Photo: Sam CarLegion on YouTube / modified
Which of the GLC 43 SUV and the GV70 3.5T is quicker in a quarter-mile drag race? Sam CarLegion is more than obligated to answer this question from behind the wheel of the seemingly disappointing Mercedes.
The disappointing part is the turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which is an entirely different animal to the 2.0-liter engine in the GLC 300 mild hybrid and 350e plug-in hybrid. How different? In addition to being largely hand-assembled by the folks in Affalterbach, the AMG-the specific engine of the 43 series is also significantly more powerful.
Manufactured by Garrett Motion, the electric exhaust turbocharger uses exhaust gases to provide boost. Electricity, meanwhile, powers the electric motor that spins the compressor to improve response and minimize turbo lag. It’s certainly not your average four-cylinder turbo, and we should also mention that the belt-driven starter generator provides extra boost in certain scenarios.
Alone, the M139 of the GLC 43 Off-road It’s good for 469 horsepower at 6,750 rpm and 369 foot-pounds (or 500 newton meters) of torque at 5,000 rpm. As controversial as it may be, this is a true AMG, which means it also sports a true AMG transmission in the form of the SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9G. In layman’s terms, a wet starter clutch replaces the 9G-TRONIC’s torque converter for less weight and better response.
Hyundai’s luxury division doesn’t go beyond a twin-turbo V6 in the GV70. Said engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission developed by Hyundai rather than ZF. Also shared with the GV80, said gearbox is tuned for smoothness rather than quick shifts, thus giving the AMG the edge.
Photo: Sam CarLegion on YouTube
Speaking of benefits, the GLC 43 SUV also boasts nicer tires and a lighter weight. Shod with Continental and Michelin tires, respectively, the GLC and GV70 post best times of 13.0 and 13.4 seconds in the quarter mile. Mind the gap, eh? Sam CarLegion also reports 4.7 and 4.9 seconds to get to 60 mph (97 kilometers per hour), which is plenty quick for such vehicles.
As a daily driver with a luxurious interior and a beautiful design, it's hard to put the Merc ahead of the Genesis. But if you're looking for something a little spicier, the GLC 43 SUV is a seemingly good choice in this particular segment. On the other hand, paying big bucks for a four-cylinder luxury crossover from a high-performance brand is pretty silly.
The same can be said of the GLC 63 SUV, because it is a turbocharged four-cylinder plug-in hybrid in a segment where BMW offers a much more pleasant and sonorous inline six-cylinder engine in the X3 M. Also remember the soon-to-be discontinued Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio, whose twin-turbo V6 has a Ferrari touch.
Genesis is currently developing a series of its own hi-po vehicles, a series that will carry the Magma nameplate. So far, carparazzi have spied prototypes of the Electrified G80 Magma and GV60 Magma, with the latter believed to have the same dual-motor setup as the 641-horsepower Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
