Some progress looks spectacular on paper but feels eerily misguided in practice. This can look like when raucous thunder is replaced with complex data, theatrics with engineering diagrams, and mechanical excess with cold efficiency. The 2025 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance exists squarely within that description. On paper, it is a marvel. A P3 hybrid system pairs AMG’s handcrafted 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder with a rear-mounted electric motor to produce a staggering 671 horsepower and 752 lb-ft of torque. It will reach 60 mph in under 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 171 mph. Those are numbers that would have embarrassed supercars just a few years ago.
The Canadian-market example I tested, finished in Spectral Blue Metallic over two-tone AMG Nappa leather and carbon fibre trim, carried a base MSRP of $109,500 CAD and an as-tested total of $134,350 CAD before freight and taxes—roughly $80,000 USD to start and just shy of $100,000 USD as equipped. Its predecessor, however, was powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 that felt less like a mere power mill and more like a roaring spectacle. I drove that previous-generation GLC 63 around Island Motorsport Circuit on Vancouver Island, and it left an impression defined by brute force and an almost arrogant character.
This new car promises more power, more technology, and Formula 1–inspired hybrid sophistication. After a week behind the wheel on British Columbia’s Sea-to-Sky Highway and through Vancouver’s dense urban core, I came away with a simple but uneasy question: has AMG improved the formula, or merely complicated it?
Cole Attisha
Powertrain & Driving Dynamics: 7/10
There is no denying that the GLC 63 S E Performance is seriously quick. The electric motor delivers immediate torque, eliminating hesitation off the line, and the AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9-speed transmission responds crisply to paddle inputs. In isolation, the acceleration is formidable. It builds rapidly and forcefully, pinning you back with authority. Yet the sensation never quite matches the magnitude of its numbers.
The hybrid architecture and highly boosted four-cylinder create a power delivery that feels compressed rather than expansive. The peak arrives quickly, almost abruptly, and fades just as fast, leaving the impression of a powerful yet limiting experience rather than the sustained surge one expects from 671 horsepower. The weight, too, is impossible to ignore. Approaching 5,000 pounds, the mass makes itself known during hard acceleration and transitional maneuvers. Braking requires a firm, deliberate foot. The regenerative braking system, which is theoretically adjustable, behaves inconsistently; sometimes the settings are available, and other times they are not. That unpredictability undermines confidence in spirited driving.
Cole Attisha
And then there is the sound. At lower revs, the engine produces a respectable growl, and aggressive upshifts reward you with satisfying pops from the exhaust. As revs climb, however, the augmented audio becomes increasingly artificial. It lacks the mechanical depth and layered fury that defined the outgoing V8. To its credit, the chassis demonstrates impressive composure. AMG Active Ride Control does an admirable job managing body motions, keeping the SUV surprisingly flat through sweeping corners. On faster bends along the Sea-to-Sky Highway, it feels secure and planted. In tighter sections, particularly on winter tires, it can exhibit a slight bounce, but grip remains substantial and predictable.
The F1-inspired rear electric motor and two-speed gearbox represent fascinating engineering. On public roads, however, that complexity does not translate into a meaningfully richer experience. It feels clever, but not transformative. Where the previous GLC 63 felt visceral and unruly in the best way, this one feels meticulously engineered, and perhaps a bit restrained as a result.
Cole Attisha
Technology: 6/10
Mercedes-Benz has spared no expense in layering technology into the GLC 63 S E Performance. This specification includes Digital Light, augmented reality navigation, a head-up display, AMG Track Pace telemetry, and an expansive suite of driver-assistance systems. The problem is not a lack of capability but rather a lack of cohesion.
MBUX offers enormous customization, but navigating its many submenus requires patience and familiarity. The interface often feels like it is trying to impress rather than simplify. When even core performance functions, such as regenerative braking adjustments, behave inconsistently, the system feels more like an obstacle than an asset. There is sophistication here, but it demands attention that could otherwise be directed toward the road.
Cole Attisha
Cole Attisha
Interior Design & Quality: 4/10
At nearly $100,000 USD as tested, expectations for interior quality are understandably high. Unfortunately, this is where the GLC 63 S E Performance struggles most. Piano black trim dominates the cabin and quickly accumulates dust and fingerprints. Certain materials feel lighter and less substantial than their price point implies. The layered screen arrangement appears modern but lacks the cohesive, integrated feel that defines truly premium interiors.
Space efficiency is also questionable. Despite its exterior footprint, ingress and egress proved awkward for multiple passengers, and interior dimensions feel tighter than anticipated. It is difficult not to suspect that battery packaging compromises have influenced the layout. Having recently driven the Genesis GV70, I was struck by how much more convincingly luxurious the Genesis felt, despite its lower price and shorter brand legacy. In comparison, the Mercedes cabin feels less meticulously executed than it should.
Cole Attisha
Exterior Design: 8/10
Visually, the GLC 63 S E Performance strikes an appealing balance between elegance and aggression. In Spectral Blue Metallic with the AMG Night Package and 21-inch forged wheels, it carries itself with purpose. The stance is confident, and the detailing is sharp. I was especially fond of its centre-lock wheel design.
What I feel it lacks, however, is distinctiveness. Park it beside a GLC 43, and the visual separation feels modest at best. Subtle differences exist, but they do not immediately communicate the magnitude of the mechanical leap beneath the surface. Historically, a “63 S” badge signalled something overtly muscular. Here, the aesthetics feel comparatively restrained. It is handsome and properly performance-oriented, yet it stops short of looking like the flagship variant its badge suggests.
Cole Attisha
Pricing & Value: 4/10
The numbers tell a confusing story, especially when it comes down to price. A $109,500 CAD base price rising to $134,350 CAD as tested places this SUV firmly in six-figure territory once taxes and fees are applied in Canada. Converted for American readers, that equates to roughly $80,000 USD to start and nearly $100,000 USD as equipped. For that sum, buyers expect a holistic experience—one that blends speed, luxury, and emotional resonance.
The GLC 63 S E Performance delivers extraordinary acceleration and advanced engineering. What it does not consistently deliver is the sense of occasion that once defined AMG’s “63” models. Ironically, it now stands as one of the few combustion-powered entries left in its segment. The BMW X3 M has exited the stage, the Porsche Macan has transitioned to full-electric, Audi offers no RS Q5, and, as far as we know, there’s no Genesis GV70 Magma in the pipeline. In that context, the Mercedes is both rare and symbolic. Yet rarity alone without substance does not equate to value. Without the charismatic V8 that once overshadowed material quality compromises, the price becomes harder to rationalize.
Cole Attisha
Final Verdict: 6/10
The 2025 Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E Performance is a demonstration of wild engineering ambition. It is exceptionally quick, technologically sophisticated, and dynamically capable in ways that defy its weight. What it is not, at least in my experience, is emotionally equivalent to its predecessor.
That’s not to say it’s an inferior vehicle. Rather, it’s fundamentally different. It reflects AMG’s forward-looking priorities: electrification, efficiency, and technological prowess. For buyers who prioritize cutting-edge hybrid performance within a luxury SUV package, it may represent the future they have been waiting for. However, for those who associate AMG with unfiltered, unapologetic combustion theatrics and old-school mechanical drama, it may feel like the unfortunate end of a beloved era.
Ultimately, the GLC 63 S E Performance is not a brute. It is a calculated expression of modern performance. Whether that evolution feels like progress or departure depends on what you believe AMG was meant to be, and whether you are ready to let the V8 define the past rather than the present.
About the author
Cole Attisha
Staff Writer, Autoblog