Hi. I'm new here, so please be kind. I'm in the market for a CPO 4MATIC GLE SUV. I'm curious from those who know about these model differences and have experiences driving these vehicles, what are the pros/cons of each?

- 2018 GLE 350 4MATIC
- 2018 or 2019 GLE 43 (which is 4MATIC as well)
- 2019 GLE 400 4MATIC

I love the night package & AMG exterior look... but I need the vehicle to be comfortable on long drives, have good handling in fast curves, and drive safely in the snow/wintery conditions.

If you have/had one of these models, I'd love to hear your HONEST opinion of them. Any feedback will help me narrow down to which might be best of me.

Thank you in advance!

All three basically are equal in snow/wintry condition. Winter tires or winter biased quality A/S tires will be a differentiator.

350 and 400 are more comfortable on longer trips than 43, because (read below)

if you really want good handling vs. just "good enough" handling, then it is clearly 43.

Agree with this. We have done several 500-3,000 mile trips in a GLE 350 4MATIC and it was very comfortable. All 4MATICS are excellent in snow, wet and off road. Off road capability of M-B SUVs is not well known, and is top notch for the class.

All models in the comparison, (350, 400 and 43) use the same engine platform, the M276 60 degree gasoline V6. This is arguably the most reliable engine platform in quite some time for Mercedes.

The 400 and 43 use the 3.0L twin turbo variant, and is well liked for its power and reliability. The 350 uses the 3.5L naturally aspirated version, and is known mainly for its reliability and adequate power for a base engine.

I think the best buy in the market now is a 2019 GLE 400 4MATIC or a 2019 GLS 450 4MATIC. Both share the M276 3.0L TT and are built on the robust and reliable W/X166 platform.

Excellent... thank you both for your experience/opinions :-)
Very helpful.

If you are driving in the mountains, go for the 3.0L bi-turbo 6. It will have much better performance than the 350.

there are some options you will want to look for if you want good handling, but can make ride a little stiffer...

active curve control, 21 in wheels, sport + mode, are a few...also look for LED headlights...

we have 2017 43 with every option, P3 package, etc. (except designo leather) and its good combo of handling, performance and comfort...

added a Dinan light tune to boost perfomance and its been a great cheap way to tweak performance.

You have an ACTIVE CURVE on GLE43? Lucky. This was standard on all ML/GLE 63s and was a special order ($3K or so) for others. I have a loaded $86K MSRP '19 GLE43 and no ACTIVE CURVE. Love it on my ML63. This is the main reason I now regret getting 43 instead of 63 (there's engine of course, but that's "minor"). It is very rare to find GLE optioned with it.

On Dinan, glad you like it after being very skeptical initially before experiencing it.

active curve, imo really works well.. it keeps the GLE flatter in curves, similar to how my Aston Martin handles on the same road...
I think my 43 stickered over 89k.

3 years later bought it under 40k with almost a year and 10k miles of warranty left.

it's more a road trip car for family trips... anxious to try some snow to the mountains this winter.

I have a 2016 GLE400 and the Airmatics (airbag suspension) are optional. I think the 43 uses standard airmatic suspension (air bag) system and the ECU is tuned more on the 43 over the 400. The 43 comes with the black accents. 400 comes with chrome but Black was an optional. The 43 calipers are different I think they have the AMG engrave but not sure on the design never compare it or look into it.

I did test drive a 2017 GLE43 when they first came out. It was a blast to drive so much fun and the power. I did not like the shifter at that time I had a hard time putting it in park, lol. I was coming from a previous CLK500 owner. When I got my GLE400. I was thinking about family road trips (gas saving).

The cabin is fine for long journeys, Comfort will very on tire choice (summer/winter), air pressures, road surface, damper setting (comfort/sport). An SUV is not a limo, but it is also not a Truck. The quality of the road surface will have the biggest impact on comfort on long journeys. 43 is more power, then you have the slight looks and options on the AMG, more a personal choice then a performance / comfort question. Can't go wrong with any of them.

Just finished a 1,500 mile round trip, and the 2017 GLE 350 4MATIC was great. Equal mix of US interstates, US highways and state+local roads. The MB-Tex is good, and the base seats are good. The size of the lower cushion is generous and the seat back bolstering is supportive. I am an average to slightly below average BMI person. Seat comfort on long drives is highly related to body type/shape/size.

Kein, do you notice a comfort difference when you use the damper settings from sport to comfort? And have you driven it in snow? How does it handle? Sometimes too much power makes snow challenging. (of course I will be using snow tires)

I had a '17 GLE43 and now an '18 GLE350. The 43 is much more fun to drive but the 350 is better for a daily driver. I took the 43 for a trip to Montana and it was windy. It kept downshifting from 9th to 8th. It also had summer performance tires that weren't so good in the snow, say 6 inches. But looking back, the 43 is a lot more fun to drive and a better choice. It was over $80K compared to $60K for the 350.

Can you snap a picture of your interior? And what is the exterior color?

black leather with carbon fiber trim. obsidian black metallic with the night package

black leather with carbon fiber trim. obsidian black metallic with the night package

oooooh puddle light running boards. I wish mine came with it.

Thanks. Do you have your window sticker by chance? I'm just wondering about sticker of $89K.

Here's mine:


Yes, your has $2.9K Active Curve, but mine has $2K more expensive Napa leather with "AMG level" seats and $800 more expensive paint. MB also was increasing price by $500 or so a year. So where is the extra $3K came from? I do not see it. Without the window sticker it is impossible to tell where the difference is.

i don't have the original sticker...i think the dealer mentioned original sticker price was over $89k... maybe included some other stuff? not sure...

is there some website to plug in options for a price?

Please, look at my sticker above. Let me know the options you have from the list and options you do not. Then, please list options that you have which are not in my sticker: I know you mentioned Active Curve previously and I see lighting running boards in the pictures. Other main options I do not have are ventilated seats and multicontured/massage seats. If you take picture of your climate system or back of your front seat - it will reveal if ventilated seats are there. Back or side picture of your front seat's headrest will tell if they are multiconture/massage seats (it is unlikely you have this options because like me you do not have memory passenger front seat). Things like that. Eventually we will get there.

I'm bored at work this morning... here goes...
soft close doors...550
trailer hitch...575
running boards 670
running board lights 650
air purification? ...280
magic vision?...350
mb wrapped dash...450
heat vented front seats...570
heated rear seats...620
metallic paint...720
leather seats...000
rear seat wiring ...170
parking pilot...970
active curve...2910
Premium 3...5010
sunroof...1090
21" wheels...1000
night package...750
wheel locks ...150
carbon fiber ...1750
rear air bag...670
msrp ...68150
delivery...995

i think that's it... my wife drives this... not sure how this compares to yours

Good. I'll plug into the site and will sent you a link.

lots of these options are frivolous... but got a good deal in the GLE in the midst of the early COVID lockdown

Ok here is the link:

https://www.thecarconnection.com/pri...66,SPC,293,02A

Two discrepancies: 1. base MSRP of $68,150 if for MY 2019, for MY 2017(your year, correct?) it was $67,150; 2. $970 parking pilot is part and its price is included in $5,010 P3 package, so it can not be a separate line as well.

Total MSRP is $87K. I knew it would be hard to get to $89K, but it is still loaded.

ok thanks