We did a 1200 mile trip this weekend, mostly high-speed desert driving in the heat. I just want to underline how pleased we are with the performance of the 2.0 liter four-banger engine coupled with the 9-speed transmission. I fail to see the value of spending A LOT more money to get the 450 or even worse, the AMG variants. Unless you’re inclined to race rice rockets from traffic lights, the 350 engine is reasonably useful IMHO for almost all driving, unless of course you live in Leadville, CO. The guys that review AMG cars in magazines and on YouTube are driving loaner vehicles they can personally Ill afford. It all makes for interesting reading, ignoring the fact that most GLE buyers, the silent majority, buy the boring 350 vehicles.

 

I feel the same way. No 450s anywhere to be found so I thought I was “settling” for a 350. Couldn’t be happier especially since I found myself driving at 90mph on the Atlantic City Expressway. And .... still fun to drive.

 

I cringed at buying a $65k car with a puny 4 cylinder lawn mower engine. Well I'm a believer! I also own a 1999 Pontiac Firebird with a 3.8 liter V6 that peaks out at 200 hp and a 2013 Chevy Tahoe with a 5.3 liter V8 that delivers over 300 hp but is much slower due to the massive weight of the truck. I got an initial bad taste in my mouth with this GLE350 because of some problems out of the gate but the dealer made it right and it's been a fun ride ever since. If pushed, this thing runs like a scalded beagle and still gets 25-30 mpg!

 

I'm curious if you've driven both variants? I test drove the 350 and eventually bought a 450 and found the 450 driving experience to be far superior, even though I'm not racing anyone. My wife doesn't particularly like to drive, but even as a passenger she noticed the difference.

I found myself concerned that the 350 did not respond great in highway traffic, and I worried it wouldn't handle snowy northeast winters well. I also was concerned about trying to tow a trailer through the Appalachians or Adirondacks in the summer. I'm sure the 350 is excellent for about 80 percent of what I would need it to do, but I personally enjoy and feel better about the 6-cylinder experience than I did about the 4-cylinder.

Obviously, everyone has different needs, so ​​​​I'm absolutely not saying there's no place for the 350. My test drive with it was an adequate driving experience in a beautiful vessel. I'd rather have the 350 than many other similarly-priced SUVs. But, for me, the added cost of the engine was worth it.

 

For all the reasons you stated, evidently the 450 is better for you. I never drove it because where we live and where we would ever expect to drive the car, the extra power is superfluous. Likewise, our car doesn’t have 4Matic because we would never take it on roads nor in any weather conditions where it would be beneficial.

We were concerned about the ability to easily handle long grades, to safely pass on two-lane roads, and to cruise effortlessly at speeds of 80 mph or more, and the 2L engine just gets the job done for us. And besides, we saved seven grand even though we still managed to spend $70,000 out the door.

 

I really wanted a 450. Test drove both, the 450 had the AMG appearance package & wasn't the color I wanted. I hesitated so long that it sold rather quickly so the 450 was taken out of my hands. Finally bought the 350 after a total neurotic breakdown. No 450s anywhere. Hated the 350 sound of the engine on the test drive but the power seemed adequately balanced. Gotta admit it's turned out to be a real winner for me. Just love it more every day; I don't even notice the 4 cyl buzz anymore.

 

Exactly, getting what you need is the priority. There's not a lot of area in Arizona where you'd need the extra power except for the sheer enjoyment of it, and that's not much of a reason to shell out an extra $7K for most people. Even here in New England, as I noted, I only need the extra power for maybe 20 percent of my driving. Similarly, members here who have the AIRMATIC or E-ABC suspension swear by it, but those options are more difficult (and more expensive) to come by, so most drivers skip them (AIRMATIC is the one option I sacrificed on my rig that I wish I had).

 

I’m old enough that when I hear the term four-banger, I still think of that Plymouth I owned when I was in college where I had to add a quart of oil every couple of days. I eventually moved on to a flat-head Ford V8 and thought I died and went to heaven. So, it wasn’t easy for me this time, even with the 7.1 seconds zero to 60 and the turbo and all that stuff. I felt that extra second was going to cost me seven grand and enough already!

Likewise, the notion of “leatherette” seats didn’t sit well with me despite the MBTex claims of goodness, because I know my leatherette, and no sir, not for me, too much of a reach. So we got the real deal which is pretty nice, just like on my 16 year old CLK Cab.

 

This thread is an excellent example of why automakers make different models. We all have different wants and needs. If there was just one vehicle that was right for all of us, the world would be a pretty boring place. No need to justify what you purchased, just enjoy the moment!

 

I agree with all your points. I opted for the 450 for it’s performance, quiet and smooth operation. The 48 v system is quite amazing technology. A belt-less motor with a mild hybrid and integrated starter that make the start/stop unnoticeable. In eco mode the engines shuts down and coasts and restarts unnoticeably. A great engine overall

 

Ditto. I have driven 350 loaners, and while reasonably spunky and serviceable, the powertrain just lacks that extra refinement.

 

I'm the same as you. Hearing of a 4 cylinder motor and MBTex seats took me back to that 1971 Chevy Vega with the over sized lawn mower engine and cracked vinyl seats I had in school. Technology sure has come a long way!

 

I too agree the 48V system, with the MGA integrated into the drive train in combination with electrically driven accessories is a smart design. However, I purchased the 350 because I unexpectedly discovered one in the color my wife required (emerald green) with all the options I wanted at my local dealer 3.5 miles away. Although I was leaning towards ordering a 450, I am pleased with the performance of the 350 as it meets my expectations and gets excellent fuel economy.

However, I can't help but question why Mercedes did not install the 48 v system on the 350 GLE? To me, it seems that would be a perfect marriage -- torque & hp assist from the electric motor, unpreceptable start/stops, and a fuel economy boost from the mild hybrid system. Perhaps they will in the future, and up the MGA output to somewhere between 60-100 HP to make electric only driving in stop and go traffic possible. In most cases, you only use that extra HP in the 450 when accelerating hard for 5-10 seconds, and that extra HP could be provided by an appropriately sized MGA sandwiched between the engine and transmission.

 

Good question. Maybe it has to do with economics....It is a costly upgrade. I do feel this 48v tech is a good bridge to keep the ICE going until full BEV's are more available. As battery tech improves and the charging infrastructure gets built out, BEVs are the future. BTW - my other car is an Audi eTron. Love all aspects of a BEV, smooth, quiet and extremely powerful.

 

i haven't driven the 450 but i can already tell the 350 is noticeably underpowered. once you get to fwy speed the car is ok (still bad pick up tq) but in-town local driving the car is just slow. of course it's not horrible and i do think i am above average when it comes to "driver mode", i just wish 450 was available when we shopped (the whole GLE inventory was horrible when we shopped).

 

I posted a lot here during my search for a satisfactory GLE after my ordered vehicle got delayed in April 2019. I searched far and wide, probably contacted two dozen dealerships from New England to the Left Coast and many places in between. Maybe it's better now, but for the impatient among us, sacrifices had to be made if we wanted to get a rig in a reasonable time frame. Personally, I gave up on the AIRMATIC because it just wasn't in stock anywhere. I finally found a rig that everything I wanted (plus a couple upgrades that I didn't care about, but I'm now glad I have, such as the Acoustic Package) except the upgraded suspension and we decided to pull the trigger. I haven't regretted it a bit.

 

well at least it's not my car (my wife drives it mostly) and she is ok with the setup so i am not complaining. but if it were to drive the car more, i would definitely want at least the 450. when we shopped our car we didn't have much choice, we previous lease on the gl550 was expiring and we didn't want to extend the lease so we had to get something. it was down to gle350 (since no 450) or the glc43. the glc was just too small and the setup wasn't luxurious enough, so we basically had to settle for the gle350. i triple asked my wife if 350 was enough for her and so far she does seem happy.

 

Ha, I crack up at the 350 bashers. It’s not a sports car. Buy a different vehicle. Well more than enough for what it is, especially in sport mode. I’m freaking 65 years old, I can’t count how many muscle cars I’ve owned since age 16. I use mine to take my grandkids to tennis lessons. Haul crap my wife has bought to drag down to our second home in Florida. Oh darn, wish I could get from 0 to 60 ....2 seconds faster to get that crap you bought at Home Goods down there quicker......lol.......and lose 8mpg. It’s a freaking modified station wagon not a sports car.

 

You're not wrong, and please don't take me as a 350 basher. Driving the 350 was what convinced me to buy a GLE in the first place (we never test drove the 450 until the day we took delivery). Hell, most of the time I drive my 450 in Eco mode, not sport, so I'm certainly not a racer. While I can't speak for anyone else, I personally feel my kids are significantly safer because I have the extra power at my disposal to accelerate that much faster as I merge onto the highway, move through traffic, or cut across several lanes to turn left onto a 4-lane road. Those are everyday occurrences for me and, while not used nearly as often, it's nice to have that power when towing in the mountains. My 23 mpg average in town isn't too shabby, either.

As others noted upthread, that's the beauty of having different trims and options. Drivers are so different and their needs vary so widely, it's great to have a choice. Most 350 buyers, I'm sure, would tell you the engine fits their needs, same as most 450 owners will tell you the 6-cylinder meets their needs. But objectively speaking and price notwithstanding, I don't think there is much doubt that the 450 is the better drive. It's not necessary for many consumers and that's OK. I responded to the initial post that suggested the 450 was basically a waste of money unless "you like racing rice rockets at stop lights," a statement I personally disagree with. There absolutely is utility in driving the 6-cylinder for many buyers who don't necessarily want to race anyone.

All that said, tell more about the muscle cars. I love 'em. I've owned three Mustangs (all of which were on the low end of the engine offerings ) and traded my last one, a 2005, for my first Mercedes, a 2012 C300. I miss that '05 and when I no longer need the size of an SUV, I'm sure I'll be looking to put another pony in my stable -- hopefully one with more power!

 

Whole thing for me was the sound of the engine. I never really liked the sound of the "4" but I eventually got used to it. When I test drive the 450 with the AMG exterior package, I was surprised that the car really wasn't that much quieter. I find the 350 totally adequate & haven't really felt the lack of power. My prior car was an Audi q7 with the 6cyl engine and it actually felt slower; but then again the car is heavier.

 

I'm not sure if I am misunderstanding. Are you saying you were surprised the 450 wasn't that much quieter than the 350?

 

I just drove to my home in Florida from NJ. 1200 miles in one day. The 350 performed flawlessly. We had 3 adults and cargo for 5 adults. We were loaded. The car had enough power and did not leave me wanting more. The MPG was impressive, in the low to mid 30s. And it was very comfortable.

 

Pretty much. I think because it had the AMG package the sport exhaust system may have had something to do with it. No 450s anywhere around the DC/Balto Metro area without it. I just had to get past the whole 350 thing and finally had to pull the trigger because I needed a car. Had the car for 2 months now and haven’t really felt any lack of power.

 

What more could you ask for? Exactly my same sentinments.