Mercedes-Benz GLE

The GLE is a midsize luxury crossover SUV that seats five in its standard configuration or seven when equipped with an optional third row. It slots above the compact GLC and below the full-size GLS in the German automaker’s SUV lineup. Mercedes-Benz also makes a sporty fastback variant called the GLE Coupe, which is reviewed separately.

Under the hood, the GLE offers a wide range of available engines. Most common from the GLE’s first generation (2016-2019) is a pair of V6 engines, offering 302 horsepower on the base-level GLE 350 and 329 hp on the mid-range GLE 400. A 5.5-liter turbocharged V8 is also available, making 551 hp on the high-performance AMG GLE 63 and 577 hp on its even more athletic S variant. Splitting the difference is the AMG GLE 43, which first appeared in 2018 and features a 385-hp 3.0-liter turbo V6. The first-gen GLE also offers a thrifty 201-hp turbodiesel mill on the GLE 300d and a 436-hp plug-in hybrid powertrain on the GLE 550e.

With the 2020 launch of the second-generation GLE, the entry-level GLE 350 returned with a slightly less powerful 255-hp 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder, while the mid-tier GLE 450 got an upgrade to a 362-hp 3.0-liter turbo inline-six. Mercedes also added the luxe GLE 580, which is motivated by a 483-hp 4.0-liter turbo V8. A year later (2021), two performance-oriented models joined the lineup: the AMG GLE 53, outfitted with a 429-hp turbo inline-six, and the range-topping AMG GLE 63 S, featuring a 603-hp turbo V8. All GLEs come with either a seven-speed or nine-speed automatic transmission (depending on the model year and trim), and power is routed to the rear wheels unless the model is equipped with available all-wheel drive, which is denoted by 4Matic badging.

All GLE versions offer a generous level of standard features, including a sunroof, heated front seats, and a rearview camera. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto arrived as optional equipment for the 2017 model year before becoming standard in 2020. A 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen replaced an 8.0-inch unit that same year, while a wireless smartphone charging pad became standard for 2022 (and was optional from 2020). Forward collision mitigation and blind-spot warning became standard equipment in 2019 and 2020, respectively, while lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera are all optional on the GLE.