2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Yes, Mercedes-Benz gave the 2024 GLE an exterior makeover. No, we wouldn’t blame you if the changes went mostly unnoticed. Even to our expertly trained eyes, they’re pretty darn subtle.

Seen up close, the Mercedes star logos that fill out the front grille are a clever and cute new detail. And if seen back-to-back with the outgoing version, you stand a better chance of spotting the changes to the headlights and taillights. For those especially interested in the peepers of the new GLE, know that LED headlights are standard, and multi-beam LED headlights are optional.

Because it doesn’t exactly break much new stylistic ground compared with the 2023 GLE, we give the 2024 model year an overall seven out of 10 here. Though to be fair, based on the exterior colour and wheels fitted to our test vehicle, we’re tempted to push that score up a digit. That’s because the GLE 450e we tested was finished in handsome Twilight Blue metallic and rode on sleek 21-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels that nicely fill out the GLE’s wheel wells. (Note the test unit is in U.S. specification. As of publication, it’s not clear whether these options will be available in Canada, nor what their cost will be if they are offered.)

Honourable mention is also due to the interior of our GLE 450e tester, which exuded class and luxury courtesy of its combination of Macchiato beige and black leather upholstery with natural grain brown walnut trim. The leather adds $2,105 to the sticker price, though we consider it money well spent.

Mercedes spoils you for choice with no less than 10 interior colour choices and five trims, including choices like brushed aluminum, black piano lacquer, gray oak, and brown linden wood. There is no shortage of competitors to the GLE, though this has to be one of the highest quality and most robust-looking cabins you’ll find in this highly competitive segment.

Mercedes-Benz has made sure the 2024 GLE has a powertrain for just about every type of SUV shopper, so long as they have pockets deep enough for one with a starting price of approximately $82,800. (This price is before delivery and other fees, which in Canada are determined by individual dealerships.) As of this writing, the range in Canada consists of the GLE 350 4Matic, GLE 450 4Matic, and the AMG GLE 53 4Matic+, with the GLE 450e PHEV also due to arrive for 2024.

Engines range from turbocharged four- and six-cylinders, upwards to the 3.0-litre turbo inline-six in the AMG GLE 53. We think the GLE 450e occupies a sweet spot in the range in terms of acceleration, suspension tuning, handling, and fuel economy.

Our tester vehicle’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder and electric motor develop a combined output of 381 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. This is sent to all four wheels courtesy of a nine-speed automatic transmission. According to Mercedes, the GLE 450e needs roughly 5.5 seconds to go from zero to 100 km/h. From our perspective, it felt every bit that swift when merging onto highways or accelerating from a traffic signal.

Natural Resources Canada puts the estimated fuel economy of the GLE 450e at 4.1 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres, or 10.5 city/9.1 highway/9.9 combined when operating in hybrid mode. Range from a full charge lands at 77 kilometres, though we covered slightly less distance before the gas-fed turbo-four sprung into action. Better still, the GLE 450e’s electric mode isn’t relegated to only low speed driving. It’s more than happy to operate as a silent-running EV on the highway, at speeds up to 140 km/h. Of course, if you go heavy with the accelerator pedal that does tend to goad the turbo-four to attention, too.

The transition from gas to electric power is almost undetectable, and the transmission is absolutely seamless when changing gears. About the only minor complaint we had was with the regenerative brakes, which occasionally felt a little numb and didn’t feed as much recharged energy into the battery pack as we’d hoped. Still, when it comes to overall performance, we found the GLE exceeded expectations.

In short, the GLE 450e performed nearly flawlessly and the cabin was incredibly quiet even when it was running in hybrid mode. The suspension was so supple and capable at absorbing bumps and ruts in the road, we tried searching out particularly nasty stretches of pavement to see if it would become unsettled. Even riding on those sizable 21-inch alloys, the GLE 450e refused to get rattled.

At 4,924 millimetres in length and 2,157 mm wide including the mirrors, and with a 2,995 mm wheelbase, the GLE isn’t exactly what we’d call a tiny vehicle. However, its sophisticated steering makes it feel extremely maneuverable and easy to place on the road. For even quicker reflexes and more heft at the helm, there’s always the available AMG model. Yet we think the suave and sophisticated driving manners of the GLE 450e give it an edge over many competitors, not to mention other GLE models.

Adults of all shapes and sizes will have no problem getting comfortable and finding plenty of stretch-out space in either the first or second row of the 2024 GLE. With seating for five, our GLE 450e offered generous headroom and legroom, and the cabin—thanks partly to our tester’s light beige upholstery—had a light and airy feel to it. Outward visibility is another plus point, which is something that can’t often be said about many modern SUVs with their narrow rear windows and large blind spots. Yes, rear-facing cameras are always convenient, but nothing beats being able to actually see your surroundings without automatically having to rely on a screen.

Behind the 40/20/40 split-folding second row is 630 litres of cargo space, a number that compares favourably with a rival like the BMW X5 (650 litres), though comes up a little short compared to the Cadillac XT6 (1,220 litres behind the second-row seats) and Volvo XC90 (1,008 litres behind the second-row seats).

But wait a minute, you might say, aren’t both the Cadillac and Volvo three-row SUVs with seating for up to seven people? Technically, so is the 2024 GLE-Class, though its optional third-row seat is limited to the GLE 350 and GLE 450 trim levels. And to be honest, its tiny dimensions make it usable only by young children.

In terms of comfort touches, however, our GLE 450e came with plenty of them. Our test car included power-adjustable heated front seats with memory function for the driver’s seat and front passenger seat, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic power tilt/sliding sunroof, MX-Tex faux leather upholstery, and a power liftgate. But this was only the tip of the iceberg when it came to the level of features on our test vehicle. Heated front seats, heated rear seats, and a heated steering wheel are standard on the base GLE 350 in Canada.

Briefly side-stepping some of the technology features for a moment—hint, those are the subject of the next tab in this review–these included a Burmester surround-sound audio system with Dolby Atmos, ventilated front seats, online music stream, augmented reality navigation, massaging front seats, rapid heating front seats, a head-up instrument display, heated and cooled front cupholders, LED intelligent lighting, star pattern logo projectors on the front doors, the Mercedes Air Balance cabin-air fragrance and purification system, illuminated running boards (very handy when avoiding stepping into a deep curb-side puddle!), soft-close doors, and heated rear seats.

We couldn’t avoid all tech talk completely up to this point, but now is when we deep dive into some of the Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system itself. A pair of 12.3-inch screens are positioned next to each other and serve as the digital instrument panel and main touchscreen infotainment screen. The latter of the two can be controlled via touch commands, a control pad on the centre console, or by touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel itself—of which we shall discuss in just a moment.

By and large we found the system easy to operate, though it’s feature rich and there’s a definite learning curve before understanding all of its various menus and capabilities. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto now are standard on the GLE, as is Bluetooth and an improved version of the “Hey Mercedes” voice command system. Thankfully, Mercedes has finally engineered it to be less hyper-sensitive whenever an occupant says the name of the vehicle. Yes, that would be “Mercedes” and, doubly yes, it was very annoying.

The optional head-up display and augmented reality navigation, which overlays directions onto a live view of the road ahead, deserve heaps of praise for their clarity and convenience. Just be careful when twirling the steering wheel with the radio on. While in the middle of parallel parking, the music volume inexplicably shot up to ear-splitting levels. The culprit: a small touch-sensitive control on the steering wheel that our hand brushed while maneuvering into the spot. It would be a small quibble had it happened only once, except it didn’t.

The updated 2024 GLE comes with a pretty comprehensive lineup of active safety features and driver assistance technologies, which is something expected given this SUV’s image and price. Standard features include blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, hands-free park assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver attention monitor.

Active blind-spot assist, active lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, traffic sign recognition, active lane change assist, and evasive steering assist are among the optional features.

Thankfully all these features are unobtrusive during everyday driving. It’s nice to know they’re available, if needed. Though we’re happy to report none of the systems over-reacted to, say, another car ahead braking suddenly, or an inability to cope with everyday driving occurrences like roads with imperfect lane markings.

The current generation of GLE gets a safety rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) of Top Safety Pick+ based on the 2022 model year. Crash tests on the 2024 model have not been completed by the IIHS or the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as of this review’s publication.

No matter which engine you prefer and which trim you choose, part of the appeal of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE is having the luxury badge on the front grille. That obviously affects the price, too, and the entry-level GLE 350 comes in at a not-insubstantial new vehicle price of $82,800 before a single option is added. Destination and other fees are extra, and in Canada those fees are set by each individual Mercedes-Benz dealer.

As for our 2024 GLE 450e 4Matic plug-in hybrid, Canadian pricing has not yet been announced as of this writing, but we estimate it will land with a starting price north of $90,000. Sticking with the base model might be the better choice of luxury SUV shoppers who are content with the 255-hp turbo four-cylinder in the GLE 350 4Matic. Pricing on the coupe version of the GLE for 2024 has also not yet been announced for Canada.

Scale up to the highest performing model, the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53, and be prepared to pay for the privilege at a starting price of $116,000 before options and fees.

By occupying a middle-ground in the 2024 GLE-Class lineup, we think there’s much to be said for going with the plug-in hybrid GLE 450e. Short trips mean you can bypass burning any fossil fuel and extend the gap between stops to refuel. It’s also quick and effortless whenever you need to cut through traffic or pass a slower vehicle. The cabin feels built to last and the degree of comfort, tech, and safety features is ample compared to its equally well-laden luxury rivals.

Note: Images show a US model.