MERCEDES-BENZ GLE
Mercedes’ medium-sized SUV is a strong and immensely comfortable vehicle on and off the road.
Here we have the Mercedes-Benz GLE, Mercedes’ very handsome and rather tough looking mid-sized SUV that recently changed its name. If you think it looks familiar, you’d be right because though the ‘GLE’ name is new, the car itself was introduced back in 1998, making it one of the very first mid-sized luxury SUVs to get to market. Back then, it was known as the ‘M-Class’.
The ‘GLE’ name was introduced in 2015 when the last major refresh of the car happened but this is a continuation of the ‘M-Class’ that won so many fans over the course of its history, a car that’s gone toe-to-toe with big rivals like the BMW X5 and more recently, the Audi Q5 and offerings from Lexus and Porsche.
As an SUV the GLE is an all-wheel driven car well capable of getting off-road but its compliant suspension – particularly the optional air suspension – make this an exceptional car to drive on the road. Comfort truly is the GLE’s forte and you can travel long distances in it without feeling particularly tired. All GLE’s come with a 9-speed automatic gearbox as standard so the choice for Synergy customers is really about which engine to go for. A popular choice has always been the ‘350D’ diesel. It’s 254bhp and impressive 620Nm of torque can move the heavy SUV to 62mph in around 7-seconds, and Mercedes says it’s still capable of delivering over 37mpg. There are high-performance Mercedes-AMG petrol models available for those who want to really spoil themselves, but there’s also a new plug-in hybrid model now – the ‘500e’ - which has over 440bhp from its V6 petrol and electric motors combined.
As expected from a luxurious model like the GLE, standard equipment levels are really strong. You get the top-level ‘COMAND’ navigation as standard across the GLE range, a powered tailgate, active park assist and a reversing camera, smartphone integration and DAB radio. Optional extras are present and there’s ‘packs’ to choose from which bundle up certain features. There’s an off-road pack, a driver assistance pack, and a premium package for extra luxury.
The interior design of the GLE is luxurious but gives an impression of sturdiness. It isn’t as glitzy as an E-Class saloon, but as an SUV, customers are looking for something tougher that won’t mind getting mucky occasionally. The GLE is a comfortable, luxurious, practical and extremely capable SUV that’s always great value here at Synergy.