This 2020 GLE 450 is my third MB. I’ve had a 2014 ML 350 and then a 2017 GLE 350. I’ve taken my prior cars on trips from NY to Florida and the seat comfort was fantastic for long trips. My new GLE 450 is such a disappointment on long trips. The seat are so painfully uncomfortable for me and my wife. We took a trip from Florida to NC (750 miles or 11 hours). After two hours it becomes so uncomfortable. I am leaving on the return trip tomorrow and have borrowed seat cushions to get us home. I will need to find a solution for this issue. Does anyone have any recommendations for seat pads? I will not buy another MB with the same seats. Appreciate any advice. Thanks

 

This is a very personal, subjective thing. We owned a couple of MLs. We still have a CLK. We traded in a Lexus RX to get the GLE. We think the seats are fine, good support, firm like in most German cars. No complaints.

 

thanks for the feedback. Have you been on any long trips? Over 2 hours? I find seats are ok on short term drives.

 

We have a GLC300 and have a GLE350 on order. Just based upon test drive, we find the seats in the GLE to be more comfortable. It's all subjective. In either event, the MB seats were more comfortable to us than the BMW 535 which we owned prior to the GLC.

 

Last month we drove 1100 miles over a 3-day weekend. I’m also in my 80s, so I enjoy all the decrepitness that goes along with that situation. We do think the seats are a bit narrow but not enough of an issue to impact our overall enjoyment of driving the vehicle.

 

Based on the OP’s comments, MB is losing it. They have lost their way.

The OP is a serially-experienced MB owner, there is credibility in the comments.

 

Not surprised. Don't expect Mercedes to put that much into luxury and comfort. The primary focus is on tech, tech and more tech followed by energy savings through lightweight material all the while sacrificing quality and experience. If you want good seats, pony up and get one of the higher line MB's.

 

I've driven an older GLC on a 12-hr drive in California a few years back and the seat comfort was excellent.
I drove my 450 all the way to Toronto, and the seat comfort was excellent as well. Maybe you're just getting older.

 

No problem with our seat comfort and we are old😬 14 months and at least a dozen all day drives of 8-10 hours. Mercedes did not cheap the seats but I love the continual criticism from people that don’t even own one👎.

 

Which seats do you have? I have the leather multicontour seats with heat, ventilation, and massage in mine...they are fantastic...the best seats I've ever owned.

 

It’s been some time since I used a seat cushion for a bruised tailbone but I have some advice. Find a wedge shaped one that tapers to nothing under your legs. I found that most of them caused my legs to go to sleep after several hours...this is also bad for potential deep vein thrombosis, a fatal condition.
To do it right I would have an upholstery shop custom make them out of memory foam and the size to fit and with cover material to best match your seats. Normally too soft of a seat can be worse than one that’s too firm. With a custom One, you could try some uncovered material to test first.

 

You just wait: @places , @chassis, @E55Greasemonkey , and @hyperion667 - none of whom own a current GLE, will educate you about it.

 

If you want comfy seats, no one beats Volvo.
Now, you also have to get the rest of the vehicle that comes with those seats.

 

i have same seats. It’s most likely a personal thing as most responses are positive. I just never had an issue on my prior two MB.

 

This may be obvious, but did you adjust the lumbar and especially the side bolsters from the MBUX screen? For the massage seats, those settings aren't controlled via the seat buttons on the door, only through the Comfort menu. When I first got the car, the side bolsters were set pretty narrow so I wasn't comfortable. I expanded them a bit via the screen and now love the seats, including for a 6 hour drive I did a couple weeks ago.

 

I really think this is the biggest issue. Well it’s my issue. I don’t have massage seats, only the kinetics and with those there’s no way to adjust the side bolsters at all and I believe that’s what’s making the seat uncomfortable for me.

 

Thanks mallox
Ive done all the adjustments, I just feel there isn't enough cushion depth for long hauls. I keep a seat cushion in trunk for the full day drives! I do like the car, the MBUX and he 48v system. Great engineering.

 

Had a loaner 2020 GLE for a week while my ML350 was in for recalls. No issues at all with the seats. Only drove 1 MB that had bad seats and that was a old C Class. We took the loaner on a 300 mile trip. Seats are very comfy. Maybe you just have not found your seat position yet. Play with the settings.

 

I have the Dinamica Sport seats, which are different than yours. We found them initially not as comfortable as the Sport seats in our W166. I have adapted somewhat and have done a couple 6-hour drives and they are just okay.

 

The multicontour seat are adjustable both mechanically (up, down, tilt, forward, aft, and bottom cushion extender), and with air bladders for the side/back/bottom bolsters. They also use the air bladders for the different programmable massages. To adjust the air bladders, you have to use the seat adjustment feature on MBUX, and move an arch shape line to make the adjustments...it's not very intuitive, and you have adjust it with trail and error. That said, when the air bladders are inflated, they are hard, so perhaps you need to let the air out of them -- no arch on the MBUX adjustment screen. Do you use the massage routines and heat during your drives (for back and bottom), does that help?