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So big news for all you GLE450e fans. the refresh GLE gets rid of the 4 cyl and uses the I6! Thats a huge upgrade IMO and would make me seriously consider a GLE PHEV.
I wonder if they will make the same change with the US E class? That wheezy, noisy, four banger has no place in a luxury sedan.
Isn't the PHEV in the E-class, the E53 ? Which obviously has an I-6, paired with the PHEV hardware, along with the other upgrades that come with the "53 AMG" designation.
Nice. It should have been that way from the beginning.
I don’t get hung up on whether there is a 6 or 4 under the hood. Since most of my driving is battery powered. When I do run on the ICE, I’m usually on the highway. 75 is 75 no matter what engine. Except for the usually better fuel economy. I have never had the 450e in sport mode.
I don’t get hung up on whether there is a 6 or 4 under the hood. Since most of my driving is battery powered. When I do run on the ICE, I’m usually on the highway. 75 is 75 no matter what engine. Except for the usually better fuel economy. I have never had the 450e in sport mode.
I've had the very first of every generation since 1998, currently a 2020 (7 years old next month) 450 with e-Active Body Control. I was hoping for an all new model this time but the changes sound fairly significant. It's smart to put the I6 in the PHEV version; the 4, while it does the job, is too unrefined for this class of vehicle. Good to know also there will be an advanced suspension, hopefully in the base models and not just the AMGs. I'm ready to order!
Last edited by GregW / Oregon; Mar 7, 2026 at 11:08 AM.
Isn't the PHEV in the E-class, the E53 ? Which obviously has an I-6, paired with the PHEV hardware, along with the other upgrades that come with the "53 AMG" designation.
I'm hopeful that they will bring a non-AMG version to the US. I need to replace my Tesla next March and a new E class is on my short list. I would definitely consider the PHEV if it came with the straight six. It would be even better if we peons in the US were allowed to purchase a diesel version, I would love to have an E450d. A GLE 450d would also be a nice option when it comes time to replace my GLE450.
I'm hopeful that they will bring a non-AMG version to the US. I need to replace my Tesla next March and a new E class is on my short list. I would definitely consider the PHEV if it came with the straight six. It would be even better if we peons in the US were allowed to purchase a diesel version, I would love to have an E450d. A GLE 450d would also be a nice option when it comes time to replace my GLE450.
I think "Dieselgate" killed that option for the US.
I think "Dieselgate" killed that option for the US.
It did. And forced the VW Group to spend $2 Billion to "Electrify America," a charging network.
And also to abandon ICE vehicles, which has cost them dearly.
IMO, I don't want to buy any luxury vehicle with a 4 cyl. Some of them feel okay, I like the 4 cyl in the GLC fine, but if I got a GLC it would have to be a 350e so I could do most of my driving in EV.
So big news for all you GLE450e fans. the refresh GLE gets rid of the 4 cyl and uses the I6! Thats a huge upgrade IMO and would make me seriously consider a GLE PHEV.
4 cylinders suck, especially in a ****ing heavy SUV.
I rode around in a VW Atlas this week with the 2.0L four banger. It was awful. The engine was noisy, revved to ridiculous levels just to get the car moving. The start-stop feature was jarring and the entire vehicle shook when you started moving.
I rode around in a VW Atlas this week with the 2.0L four banger. It was awful. The engine was noisy, revved to ridiculous levels just to get the car moving. The start-stop feature was jarring and the entire vehicle shook when you started moving.
I rode around in a VW Atlas this week with the 2.0L four banger. It was awful. The engine was noisy, revved to ridiculous levels just to get the car moving. The start-stop feature was jarring and the entire vehicle shook when you started moving.
I have a I6 turbo 3L Volvo XC60. I had service done and the dealership gave me a loaner new XC60 with a 2L 4 cylinder twin charge and it struggled compared to the I6.
The I6 3L turbo engine is perfection. Volvo stopped making the I6 in 2016. Now all they use are 4 cyl 2L. No thanks.
......
My view would be different if I had a big *** trailer, but then would I prefer a GLE over a truck?
Up to about 7,000 lb, the GLE will be a better tow vehicle than a pickup. Better suspension, chassis and brakes.
Anything over about 7,000# starts exceeding the cargo capacity limits on the driver's door post.
When you drive the same car with the 4 and the 6, its like a different car. Well, well worth getting the 6. In something like a C Class or GLC the 4 feels fine but in the E or the GLE the 6 makes it feel much better.
Coming up to 2 years with the 2024 GLE 450e and sorry to see the upgrade did not improve the battery and all electric range. There has been huge improvement in this technology and 60 miles or 100km is no longer the benchmark for a PHEV. I drive 90% electric and love the range for road trips with the ICE engine. Having said that, you would think that doubling the electric range with improved batteries and components would be the best improvement...regardless of what ICE engine they use for the vehicle. Suspension upgrade is a must, it's a very noisy vehicle using the run flat tires over normal city streets....OK on highway.
Vehicle has 26,000 km and looks and runs like it's new....and we have lots of foul weather up here in Vancouver. Great vehicle for me....have to see what else the upgraded model provides.
Coming up to 2 years with the 2024 GLE 450e and sorry to see the upgrade did not improve the battery and all electric range. There has been huge improvement in this technology and 60 miles or 100km is no longer the benchmark for a PHEV. I drive 90% electric and love the range for road trips with the ICE engine. Having said that, you would think that doubling the electric range with improved batteries and components would be the best improvement...regardless of what ICE engine they use for the vehicle. Suspension upgrade is a must, it's a very noisy vehicle using the run flat tires over normal city streets....OK on highway.
Vehicle has 26,000 km and looks and runs like it's new....and we have lots of foul weather up here in Vancouver. Great vehicle for me....have to see what else the upgraded model provides.
60 miles is still excellent for a PHEV. I'm shopping for one right now, and nothing has more range than the MB PHEVs, the only peer really is Range Rover. Totally happy with 60 miles of EV range
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