Mercedes' 2027 GLC 400 L EV: A Six-Seat Makeover Unveiled

Picture a familiar silhouette stretching out, the usual two rows of seats becoming three, and a luxury badge that suddenly feels more practical than prestige. That’s the scene Beijing Benz is preparing: a long-wheelbase Mercedes GLC EV reworked to seat six, aimed squarely at families who want electric range and genuine versatility.

An extra row, not an afterthought

The China-built GLC L 4MATIC All-Electric is already on sale from about €45,400, where it sits as a conventional five-seater in a 2+3 layout. But a fresh filing with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reveals a near-term pivot: a 2+2+2 seating arrangement that adds two third-row seats without turning the SUV into an awkward people-mover. Expect the 2027 GLC 400 L 4MATIC badge on the tailgate and production to remain in Beijing.

How do you make a luxury compact SUV carry six without feeling cramped? Engineers leaned on the MB.EA dedicated EV platform, stretching the wheelbase while keeping overall proportions close to the standard model. The result is recognizable from across the street, but more useful up close.

Powertrain numbers read like a performance brief. A front motor rated at 163 kW teams with a rear unit rated at 300 kW, producing roughly 463 kW combined — about 621 horsepower in conventional terms — and delivering peak torque of 800 Nm (around 590 lb-ft). That heft explains the GLC L’s brisk personality despite a curb weight of 2,565 kg (5,655 lb).

Battery tech matches the ambition: an 85.5 kWh ternary lithium-ion pack and an 800-volt electrical architecture. On the five-seat variant that translates to a CLTC range of up to 703 km (about 437 miles) and fast charging that can take the battery from 10 to 80 percent in roughly 22 minutes. The six-seat layout will likely track close to those figures, thanks to shared dimensions and the same thermal and electrical underpinnings.

Tires and geometry get their share of attention: wheel choices span 20- to 21-inch options, with tires ranging from 235/50 to 265/40 sizes. The MIIT paperwork lists approach and departure angles meant to maintain a composed stance, and the car even offers a handy 128-liter front trunk — about 4.5 cubic feet — big enough for a couple of grocery bags plus the charging cable.

Suspension is not an afterthought. The GLC L uses ADS+ adaptive damping borrowed from Mercedes’ S-Class, smoothing the ride for a vehicle that must balance cargo, passengers, and composure.

Driving assistance that thinks ahead

One of the more interesting elements is software: Beijing Benz ships the model with Momenta intelligent driving assistance integrated into Mercedes’ MB.OS architecture. Momenta handles automatic lane changes and trace-back reversing, and it promises competent performance on both high-speed highways and complex city streets without relying on high-definition maps. By the end of 2026, the suite is slated to gain a space-to-space parking capability that expands automated parking skills even further.

In short, this is not a simple stretched version of an existing car. It’s a tailored package: long-wheelbase comfort, serious electric range, and a driving-assist stack designed to handle everyday complexity. For buyers in China seeking an EV that blends Mercedes refinement with family-minded practicality, the six-seat GLC 400 L could be the quiet solution they didn’t know they needed.