WSABlue430

Hi! The 2024 facelift is gorgeous.. coming from the 2020 GLE350 - WOW! I have to say the 2024 GLE 350 was definitely better than my 2020 GLE 350 as far as pick-up BUT while driving I still felt that high RPM (at times) and lag. The start and stop was smoother I have to say. After test driving the smooth, super quiet hybrid start on the GLE 450, I decided to buy it! Its quick and ready to go, what a night and day feel!!! Picking her up Monday. She was wrapped up in plastic and cardboard and brand spanking new. I can't wait to get my new GLE 450 and post pics and a detailed review. This is one amazing SUV and the upgrade is very noticeable. THANK YOU to all of you amazing dedicated GLE owners for all your comments/opinions, you helped me tons!!

W205C43PFL

Glad you got to test drive one, very much appreciate you posting your experience with it, your post will most likely help others that are deciding if they want to get the facelift GLE 350 and if they didn't find the power adequate prior to the pre-facelift or if they hated the lag. So the answer seems to be that it is still not a big enough improvement, GLE 450 it is for you : ) Congrats on your purchase and looking forward to pictures.

djgiovanni

Should make the power band more linear, however, it is still not as powerful as the W166 3.5 engine and certainly not as smooth.

W205C43PFL

I mean true now I get it, it is physics in that case. Four cylinders will never be as smooth as six or eight.

efr1

We test drove a white with tan interior '24 GL350 this morning. We have also been looking at the '23 GLC. A lot to like here. From a power standpoint, the early parts of acceleration felt good, like pulling out of a parking lot onto a side street or whatever. Where we thought it kind of failed was power at speed, like highway driving at 65 or so, and then hitting the gas to pass and so on. It just did not seem to have a lot to give. That is really what was a no for us as to the GL350...power band was insufficient. For a new car it already had dirt or grease stains on the interior B pillar....which reminded us to stick with a black or maybe a saddle brown interior. The light color was beautiful...but there is a price to pay dow the road.

W205C43PFL

I forgot if the facelift V167 GLE 350 shares the same engine as the the pre-facelift just with the additional 48V mild hybrid system. The pre-facelift uses the M264, not sure if it is still does, the X254 GLC 300 uses the new M254 also with the 48V mild hybrid system. I guess that dirt or grease stains on that new 2024 GLE 350 is because of people test driving? Haven't gone through too much research with the M254 vs M264, that said, the X254 GLC 300 is lighter than the V167 GLE 350 so it is easier on the engine and the facelift (I do believe the 48V mild hybrid system on the facelift V167 GLE 350 made it heavier? again just my guess)

efr1

From what I saw, the '23 GLC weighs about 4,200 pounds, and the '24 GLE is about 4,900. That may be the difference in performance as I don't recall when we drove the GLC thinking there was particular deficiency in the engine. But, again, when we first pulled put of the dealership we thought ....yea, this has OK power. But then we got on the freeway, floored it and there was engine noise, but not a whole lot going on. That was my big concern as I had read that about the GLE350. Handling seemed 'luxurious' meaning not sporty or tight. just OK. And the stains/marks on the B pillar, I would assume were from either a previous test drive, or the prep people after it got to the dealership. We have only had one light interior in our last few cars and this kind of reminded us of how dirty that tan interior got....black is usually the best choice to avoid that (although that light beige or whatever MB calls it, together with the black parts were great looking in the GLE....new. I really wanted to like it but we suffered through a Land Rover when Ford owned it) that had a V6 that was terrible...I think it was a Ford Explorer V6 dropped into a Land Rover that weighed significantly more, and it struggled. People have commented to get the GLE450 and I can see why. Of note is that the 2024 BMW X5 starts out with their terrific straight 6 and I can why.

W205C43PFL

I guess dark interior still gets dirty or even filthy easily just like light interiors just that we don't see it. that said, I too go with dark interiors with the same reason you have. The other con is how much heat it attracts in the summer even with ceramic tinting and stuff, although a dark exterior paint also is a reason.

efr1

Correct, it's just as dirty you just don't see it. Not only was our tan Land Rover, after a bunch of years, pretty bad looking when we sold it, Land Rover was dumb enough to also put tan carpet in it, and you can imagine how long it took to make that look real bad. Even floor mats can only cover so much. No matter what, getting that tan back to 'clean' is impossible. Living in Las Vegas we try to stick with white exteriors. GLE is beautiful...if you get a 450 or up, I'm envious.

W205C43PFL

Don't worry I'm not... OP did though.

WSABlue430

js_cls

Congrats on the upgrade! She's a beauty.

efr1

Congrats! Just be caerful with that light interior. That exterior is awesome, that 450 would be my choice, and I don't know what it is about those running boards, but they really finish off the look....in my opinion.

W205C43PFL

Congrats and thanks for the pictures, car looks good!

WSABlue430

Thank you everyone! I'm very happy I took the 450 and thank you ALL for your advice!

W205C43PFL

Enjoy in good health