And it’s a hat-trick! Mercedes-Benz India has now given us three new offerings in as many months. Let’s round them up. We received the G 350 d in October (the allotted units have already been sold out), the V-Class Elite in November and, now the refreshed GLC in December. The SUV, which made its global premiere earlier this year, arrives in India in two guises – 200 and 220 d 4MATIC. While the former wears a price tag of Rs 52.75 lakh, the latter, at Rs 57.75 lakh, costs Rs 5 lakh more. (Both prices are ex-showroom India)

No matter which out of the two you opt for, the powertrain will comply with the stricter BS6 (Bharat Stage 6) emission norms. The petrol-powered 200 gets its firepower from a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that produces 194bhp/280Nm. The diesel-fed 220 d also gets a 2.0-litre turbocharged heart which pumps out 192bhp/400Nm. Although a 9-speed automatic handles transmission duties for both the engines, only the diesel motor comes with an all-wheel-drive. Amongst the two powertrains, it is the diesel that gets to 100kmph from a standstill quicker and has a higher top speed as well.

It seems Mercedes-Benz India wanted to strike a balance amongst three pillars – pricing, equipment and the mechanical stuff – for the GLC facelift. With engines now conforming to the newer emission standards, the company had to ensure that the price list doesn’t put prospective customers off. For that, the smallest engines have been chosen, backed by a pretty impressive list of standard features. That includes the MBUX system, LED performance headlamps, off-road suspension, panoramic sunroof, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system and 19-inch alloy wheels. If all that isn’t enough, gizmos like 64-colour ambient lighting, seven airbags, PreSafe, Active Braking Assist and ParkTronic are in the same list.

Like with other models, Mercedes-Benz India has lined-up Star Ease packages for the GLC facelift too. For a period of 2 years/unlimited kilometres, they start at Rs 66,100 for the GLC 200 and at Rs 75,900 for the GLC 220d. In essence, these packages ensure a worry-free aftersales service experience for customers.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC does not have the market to itself. In the same price bracket, other SUVs such as the Land Rover Discovery Sport, BMW X3, Audi Q5 and the Volvo XC60 are also available. If you had to choose one out of those, which would it be?