First Drive: Drifting in the electric 2027 Mercedes GLC 400

Surfing sand in an electric Mercedes SUV

December 1, 2025

The surprising capabilities of the electric GLC. (Mercedes-Benz)

The Mercedes-Benz electric 2027 GLC received a standard unveiling at IAA in Munich, Germany for a new vehicle built on a new platform with a new operating system. Its technological features were highlighted while the luxury brand made sure the world was aware that the EV’s 800-volt architecture could charge its 94 kWh battery at up to 330kW.

The GLC is part of the evolution of the German automaker's EV strategy. More efficient vehicles, an SDV architecture, the new MB.OSportions of the EQ design language. Naturally, the best way to show off all these updates was to let me drive the AWD, electric version of the GLC 400 4Matic in the Dumont Dunes two hours outside Las Vegas along the California/Nevada border with weirdly impressive results.

Don't slow down

The advice given to me by the Mercedes driving coach seems to be the same advice the automaker has thrust upon itself. The MB.OS while evolving an electric vehicle lineup. Mercedes is doing this while EVs face hurdles in the United States. The U.S. is not the world, but it's a large and important market for the company and the automaker still sees a place for EVs in its lineup. That means the engineers will keep doing what they're doing – including building a luxury mid-sized SUV that impresses the people driving off-road recreation vehicles out in the dunes.

Terrain mode option gives the GLC a surprising off-road prowess. (Mercedes-Benz)

"You see a lot of people come here with SUVs, but they never do anything like that," a side-by-side driver exclaimed as a GLC climbed a large dune and proceeded to "surf" along the face a few hundred feet above where we were standing.

The 4Matic-equipped GLC achieves this feat thanks to its Terrain mode. While in normal driving modes, the vehicle switches between all-wheel and rear-wheel drive based on the situation. The front motor disengages when cruising along the freeway at consistent speeds, but springs into action by joining the rear motor when the driver requests quick acceleration.

Terrain mode, on the other hand, keeps the vehicle in AWD with power split between the front and rear motors as needed based on data collected by the traction control. That control includes the ability to lock the torque sent to the axles. It's not quite the locking differential you get from, say, the G Wagon, but it does give you the appropriate amount of traction needed to get out of a giant sand dune. Something I experienced firsthand.

"Don't slow down," I was told as I climbed up a small (20 ft/6 m) dune, so of course, I slowed down and the vehicle sank. In many off-road situations, momentum is the name of the game. Like a shark, you need to keep moving to stay alive. That saying isn’t true for all sharks, but it is very much true for off-roading, and two minutes into the drive, I've gotten stuck. Fortunately, years of off-roading while growing up in a mountain town remind me that slow and steady and going downhill will get you free. I reverse, find a more solid bit of earth, and press forward.

Terrain mode's torque vectoring is helped by the GLC's increased ride height supplied by the optional Airmatic air suspension. The SUV can be raised a total of 2.8 in (7 cm) at speeds up to 12 mph (19 km/h). But for this endeavor, the ride height got a boost of 1.8 in (5 cm) due to the speed at which I was driving through the dunes. That 1.8 inches is sustainable at speeds up to 75 mph (121 km/h). Anything above that, and the ride height increase is limited to 0.8 in (2 cm).

Gliding with technology

All that tech results in a vehicle doing something it shouldn't: gliding over sand. The vehicle never felt like it was about to sink into the dunes, gracefully drifting without issue. The electronic steering was light but responsive. It was the same feeling those in the side-by-sides might be experiencing, but I had air conditioning and a more comfortable seat.

This experience was incredible and not likely to ever happen again once this vehicle hits the market. Mercedes GLC buyers are not the type to go search for enormous sand dunes for fun. What this really demonstrates is the capabilities of the vehicle for those moments when a driver finds themselves in a situation outside of the ordinary: a snowstorm, icy roads, maybe even stuck on a beach or a road overrun with sand. It's an extra level of safety and peace of mind.

Plus, the GLC's traction control can save drivers from themselves. In terrain mode, for example, the SUV will not give 100% of the vehicle's power while cornering. If the steering wheel is turned, expect less power. Most people won't notice that, but it might keep them from spinning out. Experienced drivers will feel a noticeable difference.

What I didn't have time to test was the "see-through" hood. Using the front camera, the vehicle can give drivers a view of what's underneath the vehicle. It's essentially a delayed vision of what the front camera sees while driving forward, but in situations where rocks and other elements are along a vehicle's path, it's a great way to slowly navigate out of a situation.

Real world

The electric GLC 400 4Matic won't be available until late 2026. The automaker hasn't announced a price or EPA range numbers yet. It ships with a two-speed transmission, something we first saw from an EV on the Porsche Taycan. Mercedes says it will deliver 483 hp (360 kW) and 596 lb-ft (80 Nm). Inside sits a 39.1-in (99 cm) A-pillar to A-pillar Hyperscreen that houses the company's updated infotainment system. None of this really got the proper attention during my 30 minutes driving through the dunes.

We should expect a more traditional first drive of the electric GLC sometime in 2026. For now, we know it's a weirdly capable SUV that's just as comfortable in Beverly Hills as it is on Arrakis.