Interior, Comfort, and Cargo: The GLC-class's cabin wears nicely chosen upscale materials and a modernized design with more interestingly-shaped air vents on the dashboard and heavily digitized control of the infotainment and HVAC systems.

A new steering wheel features touch-sensitive control buttons, which didn't work particularly well in the C300 sedan, and all models come standard with heated front seats with memory settings and adjustable lumbar support.

Ambient lighting, a power-operated sunroof, and a power rear liftgate are also standard.

Like other Mercedes models, the GLC-class can be heavily optioned with a host of luxurious features, including a panoramic sunroof, illuminated door sill plates, ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and leather upholstery.

Infotainment and Connectivity: Mirroring the offerings in the new C-class sedan, the GLC comes standard with Mercedes-Benz's latest MBUX infotainment setup.

A 12.3-inch digital gauge display is relays the important mechanical and speed information. An 11.9-inch infotainment touchscreen swoops up from the center console and is canted ever so slightly toward the driver.

The system can recognize voice commands and features standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In-dash navigation is optional and it comes with an augmented reality feature that overlays directions via an image of the road ahead on the display. Other notable optional features include a head-up display and a Burmester premium stereo system.

There are no physical buttons for the HVAC system nor a knob for the audio volume, the systems are controlled though the touch screen, which in our view is a step backwards in user-friendliness.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features: The GLC-class will offer a host of optional driver-assistance features, but only basics such as automated emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring are standard. Going for the optional Driver Assistance package adds more advanced tech.

For more information about the GLC-class's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

Key safety features include: Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Standard blind-spot monitoring. Available adaptive cruise control with a lane-centering feature.

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage: Mercedes-Benz provides competitive warranty coverage compared with premium rivals. (However, the German) automaker doesn't offer the complimentary maintenance that BMW and Jaguar do.

Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles. Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles. No complimentary scheduled maintenance.