Together, the electric and gasoline motors make 315 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque, letting you launch it from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.6 seconds if speed, rather than economy is more your thing. Maximum charge capacity is now 7.4 kW, up from 3.8kW, which should take you from 10 to an 80 percent charge in about an hour and a half.

The GLC 350e 4MATIC EQ packs the new Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 10.25-inch touchscreen display, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. It also features Mercedes' next-generation touchpad and multifunction steering wheel.

Plug-in hybrid 4x4s are few and far between, and 26 miles should be enough range to do short trips around the city or suburbs. That will make it a decently economical and green vehicle for its size. By contrast, Mitsubishi's Outlander PHEV can go 28 miles (WLPT) with a smaller battery. Mercedes said the GLC 350e 4MATIC EQ will arrive to dealers in mid-2020, and pricing-wise, it'll slot between the $45,495 GLC 300 4MATIC and the $60,495 AMG GLC 43.