SUV’s may not even be at their peak, manufacturers keep pushing the boundaries, packing them with tech, comfort and in some cases, brute force. Here we have Mercedes-Benz latest GLE. Following on from the M-Class, in 2016 the GLE set its sights on improving quality and quantity. It’s grown a lot since it’s M Class days and quantum improvements have been made throughout the cabin.
Having come across this 2008 ML example on the left, I could see it was well loved (thick muck splashed under the wheel arches and along the sills), and it was still in great condition. I decided to see just how much bigger it had gotten over the years. Parking next to the ML, you can see what a difference the AMG front makes to the demeanour of the GLE. While the front grille has gotten wider, it’s not overly obvious as it stands alone. Mercedes have really gotten the visual dimensions right.
The AMG Line lends a muscular stance to the exterior and follows through into the trim with . The Multibeam LED headlamps are made up of 84 individually controllable LEDs which work very well, even managing to light up the cabin of the car in-front, which you probably won’t receive any thanks for. It also has a great beam adjust on start-up which is more visible at night.
Special mention : MBUX is lag free, responsive and easy to read. The 3D Sat Nav renders your surrounding environment for a realistic map. The 20-inch AMG 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels, painted high-gloss black.
Needs work : Driving dynamics are for existing Mercedes customers but to compete with the standard X5, the GLE is relying on the AMG GLE63 to do all the dynamic work.
Specs:
| Max Power 245hp | Diesel / Auto | |
| 0-100 km/h in 7.2s | Road Tax €570.00 | |
| GLE starts at €78,395
Model as specc’d €95,638 |
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