How many times have we justified overtime, thinking and believing that these additional hours will keep us ahead in the corporate rat race? I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s pretty much the norm. Then an epiphany moment took place. No matter how hard one tries, ‘me time’ is crucial at the end of the day; even if you inch a bit closer to the summit of the rat race, you still continue to be a … well, you get what I mean. I decided to check the calendar before logging off, and as luck would have it, there’s a long weekend coming up, and I had no clue about it. A close friend would have stated, ‘sad juice’.
Being based out of Delhi, the mountains were the most enticing getaway, and after a lack of any solid planning, I decided to revisit the cantonment town of Landour near Mussoorie in Uttarakhand. As it’s supposed to be more of a therapeutic getaway from the concrete jungle that we call home, I decided to pamper myself further by calling the folks at Mercedes-Benz India and checking if I could get my hands on a comfortable set of wheels. They said the media stable has a range of electric vehicles that I could choose from.
I politely declined and asked if there was an internal combustion engine vehicle available, and after some checking and phone calls, they said the GLC 300 4Matic is available. Without thinking twice, I requested them to deliver it to my residence. Later, it struck me that it’s the petrol version, and the SUV could end up having a serious drinking problem. I was again weaving reasons not to go, which I quickly tied up; all these thoughts threw them out of my mind.Â
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Road Trip: Turbo Lag? Never heard of her
The GLC is Mercedes-Benz’s best-selling SUV globally, and I could clearly see the reasons why. Step inside the cabin, and it’s like the driver and the passengers are nestled in the lap of luxury. With a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster providing you a clear view of all the required driving information at a glance, and a portrait-sized 11.9-inch infotainment system that offers a crisp display and intuitive touch response. Like it or not, Mercedes has kept the centre console’s physical buttons down to a minimum. Maybe it’s my old-school thinking, but having actual control buttons for the dual-zone air conditioner would have been far more convenient.
The best time to kickstart a road trip is early in the morning, preferably before sunrise, to avoid any traffic, and in just under an hour and a half, I was out of the National Capital Region, leaving Noida in my rearview as we cruised on the NH 3. Being a toll road, we stepped on the pedal to cover some serious distance in quick time, and the 2-litre turbo petrol powertrain obliged in a jiffy. As it comes standard with a mild hybrid system, the motor injects an additional 23 bhp and 200 Nm during acceleration into the already total output of 254 bhp and 400 Nm of torque.
The motor’s power boost negates any turbo lag, and from the word go, the SUV sprints without any lethargy. I must sneak in this nugget of information. If you need to take a quick caffeine time out after being behind the wheel for two and a half hours, then the McDonald’s outlet at the Namaste Midway, Saroorpur, is the place to stop and refresh. It has several food kiosks if fast food is not your thing early in the morning.Â
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Road Trip: Turn my drive into a spa day
On the highway, the SUV remained poised and planted, but I had one eye on the digital gauge, which also reads out a real-time distance range, which, to my surprise, kept increasing. Before I thought I would jinx it, I decided to focus on the smooth tarmac, which was nothing short of a pleasure to drive. Like any national highway, there were a couple of booby traps; one had to be vigilant, like with a dip in the road, an unmarked speed breaker or an unfriendly pothole. The GLC managed to carpet whatever the national highway could throw at us, and it failed to unsettle the ride or my confidence in the SUV.
After bypassing Meerut, it took under three hours to reach Haridwar, as the NH 3, which becomes NH 334, avoids the two patient testing bottlenecks at Muzaffarnagar and Roorkee. Briefly driving alongside the river Ganga and then hitting the highlands by driving through Rajaji National Park, the temperature started to cool down as we entered the foothills of the Himalayas. This was also the perfect time to switch off the ventilated seats.
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Road Trip: Backseat snores beat Burmester
The GLC welcomed the winding, hilly roads with arms wide open. I switched the driving mode to Sport so that the sharp corners could be taken at ease with the all-wheel-drive system, ensuring there’s plenty of grip and confidence. What is important to note is that the Sport mode doesn’t compromise on the ride quality, as the rear passengers continued to be fast asleep with their snores disrupting the music flow from the Burmester sound system. Thanks to the passive damping system, it automatically adjusts to the road conditions.Â
We reached Dehradun from Rajaji National Park in a shade over an hour, and after that, the ghat roads greeted the GLC. With a turning radius of around 5.9 metres, a bit more than a Tata Harrier, the Mercedes-Benz SUV swept past corners and drove up the Himalayas with a lot of poise. With a one-hour and thirty-minute stretch to Mussoorie, the GLC showcased its prowess and agility, and the steering wheel in Sport mode offered just about enough weight to make you feel in control.
Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Road Trip: End up in a honking hill station nightmare
As I was nearing the Queen of Hills, Mussoorie, the traffic came to a crawling pace. What happened next was something I could not even imagine. There was a traffic jam, and it felt like the entirety of Delhi decided to follow me all the way to the hills. It took me at least two hours to find a parking place at the Mussoorie Mall Road. Just when I thought I was ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’, it seems it was all wishful thinking.
After refuelling my tummy with some authentic Tibetan food at Kalsang, we headed to our destination, Landour, which was around half an hour away. All I wanted was a slice of peace and quiet, far from the blaring horns and swarming crowds. Keep in mind that parking is a challenge in Landour; everything is walking distance away in this hermit town. Here are the must-see places, like the Mussoorie Heritage Centre, Landour Clock Tower, and Rokeby Manor, which showcase the colonial architecture. For trek lovers, Lal Tibba is a must-hike, as it offers a bird’s-eye view of the Himalayas. Even though you can expect a crowd at the famous Char Dukan near St Paul’s Church, you can sit back, dig into some Maggie noodles and tea and watch the sunset as peace embraces tranquillity.
