7,700 Pounds of towing capacity, that's excellent. The BMW X5 50e and Mercedes GLE550e have always had a leg up on anything in the hybrid SUV world when it comes to towing. Nice to see Mercedes upping that to a whopping 7,700 lbs.

 

I got my GLE 450e last August (2023). Just to give a quick update on mileage: I'm still getting just-over 60 mile all-electric; on my trip gauge, I'm showing 8965 miles since reset and ... 75% all-electric over that time, with mpg of 107. One trip to dealer for seat-cushion replacement and rear trunk rubber gasket. I'm still very happy with the SUV.

 

It seems to me that, once the electric is drained and the 4 banger is the only source of power, you’re really driving a GLE350.

 

Yes. A heavy one.

 

If the GLE 450e is anything like my GLE 550e, once the battery is depleted, the car tries to maintain a bit of charge to assist in passing. Too much spirited driving, and you can deplete what little charge is left. At least in my 550e, you could charge the battery with the engine while going down the highway.

 

yes the 450e weighs 17% more than the 350.

 

But is a full hybrid even when no range.

 

I don’t think it’s a full hybrid but a passive hybrid just like the gas powered 350 and 450.

 

I am baffled that so many people hope to defy physics. A generoudly sized SUV is not a sports car. Even the best engineering, powertrain and suspension cannot turn it into a sports car.

The 450e is a well proportioned luxury SUV that greatly benefits from electrification. Having owned one for 11 months I can confirm it is excellent for both city use as well as out of town trips.

In the city the pure electric drive is snappy, quiet, cost effective and convenient. The battery range is about 60 miles which I never deplete in daily use. Often I do both street and freeway driving. The electric motor can handle both, without speed restriction. I charge at night and start each morning with full range, ready to go. I never visit a gas station in town.

On a trip my combined battery and gas range is longer than the gas version of this SUV. I love that this is a high performance hybrid because the electric motor is bigger than one in a non-plug-in hybrid. That means my combined hp and torque is more.

While there is only 60 mi of plug-in-range the hybrid software manages the battery charge so there is always hybrid capacity even when the battery range shows 0. There are many times the engine (ice) is at 0 rpm (coasting, braking, down hill) and only the electric motor is used with mild acceleration when the battery only range is exhausted.

The hybrid performance is seamless between engine and motor power. Unless I am under hard acceleration I need to look at the tach to know that the ice engine is running.

I don't bother charging on a trip. But when I travel to my vacation home where I don't have a 240v charger I plug into a 120v outlet. That charge takes 24hrs which is fine since my vacation home visits are longer than a day.

Porsche does a more sporty SUV but at a substantial premium and 1/3 the battery only range (why bother). When I want to drive a sports car I don't get into an SUV.

 

it operates like a full hybrid when range is zero. One of the modes is hybrid mode.

 

The GLE450e retains a reserve of battery power even when the gauge shows zero battery. It will be more powerful than just a Gle350 due to the electric motor augmenting the engine. As stated above, when the battery shows empty but you still take off in all electric.

 

Took my first long distance trip. With 0 electric range and passing, it moves quickly. The electric boost is there.

 

Reading this thread with interest as like the OP said: "checks all the boxes".

I recently had my ML250 in for service and was chatting with the service advisor about the GLE 450e. He commented that I might want to wait a bit as they've seen some issues with these -- he mentioned cooling systems.

What's tough on a forum like this is to know the real magnitude of the problem. In other words, how many have been produced and sold, and how many are having issues? The people having problems tend to gravitate to the forums so by nature of the beast, it's a bit of a skewed view. On the other hand, if the problem is too common, I don't want to be the test pilot for the new model.

Kind regards,

B

 

I own a 2024 GLE 450e with 7500 miles in 9 months. Zero problems.

 

That is not the case with the GLE 450e. It can heat or cool while running in electric mode without using the ICE.

Furthermore, the GLE 450e can heat or cool the cabin using battery power without turning on the engine. This feature is known as "pre-entry climate control" and allows you to warm up the car before getting in, especially useful on cold days.

 

Agreed. And "pre-entry climate control" and allows you to warm up the car before getting in.

 

A little off topic... I tried a Mustart level 2 charger this morning on our GLE 450e. It looks like I am getting a higher charge rate at 9.6kw compared to the factory charger which is giving me 7.6KW. The wire on the mustart is much thicker. I have also noticed the factory charger wire get a little warm as it is charging. I have a 50A wall socket.

 

Yes, but remember, that will be a big hit on the range. Because you are not running the ICE, you can even pre-heat in a closed garage.

 

what if you are plugged in to a 120v outlet? If I work an overnight shift I have access to a standard 120 outlet in the parking lot.

 

8 hours in a 120 would give you about 18 miles of range. You do not have to be plugged in to pre-heat or cool.

 

Got it. The scenario I'm envisioning is one of the below zero nights in MN, car plugged in, and I activate warm up prior to going out to travel home. By being plugged in, I'm guessing I wouldn't pull much power from the battery?

 

Below zero will kill the battery. Probably cut range by at least 20%. Certainly being plugged in wouldn’t hurt.

 

Actually, I currently average around 50-55 electric only miles after a full charge.Which means I never use gas on my local driving. I think Kyle Conner on his YouTube channel got almost 60 miles during his 70 mile test.

 

I'm looking for some insights regarding the differences between the 6-cylinder GLE550e and the 4-cylinder GLE450e PHEV models for my towing needs. Currently, I own a 2018 GLE550e, equipped with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine that delivers 329 horsepower alongside an electric motor that adds 114 horsepower, making for a total of 436 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. I frequently tow a small boat, around 3000 lbs, during the summer, and I've always found the GLE550e to handle it effortlessly.

However, as I consider a new vehicle, I've noticed that the PHEV market seems to now favor 4-cylinder options, with the exception of the BMW X5 xDrive50e. Given that most of my trips involve towing for 100-200 miles through mountainous terrain, I'm curious: does the GLE450e have enough power for this task? Once the electric power runs out, it seems like I’d be left with a heavy vehicle and just 248 horsepower from its 2.0-liter engine.

Would love to hear your thoughts on whether the GLE450e is up to the task.

 

I would think you would love it in the mountains due to the regenerative breaking. acts like a exhaust brake. Since the car uses the electric motor, regardless of charge, you should always have some of that helping the gas engine. However, there is no replacement for displacement in towing but you can't have both economy and towing. Just depends on the weight of what you are towing.