I have my GLE 350 4matic for a little over a week. I traded in my 2018 GLC . I was concerned about the 4 cylinder turbo not having sufficient power for such a heavy vehicle. I drive my SUV quite conservatively and thus far it appears adequate , from a dead stop, as well as to passing at highway speeds. Before purchasing my GLE I also test drove the BMW X5 which did feel quicker and had a heavier feel to the steering. My wife and I both liked the exterior of the GLE better and especially the interior, no comparison, a generation ahead. I am not an expert, nor a car aficionado, however I do feel that many people on MBWorld are. I would greatly appreciate any feedback regarding my new purchase with regard to power being sufficient. I also purchased the 20in. wheels , simply because they gave the GLE a better look . Any other information regarding this vehicle would also be appreciated. Thanks

 

Your trade in doesn’t make sense GLE 350 and GLC both are/same 4 cylinder engines. GLE 1000 pound heavier than the GLC. Maybe you meant to type you purchased a GLE 450??

 

No , I did purchase the GLE 350. I did not want to spend the additional $5000+ for the 450. I was simply saying that for my typical driving purposes the 350 seemed adequate. I was just looking for some feedback from others who may have owned their GLE 350 for a longer time and was hoping that they would share their impressions. Thanks for your response

 

You will get many opinions based on preference. We have a GLE 580 and would not have a 350 or 450 based on the fact we like more power than probably needed. I would say as long as you are happy and feel confident with the 4 cylinder that is all that matters.

 

Thanks, I live in an area where there are many lights and stop signs. The 4 cylinders get me there fast enough, I was just hoping that after a few months I would not have buyer’s remorse regarding not opting for the 450.

 

Congratulations on your purchase. You are in the best position to decide if the power is sufficient for your needs.

What do you think so far? Do you tow a boat or camper? Do you carry 4 people and luggage on long trips?

 

4600 LB SUV with a four banger. Still cant believe it.

 

The resident hater will work hard to make you regret your purchase. I have a 2020 350 and am quite satisfied with the 4 cylinder motor. Seeing gas prices approach $4 a gallon makes me like it even more!

 

Do not tow , generally just my wife and I in GLE . So far so good. Believe me, if it were not for the $5000+ I would have gone for the 450 . Putting the $5000 toward my grandson’s college fund, that’s where I can get some “mileage “ for my money

 

Congratulations. I wish you well with the purchase and hopefully you don’t need MB corporate support.
As for the engine, it’s all depends on you the driver. I’ve had the smaller engines in other MBs and had been fine. But once I got the taste of the bigger motors, I was hooked. Just enjoy your car.

 

Thanks for your kind words

 

Oh ok congratulations hope you enjoy your new rig.

 

Bryce -congrats, you will love it. I have had mine about a year, and I really enjoy it. Places, I agree - I never would have believed it was possible to get reasonable performance from a 2.0L engine in a 4,600 vehicle, but it's quite enjoyable to drive. You won't mistake it for a 450 or a 580 for sure, but I have been using mine for frequent 1,600 mile round trips between NC and NY during the pandemic, and it is really optimized for that type of driving. I can do 800 miles in a day, plenty of power on hills, really great on gas, tons of room... It's not a great choice for towing, but for long distance cruising in comfort and safety, even the 2.0L engine gets it done nicely.

 

You kind of mimic my intended usage for my 350. I purchased the towing package because if I wanted a GLE out of inventory it had it already. Will most likely never use it. To custom order several dealers informed me that expected delivery is late June to early July. Thanks again

 

Oh boy, you'll see all ends of the spectrum here, just like any car forums. How you view the image of Mercedes-Benz also matters I think. For example, most here in the US correlates MB only as a luxury brand, so it's gotta be the smoothest, highest quality, biggest engine you got, most forward gear transmission, etc2. For the rest of the world though, any European marquee has been including 4 cylinders petrol and diesels for years, and they're used for public transport too. And the 4 cylinders are getting better over time; when the XC90 first came with the 4 cylinder, it was tuned so bad and so rough. But they've gotten a lot better now. I think MB came in at the right time with their 350.

We have a 4-cylinder CDI ML250 (4-cylinder turbodiesel) overseas and personally didn't mind the additional "clutter" the engine makes for the past 7 years, and going into the GLE350 here in the US was not that large of a departure. It had less HP but more torque than the 350, but overall balance performance between the two, we think they're about similar. But that was our personal experience; the first time we drove the GLE350, we had an "aha" moment that it felt just like our ML250. I also daily a VW Golf TDI which I also enjoy dearly despite VW's tainted image, so that gives you a background as well. So if you can live with what it does and doesn't do, heck enjoy it lol.

But I also don't disagree in terms of smooth buttery feel of the 6-cylinder engine. My W204 V6 is so smooth and refined, feels like a million bucks starting that engine. But it has same, if not worse MPG as the car twice its size and 2 less cylinders, so there you go.

For what it's worth, GLE350 is only available for the US market (someone correct me here if I'm wrong), which got me puzzled why they don't offer it elsewhere to the rest-of-the-world.

 

Thanks and very informative. I drove the GLE 350 for a test drive and drove it harder than I would if I owned it. It never felt quick however it also never felt underpowered. We are really enjoying the wonderful amenities. Having the 350 gives me even more time to enjoy its luxury than 450 and 580 owners because it takes me longer to get to the next red light. Thanks and stay safe

 

I had my GLE 350 for almost 2 weeks now and I am satisfied with the 4 cylinder engine. Prior to the GLE I had an E300 that had slightly less HP than the GLE, but the E felt very underpowered (with just me in it and especially with passengers in it), and the transmission was not smooth and seemed to always stick between 2, 3, and 4th gears (brought it to multiple dealerships to fix and they could not fix it). The GLE feels like it has adequate power to move it in normal driving conditions and it has a very comfortable ride for not having air suspension. I have the 20 inch AMG/Night package wheels with Michelin run flat tires and I barely hear the road (unlike my E300 which had the 19 inch AMG wheels with Goodyear run flats).

When I test-drove the X5, it did feel quicker and maybe the transmission was a tad smoother, but it did not feel like anything special, especially at its price point. Hands down the GLE feels like a better car (I know it's a subjective opinion).

Overall it seems like you made a good choice, but more importantly it matters how YOU feel about it rather than what the rest of us think.

 

Thanks, I am enjoying it and that’s what it’s all about. I have always used premium fuel in my MB, I will continue to do so especially since I own rather than lease it. I do know people that use regular gas in their GLC and GLB. They feel why spend for premium when it is a lease , any thoughts on that?

 

People actually do that? Putting regular gas in a car that requires premium I think is asinine. Although my GLE is a lease I still take care of it as if I owned it because who knows, I may want to buy it at the end of the lease (even though its very unlikely). Also with a lease if it has engine issues or problems upon return then the lessee could be held responsible for the damage.

My thinking is if people cannot afford/won't spend the money to put the correct gas then don't get a premium car. As one of my favorite tiktok people say, "If you aint got no dolla don't be a bolla"

 

Yes.
Because of today's engine management systems, you will lose power and fuel economy by using lower octane fuels. In my tests, 91 octane pays for itself.
And when picking up a loaner, which invariably has been fed cheap gas, there is definitely a difference in performance. If I have one long enough to put a good dose of 91 octane, it comes alive. (Another reason NOT to judge a car by driving a Service Loaner.)

There are knock (and other) sensors that monitor combustion, and continually try to bump the performance (spark and valve timing, mixture etc.) and "back off" to lower performance if the fuel isn't up to par. It prevents engine damage on one hand, when you use lower octane, but also increases efficiency with higher octane.

FWIW Mercedes is approaching the magic 50% engine efficiency with their ICE's (Internal Combustion Engines), which some say is the number where ICE becomes more environmentally friendly than EV's. I like that because I am fond of ICE - hope they can get there.

Than of course there's the better additive packages with premium fuels, which will probably become noticeable after about 40,000 miles. Maybe a lot less with direct injection cars. Which is also why I seek out Top Tier fuel when possible.

 

Thanks for passing along this information. I do believe that engine efficiency is maximized when using the recommended fuel. It is interesting how Lexus has been able to recommend using regular gas on the 6 cylinder RX engine. Actually , test drove the RX several weeks ago before buying the GLE. Nice SUV, however in comparison to the GLE it appeared out dated and in desperate need of more than just a refresh. Stay safe

 

Over the course of 3 years with the GLC300 and now since October with the GLE350, we have noticed better fuel economy with Shell Premium. Particularly noticeable on a cross-country drive in the GLC a couple of years ago where we filled twice with Costco, once with a no-name truck stop and the rest of the trip with Shell. Consistently 2-3 mpg better with Shell, Also noticed this around town comparing Costco and Shell.

 

Here in the Peoples Republic of Pennsylvania, the choices at most pumps are 87 and 93 octane. Some places have 89 but it's 15% ethanol. This car gets such good gas mileage, I don't mind the cost of the 93.

 

Octane is almost entirely related to peak combustion pressure and by extension bmep. The RX engine has less torque supplied by 50% more cylinders than the MB M264. This means MB bmep and peak combustion pressure is substantially higher, requiring higher octane to avoid detonation (knocking).

 

[QUOTE=places;8288941]4600 LB SUV with a four banger. Still cant believe it.[/

just goes to show you what technology can do. Most of us buy more power than necessary. In my case, I was buying the trim