Hello fellow members,
I need your recommendations and/or advice, please. My wife and I want to trade in our second car (non-Mercedes) and considering the pandemic with us, it's not that one can walk into a showroom and look at cars, want to get some feedback from owners who might have gone down this path. We are thinking of either the 2021 S213 E-Class 450 All-Terrain or the 2021 V167 GLE Class 450. Any recommendations on either of them? Did you buy one over the other? If so, what were your reasons?

Use case:

• 4-Matic as we live in the great white north.
• Family of four: my wife, me, our two boys - aged one and a half and; three and a half and; on occasions my a father-in-law who will use the jump seat or third row.
• Need the space of an SUV or Wagon for the boy's activities as they grow. For now, its mainly the stroller and tons of bags (diaper bag, food bad, toy bag, etc.). Which I am sure will quickly become a soccer bag, or hockey bag, or skis, etc.
• For now with car seats, the convenience of getting the boys in and out of the vehicle - which is easier? And having said that, which vehicle has more legroom in the second row. (I get the fact that the third row is cramped on both vehicles, hence the father-in-law).
• Would like to keep the car for at least 6 years, if not longer, hence our family grows with this new vehicle - and by growing, I mean, the boys. No more kids for us!
• Am open to a regular wagon as well - though the All-Terrain has more bells and whistles for the price and also the height advantage like an SUV.

Many thanks!

I went from S213 E450 wagon (before the All Terrain version) to a V167 GLE350. In terms of impressions: Wagon - sporty, drives much smaller than it is, but "long and low" profile makes it less useful in terms of cargo versatility. GLE - drives like a more traditional SUV - high, boxy and not particularly sporty. Now, I have a 350 / non AMG Line with the 20inch wheels - I suspect the 21's and AMG Line would improve the handling of the GLE, but it would never approach the driving dynamics of the wagon. Your choice of the GLE450 would address any concerns of performance with the 4cyl in the GLE - performance is OK, but nothing compared to the new I6 or even the older V6. Seems like you cannot go wrong - but honestly, in Canada, I would opt for the GLE for the higher ground clearance and the more useful shape of the cargo area.

Caveat emptor with the V167 GLE. Mercedes is fumbling the ball at nearly every step with the product rollout. Read the V167 section of this site for details. Strong avoid until the facelift in a couple years, if not entirely avoid the platform.

So, Chassis, you have a point - my V167 hasn't been trouble free. But it hasn't been a train wreck either - taking nothing away from people who have had serious issues, I think the platform is getting more solid and a good relationship with the service dept is key with any complex new car. The good far outweighs the bad in terms of reliability - even in cases of tricky issues (the 48v battery issue and the random misfire/ coil issue) there is a better working knowledge of how to diagnose and fix.

This is our second E class wagon. We looked at the GLE before we ordered our E400 wagon in 2018. The GLE would definitely not accommodate my daughter's harp which is just over 6 ft. tall, even with the rear seats folded down because the cargo area on the GLE is shorter than on an E class wagon.

Getting in and out of an E class wagon is easier than a GLE. Also, you should consider whether you can open the hatch of a GLE when it inside the garage. We can open the hatch on our E400 when it is inside the garage. Also, can you reach the roof of a GLE when you wash it yourself?

Bottom line -- if you like SUVs, then you should get a GLE. Otherwise, get the E class wagon.

One thing to consider, air suspension is standard on the All Terrain and from research on this forum, several owners have had issues long term with the air suspension and its very expensive to repair. I myself ended up passing on the All Terrain and recently purchased a 2020 E450 wagon for that and some other reasons. Good luck with your choice.

So, in Canada you can still get the regular wagon? In the US, it's only all-terrain for 2021.

They also only have the All Terrain and the AMG E63S wagons. They do get the C-Class wagon though which we don't.

I would endorse the choice of a 2020 wagon. Probably not easy to find. But the pricing should be super, I think it will be a keeper, and you won't have to drive a SUV like everyone else.

My recommendation:

Price: the GLE will price out thousands less than the wagon.

Driving: even though there is a pandemic, you have stated that this is a car you intend to keep for 6 years. Schedule an appointment with the dealer to drive both - as they drive completely differently: the dealer can put the car outside for 30 minutes with the windows open. Bring disinfectant and wipe down the interior.

I believe the GLE will have more legroom: My children have three kids and they have found putting the car seats in much easier in their SUV as compared to their sedan. Bring a tape measure and check the depth and width of each cargo area. Height is less important than the square foot area. Square foot area is really usable space.

In the past what I have done is to take an all season or floor mat from one cargo area to another to see which one is bigger - as your eyes can be very deceiving especially with the GLE having a taller (higher) inside clearance.

Keep us posted on your decision and good luck!

and if you get the GLE with three rows then the second row seats can be adjusted electronically which I believe gives you even more 2nd row legroom than an E class

I believe a standard 2020 E450 wagon (or any S213 before MY 2021) is not completely devoid of air suspension. It has air springs in the rear.

Yes, all E class wagons in the US have air suspension in the rear.

It's design and function are more to maintain a level platform versus adjusting vehicle height like the 2021's.

I guess either I was too quick and Mercedes didn't remove the regular wagon when looking through their site then or I might have been seeing things. But yes, it's the same here in Canada - as in, for 2021, it's only the E 450 4MATIC All-Terrain Wagon and the AMG's (53 and 63 S).

But you get that cute little C class wagon. I looked at one when they were available in the US, and it was too small for my needs. But I expect it has grown over the years. And what a whopping price difference 47K vs 80K (CAD). I expect it is a tremendous competitor for Volvo and Subaru. Now MBUSA sells other C Class models in the US, why not sell the C Class wagon also. I sure would take one over Volvo, which I think as lost its way. And clearly more upscale than a Subaru. MBUSA offers a jillion models, one more couldn't be that hard. I know that some of those AMG models sell in three figures.

Is the height adjustable or stuck at 5.8" of clearance?

If you are fine with the looks of the All-Terrain (and it sounds like you are), I would go for the wagon. The height should be fine for bending over to help kids with their belts, but also having them get in and out, and the cargo hold is huge and deep enough for any stroller. However, if you can find a 2020, I say try to negotiate hard for one of those, they just look and drive so much better than cladded wagons or SUVs, the V6 is pretty bulletproof, and MBUX is nice on the new E, but I just use Apple Carplay most of the time so Command is fine if a bit outdated, and you do get the easier scroll wheel.

The new GLE does look very pretty (especially with AMG-styled exterior) and the interior is beautiful and modern, but it does seem that there are still teething issues with that car, but as always YMMV.

In utility, measured by cargo space behind rear seats, the wagon (S213 before MY 2022) has a scotch more space than V167. Also, not sure if anyone mentioned this already but putting a cargo box on the roof is easier on the lower sitting wagon. Install a trailer hitch and you have the ability to tow light loads or attach a bike rack.