Mercedes GLE 450 Coupé: First Class Travel at its Finest
Is the ‘Pioneer of SUVs’ back on top?
Mercedes-Benz likes to call its GLE the pioneer of the street-oriented Sport Utility Vehicle. This fifth-generation model comes in the choice of a 5-seat option with a cavernous boot or a real seven-seat version thanks to its longer wheelbase and a far more spacious cabin. Or you can have it like this. In GLE Coupé get-up.
A Little GLE History
Originally developed to replace the G-Wagen 25 years ago, Mercedes-Benz soon realized that its new concept would appeal to a completely different owner profile. So the ML was born its own car. That proved a masterstroke and became an overnight success that not only saw Mercedes’ burgeoning street-oriented sport utility range mushroom to the myriad new models it is today. It also had every rival man and his dog sniffing out a slice of an exploding new car segment.
Of course the great G-Wagen lives on as the icon of the Merc 4×4 portfolio that quite literally exploded as Benz pioneered that SUV potential. ML meanwhile morphed into GLE a generation back. When Merc decided to differentiate all its SUVs by a common nomenclature.
That also links to its sedans and this fourth generation E-Class sized wagon started the next generation of a broad base of Mercedes-Benz SUVs. From GLA, GLB and GLC, through this GLE to GLS and there’s even a Maybach coming. And offshoots like this coupé.
Only One Original
There’s only one original though and our GLE 450 4Matic AMG Line cut through the wind in elegant record aerodynamic form. It rode on optional Active Body Control suspension with 48 volt electrics and best Mercedes safety. GLE is now longer, wider and lower and has a longer wheelbase to deliver a bigger, more spacious and more comfortable cabin. It has a handy 7700 lbs braked towing capacity and luggage capacity that grows cavernous with the 40:20:40 split second seat row stowed, too. Yes. It’s big!
This 362 HP 369 lb.-ft three litre straight-six turbo petrol GLE 450 gets EQ Boost 48V mild hybrid assistance and carries all the typical ML/GLE traits forward. That means all the latest Benz tech. Which also makes it amongst the quickest of the 3-litre turbo-six über-SUV’s we’ve tested. Never mind, Mercedes has also stolen the dynamic high ground of late.
Ten years ago X5 was mighty. Both as an SUV and as a driving tool. So much so that it made a mockery of the rest of its early, flabby and feelingless SUV rivals. It earned that self-acclaimed Sport Activity Vehicle tag. Roll a couple of generations and I’m afraid it’s all change…