Mercedes Turns the GLC Dashboard Into One Giant Screen

Mercedes has been edging toward a wall of glass for years, and now it has gone all in. The electric GLC with EQ Technology swaps the traditional dash for a single, sweeping panel that looks like it was airlifted from a high-end tablet maker’s dream lab. It is bold, a little polarizing, and impossible to ignore.

At the heart of it is a 39.1 inch display that spans from pillar to pillar, the largest screen Mercedes has ever fitted to a production vehicle. Beyond sheer size, the panel integrates more than 1,000 individually controlled LEDs that create dimmable zones so the driver and passenger can tailor brightness without washing out the whole cabin. The impression is of a floating glass surface that blends into the dash rather than a stack of separate screens, and you can adjust two sections at once with built-in sliders.

Not every trim will get the mega display, and that is probably a good thing for buyers who prefer less screen glare and more dashboard. The pillar to pillar panel is optional, with lower priced versions retaining a more conventional setup. Mercedes has also preserved a handful of physical controls on the console, steering wheel, and doors for everyday essentials like volume and climate so basic tasks do not require a dive into submenus.

This interior marks a big step away from the button-rich cabins that defined Mercedes just a decade ago. Fine materials still play a starring role, with circular metal vents, intricate speaker grilles, and generous leather and stitching helping the space feel warm and upscale rather than cold and techy. It is easy to imagine this layout trickling into other models as the brand leans harder into a screen-first identity.

The new CLA follows a similar philosophy but takes a different path with three separate displays arranged across an upright dash. It is a contrasting approach to the single sheet of glass in the GLC, and it hints at how Mercedes may tailor digital layouts to different buyers while keeping the same software backbone.

Context matters because the screen race is very real. Archrival BMW is pushing hard with the new iX3 and its next-gen iDrive, pairing a 17.9 inch central touchscreen with a pillar to pillar projection along the base of the windshield. Audi and Porsche are on the same trajectory, mirroring a trend that has already become the norm in many Chinese-market cars.

There are fair questions about longevity and ergonomics. Big glass can age quickly if the user interface feels dated or if fingerprints become a constant battle. The upside is that software updates can keep things fresh in a way wood trim never could, and the zoned LED backlighting shows Mercedes is thinking about fatigue and nighttime comfort rather than just headline specs. That balance will matter more than the diagonal measurement once these hit driveways.

It is worth noting the electric GLC steps in where the EQC left off, setting the stage for a broader shift in the Mercedes lineup. For now the brand is only showing the interior, with the full debut scheduled for Sunday, September 7 ahead of next week’s IAA Mobility show in Munich. If this cabin is any indication, the future of the three-pointed star is going to be measured in inches of glass as much as in horsepower.