Mercedes-Benz GLE 2015 Review

The Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe may echo the styling ideas of BMW's X6 but, on Aussie roads at least, it's a ways off matching the Bavarian in terms of how it drives.

I thought I'd get that out in the open right up front because, as much as I might poo-who the whole premise of these chop-topped behemoths, at least the BMW has an almost unnatural competence on the road. For that matter, so too is its much more sensible and better looking X5 wagon counterpart.

Mercedes' new GLE wagon and Coupe range may have lifted the styling and equipment bar compared to their ML-Class predecessors, but they've done little if anything to address the dynamic advantage the BMWs have had for several generations. In fact, I'd go so far as to say, the GLEs in general are Benz's least convincing suspension calibration in some time.

They steer quite well and in all variants are cars that can be hassled along winding roads very quickly. But it seems there's an everyday price to pay for the body control that makes the GLEs accurate and easy to place – a disconcerting side-to-side motion that some chassis engineers call head-toss.

It's an uncomfortable and far from premium ride characteristic. And the real disappointment is it's not limited to spirited driving. After the launch drive I grabbed a GLE 350d Coupe for a few more days and in normal day-to-day driving it was just as prevalent.

It's a real shame because there are aspects of the big GLEs that I really like – not least of all the way the light, bright cabin has been upgraded, and the effortless integration of the various amenity and safety systems modern Benzes deliver.

That's not to say these cars won't sell. My dynamic criticisms of this Mercedes-Benz will do little if anything to affect sales. In fact, the new GLEs are already finding plenty of homes. Pre-orders are strong.

It seems Mercedes-Benz Australia's SUV sales sinkhole may be backfilled for good. By the end of 2016, the local Mercedes SUV line-up will span from the compact GLA to full-size GLS. Thanks to the GLEs – and the arrival of the C-Class based GLC-Class (and its potent AMG derivatives) – the Stuttgart brand could potentially even take a leading position in the segment, further boosting its overall sales ladder advantage over archrivals BMW and Audi in 2016.

For the time being, the focus is on the GLE wagon and Coupe which arrive all-4MATIC (Benz speak for AWD) and all-turbo.

The wagon range comprises two diesel and three petrol models priced across a circa-$100k range starting at $86,900, all of which are officially on sale now. One additional wagon model will join the line-up in early 2016. This is the V6 petrol-electric GLE 500e plug-in hybrid for which pricing is yet to be announced.

Aside from the new look and worthwhile interior upgrades, the most noticeable technical updates to the GLE range includes making the new 9G-TRONIC standard for all diesel models, and the addition of the multi-mode Dynamic Select drive-system across the range.

Dimensionally, the GLE wagon is little changed from the ML it replaces. At 4819mm long it's 15mm longer but rides on an unchanged 2915mm wheelbase. There's a modest increase in width (now 1935mm) and front and rear track to match (less than 20mm).

Inside there's a new tablet-style centre display, Detail changes include a tidied instrument panel and centrestack. That said 'old' ML stalwarts will still feel very at home.

Standard equipment for the base-grade 150kW GLE 250d 4MATIC turbo-diesel now includes a touch-pad COMAND sat-nav and infotainment system, DAB+ digital radio, 'intelligent' LED headlights, keyless go and entry, and a power tailgate.

The GLE safety suite, also standard, includes nine airbags, Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Distronic Plus with Steering Assist and Stop & Go Pilot, Pre-Safe Brake, Pre-Safe Plus, Crosswind Assist, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist, an Active Bonnet and an LED Intelligent Light System with Adaptive High Beam Assist Plus.

Mercedes claims combined economy of 6.0L/100km for the 250d and says it will accelerate 0-100km/h in 8.6sec.

The $104,900 190kW V6 GLE 350d 4MATIC is quicker to 100km/h (7.1sec) and marginally thirstier at 6.6L/100km, but arrives similarly equipped to its four-cylinder counterpart.

The GLE 400 4MATIC, the base petrol model, is $5000 more and packs 245kW. It adds a glass sunroof and full Harman Kardon audio.

Then there's the $127,500 320kW biturbo V8 petrol GLE 500 which rolls on 21-inch wheels and gets a significant interior upgrade including heated and vented front seats and Artico trimmed dash and doors.

The biturbo registers 9.3L/100km Combined and is rapid (6.1sec 0-100km/h), although not in the fives like the 500 (5.3sec 0-100km/h). Add another 1.7L/100km for those V8 tunes.

At the head of the GLE wagon line-up is the 430kW 5.5-litre biturbo petrol AMG GLE 63 S priced at $189,900 and wanting for little – in terms of equipment or performance.

The 100km/h sprint is a supercar-ish 4.2sec. AMG fans note, this will be the last "all new" car in which the 5.5-litre twin turbo V8 will be used. That may be enough to sway some…

The GLE Coupe meantime sits on the same 2915mm wheelbase as the GLE but adds 71mm in length and almost the same in width. Yes, it's BIG! Roof height is dropped 57mm – a considerable amount. No-one is going to say this vehicle is pretty – it does, however, have presence.

The local GLE Coupe range is a little more focussed than its wagon equivalent.

The base coupe is the 350d for which you'll pay a $17,000 premium over the mechanically matched wagon – performance are comparable but fuel figures are a touch up (7.2L/100km). The GLE 450 AMG is coupe only at this stage, while the 63 S fastback is $10k up on its wagon counterpart.

Standalone 450 twin-turbo petrol V6 aside, the coupes shares their wagon counterparts' mechanicals and architecture. All are AWD and feature air-suspension as standard. Other standard equipment across the GLE Coupes include AMG body styling kit, Dynamic Select transmission modes, 21-inch AMG wheels, Nappa leather upholstery and heated and electronically adjustable AMG Line sports front seats.

The 450 we drove added a panoramic sliding sunroof, AMG Line Nappa leather upholstery, 22-inch AMG wheels, Active Curve System with anti-roll stabilisation and a "theft protection" package. Mercedes-Benz Australia says its combined fuel economy is 9.4L/100km with 0-100km/h keeping the 500 wagon honest at 5.7sec.

This is the first model from the new AMG Sport line to arrive Down Under. Next off the boat are a warmed over C-Class sedan and wagon. Think of AMG Sport as a director competitor to Audi S Line and BMW M Performance. AMG has strong input into the cars' driveline and chassis tuning, but assembly takes place on the normal Mercedes production lines (in this case in the USA).

The bahnstorming GLE 63 S Coupe meantime is all-AMG and includes an AMG driver's package, AMG performance exhaust, Air-Balance package, digital TV tuner and heated and ventilated multi-contour luxury front seats in exclusive AMG Nappa leather.

We drove a cross section of the GLE Coupes and a 350d GLE wagon at the Australia launch. Up front suspension criticisms aside (see above), of the coupes it was the 450 AMG which impressed – even when compared to the mega-quick 63 S.

AMG's fettled version of the biturbo 3.0-litre petrol V6 is one of Germany's mechanical unsung heros. While it doesn't have the full dose of charisma of its V8 counterparts, it's willing and extremely muscular and 95 per cent of the time more pleasant to live with. And thanks to the AMG version of Dynamic Select's Sport+ setting, there's throttle blipping on downshifts and enough froth and burble through the exhausts to keep almost every petrolhead happy.

Alongside the 450 AMG, the 350d turbo-diesel feels a little lazy and laggy in both the wagon and Coupe GLEs. But after a couple of days of general usage, it's clearly the sensible choice – we struggled to get single-figure economy, but very low double figures are possible even in city usage. This is ever impressive given the footprint of these things.

We drove the GLE wagon with an option off-road engineering package fitted at its international launch but none were available locally. Our Euro tripper can vouch for the effectiveness of the vehicle in challenging conditions.

That's not what most GLE owners are planning for their vehicles however… And it's even less likely Coupes will go anywhere rougher than a ski resort carpark.

So in general usage a couple of comments – aimed at the coupe… While it's great an auto-tailgate is standard, from a practical point of view the very high rear luggage area loading lip of the Coupe will challenge those of average height with an armful of heavy groceries. Big heavy suitcase will scratch the sill unless you've got Lurch on hand to load them.

Indeed, storage is a little compromised in the fastback. But note that word, a little. The spec sheet says the Coupe's luggage capacity is 650/1720 litres – in normal usage (rear seats in place) just 40 shy of the wagon. To put this into perceptive, the massive boot on a Commodore is circa 500 litres, so you'll rarely want for space. If you need more space, buy the wagon.

The other difference is the coupe's driver and passenger headroom and ease of access.

It feels like you sit lower in the GLE Coupe than its wagon counterpart but Mercedes-Benz assures us it's an optical illusion. The roof's been chopped, which kicks off the impression, but in addition the greater part of the bonnet sits higher than is the case in the wagon.

The door openings are not huge height-wise. I'm not tall and managed to hit my scone getting into the coupe on one of the early occasions. carsales.com Ltd's X6-owning 183cm-plus COO found the headroom comparatively tight – both front and back. Again if it's a problem, buy the wagon.

With both GLEs comfortably seating five (the X6 at introduction had a two-place rear seat, since fixed), the coupe and wagon give Benz buyers in segment genuine choice. The wagon is the considered pick but the coupe turns heads – if only people whose exclamations you don't need to be a lip-readers to work out.

2015 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 AMG Coupe pricing and specifications:
Price: $141,900 (plus on-road costs)
Engines: 3.0-litre turbo-petrol V6
Outputs: 270kW/520Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 9.34L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 219g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested