Mercedes-Benz GLE Review 2024

If you’ve previously owned an M-Class, ML or GLE, then the latest Mercedes GLE will feel like a real step on. It’s posher than ever before, better to drive, it has bags of luxury equipment and, like many large SUV rivals, it now offers the option of seven seats, although these should only be used occasionally rather than habitually. Where the GLE really comes into its own, though, is on it’s infotainment technology, with loads of functionality and a good operating system. Strong in a number of areas, then, but it’s still true that in quite a few of them, it still can’t quite match the very best-in-class. Read on for our full review of the Mercedes-Benz GLE.

This car has been known by quite a few different names over the years. It was originally launched in 1997 as the M-Class, and later became known as the ML, but as of 2015, Mercedes’ large luxury SUV adopted the GLE moniker. So, although this latest version is technically only the second-generation GLE, you can trace its lineage back much further than that.

Early versions were very successful, too, because back then, big, luxury SUVs were just as desirable as they are today, but they were much fewer in number. These days, however, the GLE has to compete with a vast variety of very talented rivals, so its job is much harder. The question is, does the big Merc have what it takes to compete against the likes of the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover Sport, and Volvo XC90?

Well one change with the latest Mercedes GLE already makes it more competitive than before. Where the previous version had only five seats in a class of cars in which seven seats was the norm, the latest GLE gives you that same option.

However, it’s also true that the space surrounding these two extra seats is rather more cramped than it is in rivals, so it's not as practical or as versatile as the best seven-seaters: the extra pair of chairs should only really be viewed as an emergency measure, rather than an everyday one.

The Mercedes GLE’s cabin is very competitive with rivals’ in other areas, though. It’s classy enough to feel at home in such well-heeled company, and luxury equipment provided as standard is just as generous. What’s more, the GLE’s sophisticated infotainment system provides some real wow-factor, with two high-definition glass-fronted screens that work well and look great.

There’s plenty of choice on engines, too, with various petrol and diesel choices that do a good job in combining prodigious power and impressive refinement with more-than-competitive economy. There’s even a plug-in hybrid variant offered that the official figures claim will do a whopping 65 miles on electric power alone.

That’s a really impressive figure, and so are the combined CO2 emissions of 23g/km and fuel consumption of 282.5mpg (although both are laboratory figures that will likely never be met in the real world).

Unfortunately, where Mercedes GLE can’t match its very best rivals is on the road. Don’t get us wrong, this is a good car to drive, with a reasonably comfortable ride and capable handling. It’s just that its best rivals do such an incredible job on that score that the Merc can’t quite measure up.

Predictably, nobody will struggle for headroom or legroom in the front seats, and things are even more impressive in the back seats. There’s more space back there than in a Q7 or Discovery, and although the middle seat isn’t as wide as those either side, it’ll still be wide enough to keep life comfortable enough on short trips. 

Only the plug-in hybrid model now comes only as a five-seater - every other GLE has seven seats. However, these bonus chairs are much tighter on space than those in a Q7, Discovery or XC90, and the access to them is also tighter, with only a small space to clamber through.

The second-row bench in all GLEs takes on a 40-20-40 split configuration. In the five-seat layout, these portions are raised and lowered manually, but in seven-seat cars, it’s done electrically, and the chairs slide and recline electrically, too. 

Boot space with all seven seats in place is pretty good, with room for a few carry-on cases, and with five chairs, the boot is also impressively large, although not quite as huge as a Q7’s. Two-seat mode brings a predictably enormous load bay, and all the seats fold flush into the floor, giving you a usefully flat and level load area.

In all versions, the seats are upholstered in leather and the dashboard gets a plush-feeling covering made from a (very convincing) man-made leather substitute.

Meanwhile, the dark wood trims that are standard on every version also help inject a sense of modern sophistication, while the infotainment screens inject a high-tech feel, too. In terms of poshness, it feels right up there with its rivals.

Pokes and prods of various bits and pieces result in a few more creaks and flexes than they do in the other German cars, so the Merc doesn’t feel quite as dense. That said, it really isn’t far behind, and you’ll certainly have no reason for complaint.

The GLE’s cabin is dominated by two glass-fronted 12.3-inch screens that are mounted side-by-side  in front of the driver. These take most of the car’s various functions, plus the information that would usually be delivered on conventional analogue instruments, and presents them all in one integrated unit.

The system is controlled by tapping and swiping the left-hand screen, or via a touchpad and shortcut buttons located on the central partition between the front seats. The graphics are really sharp and the menus have a logical layout, so it’s pretty easy to find your way around the system.

The touchpad controller isn’t as precise as the iDrive rotary dial you get in a BMW X5, but you can also operate the system via a sophisticated voice control system that’s designed to recognise natural speech rather than specific commands, and it works well.

Most of the infotainment functionality you’d expect is supported on all GLEs, including DAB radio, sat-nav, Bluetooth and a whole bunch of connected services.

There’s also a wireless phone charging plate as standard, plus Apple CarPlay or Android Auto included with all trims.

Base camp for the Mercedes GLE is the AMG Line trim, which is offered with the petrol and diesel engines with mild hybrid assistance, but not plug-in hybrid power. Least expensive id the 300d 4Matic that costs £77,985, while the 450d model adds £3125 to that bill and the 450 petrol is a further £1000 on top of that.

Next trim in the climb to the top of the GLE range is the AMG Premium, which is offered with the plug-in hybrid version. A 300d in this trim starts at £83,760, with the 450d at £86,360. A 450 petrol will require a minimum spend of £88,015, while the 400e plug-in hybrid sits below this at £87,505.

The pinnacle of the GLE offerings is fitted out in AMG Line Premium Plus specification, with the 300d and 450d at £89,010 and £91,610 respectively. A 450 petrol needs £93,265, while the 400e PHEV plants its flag at £92,755.

Those are some big numbers next to the Mercedes GLE’s main competitor set, but it does come with a long list of standard equipment to balance this out. The GLE also enjoys decently strong used values, which also help when it comes to monthly leasing costs.

Buying a used GLE will cost from £45,000 for a three-year old 300d with average miles under its wheels.

The 300d's economy of 39.8mpg is better than many rivals, and the 450d offers 35.3mpg with mild hybrid assistance. This also aids the 450 petrol, which registers a WLTP combined consumption of 28.5mpg.

By far the standout version according to the official figures, though, is the 400de plug-in hybrid. The WLTP laboratory test resulted in a jaw-dropping figure of almost 282.5mpg, but as always with these things, that figure shouldn’t be taken literally, because what you really get will depend on how much time you can spend driving your car on electric-only power. 

Insurance groupings for the GLE range between 44 at the bottom of the range and 49 at the top, and bearing in mind that group 50 is the priciest group there is, that shows you premiums aren’t going to be cheap. 

In terms of reliability, premium German brands don’t tend to do as well in the various reliability surveys as many would expect, usually figuring towards the bottom end of the standings. Mercedes ranked 20th out of 29 entries in the 2022 HonestJohn Satisfaction Survey, trailing Audi, BMW and, notably, Land Rover.

The whole spread of Mercedes GLE SUV models now come riding on the company's Airmatic air suspension with adaptive damping and a choice of Comfort, Sport, Eco, and Individual modes.

However, body roll isn't quite so tightly controlled as in other rivals like the Audi Q7. By comparison, the GLE has a slightly wallowy, lumbering nature that still bounces you around more than some folk might like, and with a good deal more body roll to be felt in bends, it doesn’t change direction with the same positivity or confidence, either.

Similarly, the light steering that helps you with manoeuvres at low speeds starts to feel slightly vague and detached at higher speed, which further discourages you from pressing on. All in all, the GLE drives well, just not as well as the very best-in-class.

The range starts with the 300d, which has a 2.0-litre diesel unit with 269PS. It does a perfectly adequate job, but you will notice it's not as punchy or refined if you drive one alongside the 450d with its 367PS 3.0 litre six-cylinder motor.

Even so, we reckon the 300d is all that most buyers will need. Performance is thoroughly respectable, and with an eager power delivery, your progress is nice and easy. The 450d is considerably quicker and you don’t have to get too silly with the accelerator to have it properly racing down the road.

There are just two petrol options for non-AMG-Mercedes performance models. These are the 450 with its 381PS 3.0 litre straight-six turbo engine that delivers 0-62mph in a more than adequate 5.6 seconds.

The other petrol GLE is the plug-in hybrid 400e that has a 252PS 2.0 litre petrol engine and 136PS electric motor. The combined effort of these two power sources works out at 375PS and sees the 400e from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds. It pays a price for its hybrid drivetrain in extra weight, and it also does without the seven-seat configuration of the rest of the GLE line-up, being sold only as a five-seater.

All Mercedes GLEs have seven airbags, adaptive high-beam LED headlights, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assistance, traffic sign recognition with automatic amendment of your speed, an active pop-up bonnet to better protect pedestrians and a self-parking system with sensors and a reversing camera. Not bad at all.

The only thing missing from the AMG Line and AMG Line Premium models is the Driver Assistance Package Plus that comes with the AMG Line Premium Plus trim. This additional pack includes adaptive cruise control, blind spot assist, cross traffic alert, and route-based speed adaptation intended to make for smoother, safer journeys.

The good news is that most versions of the GLE are capable of pulling a braked trailer of up to 2700kg, which is about as much as any road car. However, bear in mind a Land Rover Discovery can pull up to 3500kg and you might need to check this before hitching up the horsebox.

An unbraked trailer of up to 750kg can be hauled.

If you choose the Mercedes-Benz GLE in plug-in hybrid form, it comes with a five-seat cabin, while all other engine options now have seven seats as standard. All GLEs have four-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic gearbox, as well as Airmatic air suspension.

The GLE range starts with the AMG Line model that has 20-inch alloy wheels, keyless entry, powered tailgate, rear privacy glass, and automatic wipers. On the inside, the AMG Line comes with leather upholstery, heated front seats with electric adjustment, climate control, ambient lighting, electrically adjustable steering column, and rear seats that down at the touch of a button in the seven-seat models. You also have a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the infotainment that’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s a wireless phone charging pad.

Move to the AMG Line Premium and you upgrade to 21-inch wheels, a panoramic glass sunroof, and Air-Balance pack with selectable fragrances for the cabin. A more unusual feature is the Energizing Pack that effectively works like a personal trainer to keep you feeling relaxed and alert while driving. Perhaps more useful is the head-up display for the driver and four-zine climate control.

Sitting at the top of the pile is the AMG Line Premium Plus. It has 22-inch wheels, soft close doors, and Mercedes-branded lighting projected onto the ground when you open the doors. It also comes with more contoured front seats for added support, as well as the Warmth Comfort pack that heats not just the front seats but the door pads and armrests, and centre console cushion. Lastly, this trim has the MBUX Interior Assistant to let you use gesture control to work the infotainment system, though this sounds better than it is in real-life use.