The Mercedes GLE replaces the old Mercedes M-Class, bringing more of Mercedes' modern features. To make the naming more clear than the model class – 'GL' refers to Mercedes' SUV range, while 'E' refers to its associated comparables, i.e., the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is the direct brother of the GLE.
 
Mercedes-Benz has developed a dedicated power line for SUVs. The GLE 450 is the most powerful version other than the AMG version, and is powered by a 3.0T twin-turbo engine. The engine is available in three versions on the GLE, from the entry-level 320 to the 400 to the 450, with the 450 carrying the highest-powered version. The all-new GLE will replace the previous 7G-TRONIC transmission with Mercedes-Benz's newly developed 9G-TRONIC transmission, which is also the first 9AT transmission in the luxury segment to be equipped with a torque converter.
 
All GLEs are equipped with Mercedes' drive mode selection system, and in "Comfort" mode, the GLE's concentration performance is very good, but the big bumps still irritate the chassis. Mercedes' air suspension system makes the driving experience a little more comfortable, but it doesn't help with the AMG version. Judging from the book data, the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 has a huge advantage in torque and horsepower compared with the BMW X6 35i, but the acceleration performance of 100 kilometers is only comparable to the latter. In practice, the 9G-TRONIC transmission is much more positive than the previous 7G-TRONIC transmission, but it lacks more precise feedback, and the response in an emergency is too gentle, which reduces confidence.
 
In terms of noise control, the Mercedes-Benz GLE is quite a bit better than the M-Class. The seats are soft and comfortable, and the spacious rear space makes it less tiring for long journeys. The size of the hybrid boot has been reduced to 480 litres with batteries and spare parts, and the floor has been raised, so you will need to raise the trunk very high to fit in. Like most Mercedes-Benzes, the GLE's multimedia system is still riddled with redundant knobs that take a while for owners to get used to.
 
In 2015~2016, Mercedes-Benz GLE did not have any serious failures, but Consumer Reports rated the quality of GLE as "poor", and estimated that the reliability performance of GLE in the future can only reach the average level. If you look through the evaluation records of "Consumer Reports", you can understand that the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and M-Class are not very reassuring cars.
 
In terms of safety, Mercedes-Benz is doing well. Since its introduction to the IIHS crash test in 2016, the Mercedes-Benz GLE has scored "excellent" in all basic components (frontal impact, side impact, top impact, headrest and seat). The Mercedes-Benz GLE with active safety system was awarded the 2016 and 2017 TSPs.
Mercedes-Benz GLE evaluation report