To say Mercedes-Benz hit a nerve when they began replacing their V6 and V8 AMG powertrains with four-cylinder hybrids is an understatement and a half. Now, the automaker officially began righting those wrongs, starting with the 2027 Mercedes-AMG GLC 53.
The updated-for-2027 model replaces the outgoing GLC 43 and its 416-horsepower, mild hybrid turbo-four powertrain setup. In its place is a variant of the 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline-six from the CLE 53, putting out 443 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, but the latter rises to 472 lb-ft in Overboost mode.
Revisions to the GLC 53’s sixer include new cylinder heads and camshafts, a new intercooler and intake design, the electric supercharger now runs more often for that sweet, sweet torque fill down low, and the exhaust now uses resonators for a better soundtrack.
The new inline-six is still paired to a nine-speed automatic, but Mercedes now offers an electronically controlled limited-slip diff and a Drift mode as part of the AMG Dynamics Plus package. It’s also good enough to cut the GLC 53’s zero-to-100 km/h run down to 4.1 seconds, and gives it a slight bump in top speed.
Visually, the GLC 53 looks identical to its also-recently-updated siblings. Mercedes is marking its first model year with a Golden Accents package, which adds pops of matte gold on the wheels and body-side graphics, along with contrast gold stitching and a subtle gold weave in the carbon fibre trim to match. Spec the Golden Accents package and your exterior colour options are locked to metallic black or satin grey paint.
Pricing for the 2027 Mercedes-AMG GLC 53 will follow when it goes on sale in the second half of this year. And no, Mercedes-AMG hasn’t said anything else about the V8. Yet.
