Nowthingslike speedlimitsignrecognitionandlaneassist
are hardlynovel, butwitheachnewgenerationofcarcomes
improvements, addedfunctionalityandgreateraccuracy, andinthe
GLC, switchingonDrivingAssistancemakesfora veryimpressive
experience. Inheavytrafficinthepouringrain,there was noneed
totouchthebrakesorthrottlefora distanceofover 30 kilometres
alonganautobahn,thecarsimplytookover. Stop/ starttrafficwas
noproblem,theGLCwaitingpatientlyforthecaraheadtomoveoff,
allowingfora safegapandthenslowlypullingaway. Regardlessof
howleisurelyorsuddenlythetrafficstoppedagain,theGLCalways
hadthebrakescovered,andwhilst nodrivershouldeveractually
take theirhandsoffthewheelwhendriving, thecamerasandlane
assist combinedtoaccuratelyfollowthecars/ lanesinfrontwithout
any driverinput.
AsI passed100kphspeedlimitsigns, upfromthe80kphzonein
whichI’d beentraveling, offwenttheGLC, acceleratingsmoothly
thoughI hadnottouchedthethrottle. GraduallyI learnedtotrust the
systemandthereafter, enjoyed autobahn,AandB roaddrivingwith
thecarensuringnospeedingticketswereissued.But it was when
thesystemtooktocontrollingmyspeedsalonga flowing, twisting
mountainroad,thatI was leftwonderingjust howsoonwewillenjoy
autonomousdriving– if enjoy isreallytherightword.
specs
ModeL
GLC 300
enGine
2.0-litre four-cylturbo
trAnsMission
Nine-speedauto, 4WD
MAXPower
255bhp@ NA
MAXtorQue
370Nm@ NA
toP sPeed
210kph
0-100KPH
NA
onsALe
TBC
PriCe
TBC“in the glc,
switching on driving
assistance makes
for a very impressive
experience.”
Thefirst timethecarsubtlyslowed fora
bendthenacceleratedoutagain,I thought
I’d imaginedit,thatsomehowtheslope
oftheroadhadcausedit toslow.But as
it begantohappenforeverycorner, with
thecarnever misjudginganentryspeed,I
was enormouslyimpressed.Theproblem
is, whenyou introducesomany controls
betweenthedriverandthemachine, it can
alsomake foranartificialdrivingexperience
andawayfromtheautobahn,thecar’s lane
assist functionwas fartoointrusive,regularly
nudgingthecarleftorright,withthe
steeringwheelseeminglyfollowinga fraction
ofa secondlater. PersonallyI’d betemptedto
disengageDriverAssist onbyways, butmake
fulluseofit onhighways.
Talkingofmanandmachineinterfaces, the
MBUXorMercedesBenzUsereXperience
describestheexceptionallypowerful
infotainment/ navigation/ communication
managementsystemcentredaroundan
18cmoroptional26cmcentre screenand
optional31cmdigitalinstrumentpanel.The
qualityoftheGPSisquiteoutstanding, using
imagesfromtheonboard camerastoshow
live ‘augmentedguidance’whichhighlights
housenumbersordifficulttospotturns.
TheHeadUpDisplay speedwarningsand
navigationwereclearandaccuratetoo, and
genuinelyusefulwhenexploringanareafor
thefirst time. There’s voicecontrol,touch
screencontrol,centre consoletouchpadand