Mercedes-Benz GLE Is ‘Indulgence in an SUV Shape,’ Kelly Blue Book
2020 GLE is not without its faults, but it’s perfect for those who appreciate luxurious materials and creature comforts and gadgets.
For certain buyers, a high-end SUV is a luxury. But to upscale automakers, luxury SUVs are a necessity in today’s market. That’s why BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz offer such a wide spectrum of them. It also explains why companies such as Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce produce their own refined off-roaders. There are so many options out there that it can be hard for a vehicle to stand out. As this video from Kelley Blue Book shows, the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE manages to distinguish itself from its numerous rivals.
Host Micah Muzio’s GLE 450 4MATIC test vehicle is perfectly equipped to show how it does that. He says, “For some people, luxury is all about making a statement of affluence to the world and, to my eyes, the GLE’s muscular, technical aesthetic does that well.” To heighten the GLE’s visual impact, Mercedes-Benz added several options, including the dazzle of the $580 Intelligent Lighting Package’s LED headlights and the sporty wheels and body-color fender flares that are part of the $3,250 AMG Line Exterior upgrade. Making the GLE hop up and down with the available $8,100 E-Active Body Control package certainly draws eyes to the GLE, too.
The GLE’s interior is a combination of “properly premium” materials, such as the $2,990 Nappa leather seats and $160 oak trim, and a variety of comfort and convenience features. Those include heated and ventilated front seats ($450), as well as heated and cooled front cupholders ($180). The $1,050 Warmth and Comfort Package adds heated armrests, among other things. An extra $860 provides four separate climate control zones. For $850, an optional Burmester surround sound system heightens the listening experience. A pair of 12.3-inch widescreens for the gauges and the MBUX infotainment system display are both informative and eye-catching.
On the road, the GLE 450 “moves in plush, sophisticated fashion” thanks to the “effortless performance” of its EB Boost-ed turbocharged 3.0-liter I6. The 48-volt starter-generator assist can temporarily provide an additional 21 horsepower to the gas engine; total output is 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, which is processed by a nine-speed automatic and put to the road through 4MATIC all-wheel drive.
Like any vehicle, luxury or not, the GLE is not perfect. While MBUX is more modern than the system it replaces and offers cool “themes” that change certain interior settings, it’s not the most intuitive interface that Muzio has used. Although headroom is abundant in both the front and back, the rear bench seat is not adjustable. Muzio also has trouble seeing how the optional third row seating could possibly be comfortable given the GLE’s interior dimensions. And he has a big problem with the fact that adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance are not standard features.
Those cost extra, just like many of the niceties on Muzio’s press loaner. Altogether, the options on it add up to more than $20,000, bringing the price of the GLE 450 to roughly $84,000. That’s a lot of money for any vehicle, but Muzio deems it “worth the price of admission” to the powerful and luxurious 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450.
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