Verdict
Design | Consolation | Expertise | Efficiency | Security | Effectivity | Worth | FAQs
Just a few years in the past, Mercedes-Benz phased out its present V6 engines in favor of the inherent smoothness of all six cylinders in a single straight line. The 2019 GLE-Class was the primary to obtain such a powertrain, which shortly grew to become one of many Motor1.com employees’s favorites. Three years after my first expertise, I’m again in a GLE 450, and though the midsize SUV may use a couple of updates right here and there, it’s nonetheless a wonderful luxurious car.
The Mercedes-Benz GLE 450’s softly contoured styling, refined freeway demeanor, and approachable in-car expertise assist it stand out amongst fussier rivals. As with something carrying a three-pointed star, you’ll must pay a good quantity for the privilege of possession, however you’ll be rewarded with one of many smoothest luxurious SUVs available on the market.
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Design
Exterior Shade: Cardinal Crimson Metallic Inside Shade: Black Wheel Measurement: 22 Inches
The GLE (née M-Class) has all the time appeared swoopier and fewer boxy than different SUVs since its 1998 debut, and at this time’s mannequin takes that to an excessive. Softly contoured bumpers, sweeping rear quarter home windows that mix into the hatch glass, and a rounded greenhouse with a number of tumblehome make at this time’s Mercedes-Benz sleeker than ever. My tester’s gleaming Cardinal Crimson paint and 22-inch wheels guarantee it gained’t get misplaced in a parking zone, and the AMG Line styling bundle’s trapezoidal grille, aggressive bumper vents, and gloss black physique jewellery assist toughen up the genteel total design.
Inside, the GLE will get Mercedes’ one-generation-old display format, comprising a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an identical touchscreen middle show housed in a single tablet-style unit. Surrounding that could be a funky nacelle with vent-like horizontal accents. The middle console options chunky seize handles that recall the GLE’s off-road heritage – each the body-on-frame first-generation ML and the legendary G-Class – with loads of matte-finished wooden trim all through the cabin. Supplies are good, and though the design feels a bit of dated, the GLE remains to be a pleasant place to spend time.
Consolation
Seating Capability: 5 Seating Configuration: 2 / 3 Cargo Capability: 33.3 / 74.9 Cubic Ft
To the shock of nobody, the Mercedes GLE is a reasonably snug SUV, with a serene freeway trip and greater than sufficient room for 4 adults and their stuff – actually, rear passengers have extra legroom than the oldsters up entrance. The elective AMG-branded sport seats on my tester got here upholstered with supple Nappa leather-based, though the entrance buckets by no means felt significantly cosseting, with a perch-like seat backside that took some getting used to. In any other case, there’s little to complain about from a consolation perspective.
The trip is exceptionally clean, thanks partially to the elective Airmatic suspension with air springs and adaptive dampers. As with many air suspension setups, the GLE is liable to some floaty, bobbing sensations over undulating pavement, but it surely nonetheless feels impressively composed and comfy. Moreover, a $1,100 Acoustic Consolation bundle introduced alongside higher sound insulation, an infrared-absorbing windshield, and acoustic- and infrared-absorbing facet glass for a virtually silent driving expertise – spectacular given these meaty Pirelli P-Zero tires filling out the wheel wells.
Expertise & Connectivity
Middle Show: 12.3-Inch Touchscreen Instrument Cluster Show: 12.3 Inches Wi-fi Apple CarPlay / Android Auto: No / No
The GLE’s MBUX infotainment system remains to be top-of-the-line within the business, even three years after its debut. The reconfigurable digital gauge cluster comes normal and presents loads of info and customizability, whereas the middle infotainment show is straightforward to make use of because of logical menus and a responsive touchscreen. And the “Hey Mercedes” voice instructions are as straightforward to make use of as ever, with pure speech recognition and quite a lot of features. The one fly within the ointment is a scarcity of wi-fi smartphone mirroring – utilizing Apple CarPlay or Android Auto requires a USB-C cable.
Efficiency & Dealing with
Engine: Turbocharged 3.0-Liter Inline-Six Output: 362 Horsepower / 369 Pound-Ft Transmission: 9-Velocity Computerized
Beneath the hood is Mercedes’ company 3.0-liter inline-six that seems in merchandise as various because the AMG GT53 four-door and the S500 sedan. In 450 guise, the single-turbo engine is tuned to provide an easygoing 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet, with an “EQ Increase” system offering smoother engine idle cease and sooner throttle response because of an built-in starter-generator. This little electrical motor helps fill in small gaps in energy supply – earlier than the turbo has spooled or throughout gear modifications, for instance – protecting engine conduct slick and predictable.
Despite my tester’s AMG styling extras, it’s not a lot of a handler. The GLE gained’t shove you off a cliff for cornering too onerous, however there are a couple of too many physique motions for it to be really inspiring on a twisty highway. Method it like the posh SUV it’s and also you’ll benefit from the trip extra. If you happen to merely should set the highway ablaze, there’s a GLE 53 within the lineup with 67 extra ponies and much more thrilling dealing with, however for the remainder of us, the GLE 450 is torquey, clean, and comfy.
Security
Driver Help Degree: SAE Degree 1 (Arms-On) NHTSA Score: 5 Stars IIHS Score: Prime Security Decide+
The GLE 450 comes normal with computerized emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and lively parking help, amongst different options. My tester’s Driver Help Bundle Plus contains Distronic adaptive cruise management, lane preserve help, lively lane centering, site visitors jam help, and lively lane modifications rounding out the upgrades.
Whereas I proceed to be annoyed that now-basic options like adaptive cruise are elective on such a dear automobile, no less than all of it works collectively relatively seamlessly. Site visitors-clogged commutes are not any match for the driver-assist expertise, which retains the GLE spaced effectively and applies a gentle hand to the steering and brakes when different drivers encroach on that buffer zone.
Gas Financial system
Metropolis: 20 MPG Freeway: 25 MPG Mixed: 22 MPG
Pricing
Base Worth: $56,150 + 1,050 Vacation spot Trim Base Worth: $64,550 As-Examined Worth: $83,925
With a beginning worth of $57,200 with vacation spot for the bottom, rear-wheel-drive GLE 350, the mid-sized Mercedes is an affordable choice in a category that features the $62,595 BMW X5 and the $56,645 Genesis GV80 2.5T. Nevertheless, if you’d like the smoother inline-six (belief me, you do), then you need to be ready with a $64,550 verify. That’s, until you load it down and balloon its worth to almost 84 grand. The colour is a $1,750 add-on, and the wheels are $2,450. A $400 Night time bundle contains gloss-black exterior trim, the fashionable AMG Line exterior is a cool $3,250, and in case your leather-based merely should be Nappa, you then’re on the hook for a $2,990 invoice.
Train a bit extra restraint with the choices and you may have a GLE 450 with superior driver help, an air suspension, and a comfortable leather-based inside with a stitched dashboard for $77,665. That will evaluate properly to a hard-loaded GV80 3.5T Status that prices $76,770, or there’s all the time a properly geared up BMW X5 xDrive40i M Sport for $79,795.
However even at $83,925, the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 is proof of the previous saying, “The bitterness of poor high quality stays lengthy after the sweetness of a low worth is forgotten.” Fret not, reader: The GLE by no means, ever tastes bitter.