Review: 2025 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4Matic Coupe - The everyday fast-SUV that's not for everyone, in a great way


Owning a car that’s both practical for family life and thrilling for spirited Sunday drives feels like chasing an oxymoron.
Cars, much like life, often demand compromises. Your once sleek two-door coupé might have been already traded for an SUV, just as your Puma racing shoes have likely been replaced with cushy New Balance trainers for weekend grocery runs.
But every now and then, a car comes along that almost convinces you it can truly be the best of all worlds. Surprisingly, it’s not some fire-spitting sedan. It’s an SUV—with a big boot, a sensible 2.0-litre four-cylinder up front, spacious cabin, and AWD—meet the 2025 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4Matic Coupe.
Overview
Launched in November 2024, the Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4Matic Coupé starts at RM 498,888 and is locally assembled in Pekan, Pahang. This marks the second locally-assembled AMG model to feature the hand-built AMG ‘M139I’ engine, following the C43 4Matic.
Overview: 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 4Matic Coupr | |
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Price | RM 498,888 |
Segment | Compact Performance SUV |
Engine | 2.0L turbo in-line four (MHEV) |
Transmission | 9-speed automatic |
Power | 421 PS @ 6,725 rpm |
Torque | 500 Nm @ 5,000 rpm |
ISG | 14 PS/150 Nm |
Origin | CKD, Pekan, Pahang |
At its heart is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that benefits from Formula 1-inspired technology, including an electric exhaust-gas turbocharger, dual-stage direct injection, and mild hybrid assist. It produces an impressive 421 PS and 500 Nm of torque, with an extra 14 PS and 150 Nm available via its belt-driven starter generator (BSG).
The GLC 43 Coupe also features brilliant rear-axle steering for added manoeuvrability in tight spaces and AMG Ride Control adaptive damping, balancing dynamic handling and comfort.
On the safety front, it’s equipped with the Driving Assistance Package Plus, offering SAE Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capabilities. This includes AEB, Distronic adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-centering assist, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert with braking.
Exterior
From the moment you lay eyes on the GLC 43 Coupe, it’s clear this SUV means business. Its swoopy proportions are accentuated by an AMG Panamericana grille and a unique front bumper with widened arches that seem to shout, “Get out of my way.”
The 21-inch AMG Y-spoke alloy wheels lend a bold stance, while the rear features sporty touches like air vent shrouds and a ‘ducktail’ spoiler on the tailgate.
When compared to its direct rival, the BMW X4, the GLC 43 Coupe stands out with its cohesive design and undeniable road presence. At its price point, it’s arguably one of the most stylish SUVs in its class.
Interior
Step inside, and you’re greeted by a cabin that blends Mercedes’ signature style with sporty highlights. Red Manufaktur seatbelts, AMG bucket seats, carbon fibre trim on the dashboard, and a Nappa leather AMG Performance steering wheel set the tone.
Exclusive to the GLC 43 Coupe are AMG-specific displays, a 3-zone climate control system, and the AMG Track Pace lap timer, complete with an IWC Schaffhausen timepiece display—a nod to the longstanding affiliation between both companies.
For family duties, the GLC 43 Coupe proves surprisingly practical. The cabin accommodates four passengers comfortably over shorter journeys, while the 545-litre boot easily swallows a pram, two large suitcases, and then some.
However, there are two drawbacks. The rear bench needs more cushioning (even the AMG seats upfront are more supple), which might be a bugbear given the price. Rear-seat access is also slightly compromised by the sloping roofline and high ride height, especially for older passengers.
Additionally, cubby storage is limited in the centre console, the same as in the ‘regular’ GLC SUV.
That said, the driving position is spot on, and the MBUX system is intuitive to use. Plus, the MBUX augmented reality navigation system ensures crystal-clear directions.
Driving Experience
This is where the GLC 43 Coupe truly shines—and not in the way you’d expect. Yes, with 421 PS and 500 Nm, it’s undeniably quick.
Anything that rockets from 0-100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds and effortlessly surges to 200 km/h is quick enough for nearly any scenario. Add the lightning-fast transmission and immense 4Matic traction, and it’s everything you’d expect from a performance SUV.
But what truly sets the GLC 43 Coupe apart isn’t just its raw speed. It’s the level of engagement you feel behind the wheel, a quality that distinguishes it from most performance SUVs—and even some other AMG models.
Within moments behind the wheel, you instantly feel subtle jolts that accompany each upshift coupled with a boost of acceleration—even during relaxed cruising. At the same time, you notice small blips line display on the instrument cluster, indicating when the BSG is injecting a bit of power into the mix.
Downshifts before a corner release a muted but deeply satisfying rasp, while the steering is impressively smooth and precise, providing a clear sense of road conditions and available grip.
Combine this with superbly modulated pedals and adaptive suspension that effortlessly adapts to most road surfaces, and the GLC 43 Coupe always feels like it wants to be driven just that little bit faster.
Beyond its sublime power, The GLC 43 Coupe delivers this ‘ol school tension reminiscent of older performance cars.
Of course, it doesn’t bristle with sensations like a Toyota GR86—but there is a clear connection between driver and machine that’s nearly extinct in modern cars, let alone SUVs. And this is all amplified when start to hustle the GLC 43 Coupe on a proper road.
With that said, you might surmise that this level of ‘engagement’ might not appeal to everyone. Many people may just want a fast, stylish SUV that just digs in and goes without unnecessary drama.
To you I say, fair deal, go for the (RM 426k) GLC 350e instead, and enjoy 75 percent of the GLC 43 Coupe’s performance without the so-called ‘drawbacks’. As such, the GLC 43 Coupe is one of those “if you know, you know” cars, which are a dime a dozen in this day and age.
Refinement and fuel economy
Insulation could be a bit better though; with quite a bit of road noise creeping from the sticky Continental tyres once at highway speeds, which I would rather do without. Noise test results are as follows:
2025 Mercedes-AMG GLC 43 Coupe- Cabin noise level | ||
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60 km/h | 57 dB | |
90 km/h | 62 dB | |
110 km/h | 67 dB |
Due to the tight testing schedule, we couldn’t perform our usual fuel consumption test on the GLC 43 Coupe. However, after covering exactly 350 km, the fuel gauge still showed a remaining range of 135 km.
This suggests an estimated range of around 480 km from its 62-litre fuel tank—pretty impressive for a 1.8-tonne SUV with 421 PS under your right foot.
Conclusion
It’s stylish, incredibly fast, and surprisingly versatile—but at RM 499k, you wouldn’t expect anything less. Though it isn’t without its quirks, the real reason to want a GLC 43 Coupe is simple: there’s no other SUV quite like it, at least currently on sale.
At RM 418k, the BMW X4 xDrive30i M Sport is down on power and features compared to the GLC 43 Coupe. The base Porsche Macan, priced at RM 433k, is also less powerful and starting to show its age—unless, of course, you’re prepared to buy the second-generation BEV-only model.
Ultimately, while competitors may deliver style and prestige, none strike the balance of power and driving excitement quite like the GLC 43 Coupe. Think of it as your grippy Puma racing shoes—with the added comfort of cushy insoles.


arvind Senior Writer
Arvind can't remember a time when he didn't wheel around a HotWheels car. This love evolved into an interest in Tamiya and RC cars and finally the real deal 1:1 scale stuff. Passion finally lead to formal training in Mechanical Engineering. Instead of the bigger picture, he obsesses with the final drive ratio and spring rates of cars and spends the weekends wondering why a Perodua Myvi is so fast.