New 350 vs 450
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Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 25
Likes: 2
From: MA
2013 GL 450
New 350 vs 450
I know there are million threads on this but looking for some recent model (2026) advice. My wife recently had a minor fender bender with her 2013 GL450 which when the repair shop started looking around it became a total loss. Too bad because she loved that car.
Fast forward to today we went looking at a new GLE. Found what she wants - Selenite grey with black mbtex and the grey wood trim. And has to be AMG trim package. She drove a GLE350 and liked it, even though it doesnt pull like her old v8. MSRP was $76,810 so not heavily optioned. She doesnt care about the Driver Assistance Pkg (I like that but I have a similar package on my 25 Toyota Forerunner). Dealer is offering $3500 off and additional $2000 off if we use MB financing. It has the Night package and 5 spoke wheels but we both prefer the multispoke wheels with the selenite but not a deal breaker. But dealer also found a GLE450 for $79,550 - same colors and multispoke wheels and 450 comes with the AMG appearance. Am I crazy not to get the 450 for $2700 more? Again she thought the 350 power was adequate.
Fast forward to today we went looking at a new GLE. Found what she wants - Selenite grey with black mbtex and the grey wood trim. And has to be AMG trim package. She drove a GLE350 and liked it, even though it doesnt pull like her old v8. MSRP was $76,810 so not heavily optioned. She doesnt care about the Driver Assistance Pkg (I like that but I have a similar package on my 25 Toyota Forerunner). Dealer is offering $3500 off and additional $2000 off if we use MB financing. It has the Night package and 5 spoke wheels but we both prefer the multispoke wheels with the selenite but not a deal breaker. But dealer also found a GLE450 for $79,550 - same colors and multispoke wheels and 450 comes with the AMG appearance. Am I crazy not to get the 450 for $2700 more? Again she thought the 350 power was adequate.
Last edited by bancroftdg; Yesterday at 12:43 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,217
Likes: 6,276
I know there are million threads on this but looking for some recent model (2026) advice. My wife recently had a minor fender bender with her 2013 GL450 which when the repair shop started looking around it became a total loss. Too bad because she loved that car.
Fast forward to today we went looking at a new GLE. Found what she wants - Selenite grey with black mbtex and the grey wood trim. And has to be AMG trim package. She drove a GLE350 and liked it, even though it does pull like her old v8. MSRP was $76,810 so not heavily optioned. She doesnt care about the Driver Assistance Pkg (I like that but I have a similar package on my 25 Toyota Forerunner). Dealer is offering $3500 off and additional $2000 off if we use MB financing. It has the Night package and 5 spoke wheels but we both prefer the multispoke wheels with the selenite but not a deal breaker. But dealer also found a GLE450 for $79,550 - same colors and multispoke wheels and 450 comes with the AMG appearance. Am I crazy not to get the 450 for $2700 more? Again she thought the 350 power was adequate.
Fast forward to today we went looking at a new GLE. Found what she wants - Selenite grey with black mbtex and the grey wood trim. And has to be AMG trim package. She drove a GLE350 and liked it, even though it does pull like her old v8. MSRP was $76,810 so not heavily optioned. She doesnt care about the Driver Assistance Pkg (I like that but I have a similar package on my 25 Toyota Forerunner). Dealer is offering $3500 off and additional $2000 off if we use MB financing. It has the Night package and 5 spoke wheels but we both prefer the multispoke wheels with the selenite but not a deal breaker. But dealer also found a GLE450 for $79,550 - same colors and multispoke wheels and 450 comes with the AMG appearance. Am I crazy not to get the 450 for $2700 more? Again she thought the 350 power was adequate.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 775
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From: Pennsylvania
2024 GLE 450 4matic
The 350 is not buzzy, it runs fine. I had a 2020 350 and traded it in only because I wanted more options. The 2024 450 I have now is a much nicer car in terms of comfort and convenience options and I would have bought it if it was a 350.
Get the one she likes best.
Get the one she likes best.
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,217
Likes: 6,276
The GLE is not an elephant but still not light so the 450 makes more sense maybe just maybe it will be fine in a sedan but the 4 banger even in the X254 GLC 300 I driven it lacks pulling power above a certain speed and it felt like it was struggling. This is despite the X254 GLC is lighter (according to google it is almost 800 lbs lighter) than the V167 GLE.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
Likes: 2,184
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
I had a 2020 350 as a loaner for a month while my 450 was being returned, and put over a thousand miles on it, driving all around Colorado at 5,000 to 12,000 ft elevation, during the high traffic season of Aspen watching.
I was surprised at how capable it was (after I got rid of the 87 octane that was in it - HUGE improvement).
This was before the ISG, so less responsive than newer versions.
In normal driving, once I "calibrated" my right foot to the turbo lag, it moved the car pretty well.
The only time I really ran out of power was in passing maneuvers on winding two lanes, where it ran out of steam at 75mph. My 450 gave me about 15 more mph to complete passes.
That's pretty irresponsible driving, so after a couple of treacherous moves, I became Normal and stayed in line. Following the annual Aspen Lookie Loo's.
(My AMG53 takes that same passing completion speed up to 105, for comparison.)
A surprise - I got @28-30mpg, where I'd get 30-32 with the 450.
Depending on your intended useage, it's probably plenty of motor, especially with the newer ISG.
I was surprised at how capable it was (after I got rid of the 87 octane that was in it - HUGE improvement).
This was before the ISG, so less responsive than newer versions.
In normal driving, once I "calibrated" my right foot to the turbo lag, it moved the car pretty well.
The only time I really ran out of power was in passing maneuvers on winding two lanes, where it ran out of steam at 75mph. My 450 gave me about 15 more mph to complete passes.
That's pretty irresponsible driving, so after a couple of treacherous moves, I became Normal and stayed in line. Following the annual Aspen Lookie Loo's.
(My AMG53 takes that same passing completion speed up to 105, for comparison.)
A surprise - I got @28-30mpg, where I'd get 30-32 with the 450.
Depending on your intended useage, it's probably plenty of motor, especially with the newer ISG.
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MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,217
Likes: 6,276
I had a 2020 350 as a loaner for a month while my 450 was being returned, and put over a thousand miles on it, driving all around Colorado at 5,000 to 12,000 ft elevation, during the high traffic season of Aspen watching.
I was surprised at how capable it was (after I got rid of the 87 octane that was in it - HUGE improvement).
This was before the ISG, so less responsive than newer versions.
In normal driving, once I "calibrated" my right foot to the turbo lag, it moved the car pretty well.
The only time I really ran out of power was in passing maneuvers on winding two lanes, where it ran out of steam at 75mph. My 450 gave me about 15 more mph to complete passes.
That's pretty irresponsible driving, so after a couple of treacherous moves, I became Normal and stayed in line. Following the annual Aspen Lookie Loo's.
(My AMG53 takes that same passing completion speed up to 105, for comparison.)
A surprise - I got @28-30mpg, where I'd get 30-32 with the 450.
Depending on your intended useage, it's probably plenty of motor, especially with the newer ISG.
I was surprised at how capable it was (after I got rid of the 87 octane that was in it - HUGE improvement).
This was before the ISG, so less responsive than newer versions.
In normal driving, once I "calibrated" my right foot to the turbo lag, it moved the car pretty well.
The only time I really ran out of power was in passing maneuvers on winding two lanes, where it ran out of steam at 75mph. My 450 gave me about 15 more mph to complete passes.
That's pretty irresponsible driving, so after a couple of treacherous moves, I became Normal and stayed in line. Following the annual Aspen Lookie Loo's.
(My AMG53 takes that same passing completion speed up to 105, for comparison.)
A surprise - I got @28-30mpg, where I'd get 30-32 with the 450.
Depending on your intended useage, it's probably plenty of motor, especially with the newer ISG.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
Likes: 2,184
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
The most noticeable was an AMG C43, which felt like a Subaru. Luckily it only had 3/4 tank so I ran it down to a quarter, filled with 91, and it was like night and day. Understatement.
My dealer is a 200 mile round trip, so I get to know the cars a bit.
Last edited by mikapen; Yesterday at 08:00 PM.
