By now, all of you should be familiar with Mercedes-Benz’s new naming convention, which has been realigned to something more straightforward. If it starts with ‘GL’ then it’s an SUV, while the suffix (C, E or S, mirroring the saloon range) defines the size. Simple.
With this shift comes a new GLE that’s actually half the old ML, with the chassis, parts of the bodywork and the suspension carried over. But a new interior and lower emissions, plus a plug-in hybrid option add new dimensions to consider.
Avoid pale colours and you can’t lose. There’s a slight awkwardness to the upper-rear bodywork between the C- and D-pillars that’s hidden by dark blue, for example, and that’s always a classy choice. The GLE looks bulky without being flabby, muscular without the ’roid rage and classy without being boring.
As for image, a new naming structure takes time to settle into consumer consciousness but the GLE is one of the less ostentatious and in-your-face SUVs you could buy, though that means some of the standard wheel designs are a bit dull.
With five seats in place there’s a whopping 690 litres of boot to play with, which rises to more than 2,000 litres with the 60:40 split bench seat folded. There’s a mountain of legroom for rear passengers, too, and only the longest-legged drivers will spoil that.
The cabin’s cup holders aren’t positioned in the most helpful place but it’s probably not a deal-breaker. What’s of much greater import is the sense of size on the road, which some people will actively want and others just won’t get on with. A test drive will tell you which category you’re signed up to.
The 3.0-litre turbo petrol V6 in the GLE 400 serves up 328bhp and 480Nm, which — aided by the smooth nine-speed auto box — does a great job in lugging the two-tonne SUV along.
For the eco-conscious, there’s the GLE 500e hybrid, which combines the same petrol V6 with an electric motor, emitting just 78g/km of CO2 while packing in more punch.
Body control is good through corners, but without the high-spec adaptive air suspension there’s a noticeable jiggle to the ride quality. If you can bring yourself to lift off the throttle (very) early when slowing for hazards, and to use momentum control to help smooth out short inclines, this GLE can actually record decent fuel economy. The figures experience some bad times if you jam your foot into the carpet.
The GLE has a lovely sense of solidity about it that makes you feel you’re getting a quality product. That goes a long way to justifying the price, but at the same time the options list is long and tempting. List prices are rarely left unmolested on models like this, so prepare to budget for add-ons.
An obvious target buyer is the safety-minded parent who wants that height and size on the road combined with a level of premium feel not found in cheaper cars. No doubt plenty will crop up in mall valet parkings and JBR Walk, but the GLE does harbour a secret – and deeply impressive – off-road ability that will appeal to those of you who like taking on the wilderness.
Rivals
BMW X5 The X5 continues to be a benchmark for luxury mid-size SUVs.
Audi Q7 Spruced-up Q7 is much improved and a stronger contender in this class.
