when you're talking high-performance models, weighing well over two tons and costing 70 large, we'd rather have a few more of the big holes in our cylinder blocks.
Mercedes seems to have gotten this message and is replacing the four-cylinder AMG GLC43 and GLC63 hybrids with the new GLC53. As the numerical designation in other models suggests, this means a supercharged and turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six under the hood. The latest version of the company's M256 engine is also going into the S500 version of the heavily revised 2027 S-class.