Is a used Mercedes GLC a good buy?

The Mercedes GLC is a premium and upmarket rival to family SUVs like the Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60. It proved a very popular seller which means there are plenty of used models on the secondhand market.

There’s also the sleeker Mercedes GLC Coupe if you’re prepared to sacrifice some practicality but we’ll be concentrating on the standard Mercedes GLC here.

Launched in 2016 and updated in 2019, the Mercedes GLC is an ideal SUV for a family of four or five, with ample room in the back seats, plus a usefully large 500-litre boot. All versions get a handy electric tailgate for easy opening and closing, which is ideal if your hands are full with heavy shopping bags.

Because it’s based on the Mercedes C-Class Saloon, the Mercedes GLC feels nice and compact on a country lane or a congested street, while the raised driving position provides a commanding view of the road ahead. There’s a limited range of engines, all of which provide a terrific blend of performance and economy.

If this sounds like the family SUV for you, read on to discover more about the current Mercedes GLC AMG Line, AMG Line Premium and AMG Line Premium Plus models, plus a look at some of the older versions available on BuyaCar, to see which suits you best.

Read our full Mercedes GLC review

Which used Mercedes GLC should you buy?

Petrol and diesel versions are available, plus an excellent plug-in hybrid for those who do lots of short journeys and can charge at home. If you want performance versions those come in the form of the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 and 63S.

What used Mercedes GLC trim levels are available?

All Mercedes GLC models come with a substantial level of standard equipment, which means you might not need to upgrade from an entry-level Mercedes GLC. Some of the options are quite expensive when new, but you won’t have to worry about this when buying a used example via BuyaCar. Few of the options and accessories add value to a used Mercedes GLC, so you might bag a bargain with lots of extras included for little extra cost.

Mercedes GLC Sport

Anyone after a great deal on a Mercedes GLC should look no further than the old Sport model. Improved ride comfort comes courtesy of the smaller 18-inch alloy wheels - meaning less metal and more rubber between you and the road - which is something you might appreciate on Britain’s notoriously poor roads.

You can also expect electrically-folding door mirrors, parking assist with reversing camera, a choice of driving modes, LED headlights, Garmin sat-nav, heated front seats and black ash wood interior trim. A number of optional extras were available when the car was new, so look out for these when searching for a used GLC.

Mercedes GLC Urban Edition

The Urban Edition was available for a short period, but there are always plenty available on BuyaCar. This pre-update trim level came with a long list of desirable features, so there was no need to raid the options catalogue.

Highlights include 20-inch two-colour alloy wheels, high-gloss black exterior detailing, LED headlights, an electric tailgate, rain-sensing wipers, heated leather seats, Garmin sat-nav, keyless start, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, automatic climate control and cruise control.

Mercedes GLC Night Edition

The Mercedes GLC Night Edition arrived at the end of 2018 as a temporary replacement for the AMG Line model. Highlights include 19-inch alloy wheels, revised front and rear bumper designs, new side skirts and new roof rails.

Other features included LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, active park assist with reversing camera, black leather seats, automatic climate control and ambient lighting.

Look out for Night Edition models with the optional Premium Plus package. For an extra £2,450 when new, customers got keyless entry and start, chrome door handles, a fabulous Burmester premium audio system and an upgraded media display.

Mercedes GLC AMG Line

The AMG Line specification gets 19-inch alloy wheels, AMG body styling, a diamond-shaped radiator grille, LED headlights, rear privacy glass and electrically-folding door mirrors.

On the inside, the AMG theme continues with brushed stainless steel pedals, floor mats with ‘AMG’ lettering and leather AMG sports seats. You also get three-zone climate control, a multifunction steering wheel finished in Nappa leather, an impressive 10.3-inch touchscreen media system, 5.5-inch multifunction display in the instrument cluster, sat-nav and voice control activated by plain English commands.

Mercedes GLC AMG Line Premium

Upgrading to AMG Line Premium added around £3000 to the price of a new GLC in exchange for an upshift in technology. This is the most popular trim level on BuyaCar, so you won’t be short of choice when searching for a used Mercedes GLC.

In addition to everything that’s standard on the AMG Line model, you also get ambient lighting, which can be set to 64 different colours, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, smartphone integration comprising of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and traffic light assist.

Mercedes GLC AMG Line Premium Plus

Short of buying the high-performance Mercedes-AMG version, the AMG Line Premium Plus is the plushest GLC you can get. It costs from around £51,000 to buy a new one, which represents a £3750 uplift from the AMG Line Premium model.

For that, you get 20-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, keyless entry and start, a memory function for the electric driver’s seat, a parking package with a 360-degree camera and a panoramic glass sunroof (the GLC Coupe gets a sliding sunroof).

Mercedes-AMG GLC 

The Mercedes-AMG GLC is the performance version of the range. In the case of the GLC 43, power is sourced from a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, while the GLC 63 S gets a 4.0-litre eight-cylinder unit. Prices range from around £51,000 to £90,500 when new, with similarly high running costs to match.

That said, there are some deals to be found on BuyaCar, especially if you opt for the GLC 43. All Mercedes-AMG versions get the pick of the options catalogue, including 20-inch or 21-inch alloy wheels, a performance exhaust system, air suspension for a more controlled ride, even at high speeds, a 12.3-inch touchscreen media system and full smartphone integration.