If you’re shopping in the premium SUV market, you’re ready to sign a huge check. And if you’re browsing in the Mercedes-Benz showroom, among the choices are a midsize SUV with a 3.0-liter inline-six internal combustion engine, or that same SUV with a hybrid drivetrain and almost the same power and torque. We’re talking about the GLE line, and the practicality of a plug-in hybrid and the difference in fuel efficiency between the two variants are not easy to ignore.
Mercedes-Benz Philippines sold one GLE for every three vehicles that left its dealerships. It is a clever marketing strategy to offer its most popular model with EQ Hybrid Technology to give buyers a sensible alternative.
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Even with the Obsidian Black exterior paint, it looks muscular from any angle. It visually shrinks because of the dark body color, but the proportions are spot-on with the staggered 21-inch AMG multi-spoke wheels. It also sports an AMG body kit along with AMG pedals and floor mats in the cabin to complete the upgraded look.
The three-pointed star motif on the large chrome grille with the huge emblem reveals a serious, focused statement about who drives it. The multibeam LED headlights with their distinctive DRL add a word or two to that statement.
The hood creases are not ornamental; they’re engineered for pedestrian injury mitigation. The fenders and the rear panels are tamely formed compared to the aggressive front face. The C-pillar’s line flows to match the tailgate’s sloped profile. The masculine outline with simple elements is typical for the GLE, a reason why women seem to be attracted to its aesthetic.
There are matte chrome-finished metal running boards that match the front and rear window borders as well as the roof rails—the latter are rated for 100kg of load.
The door sills are high enough that a petite passenger or driver may need to step on the rubber-studded AMG step board. Taller rear passengers will have no issues sitting on the power reclining seats that split 60/40, with plenty of headroom and space to kick up their heels.
The hip-supportive front seats are heated, and can be programmed to move like a massager to make long rides even more comfortable. They’re not sporty enough to accommodate a spirited swerve, though. The Artico synthetic leather and Microcut microfiber wrap make the seats durable while still feeling lavish. Brushed aluminum panels and accents add value to the already premium design.
The dual 12.3-inch screens are integrated into a driver-oriented dashboard. The A/C vents and physical auto climate control buttons are mounted just below the wide brushed aluminum panel that extends all the way on either side; the seat adjustment controls are mounted on the doors, typical of Benz. The top of the dashboard and door beltline above the aluminum panel are also draped with Artico.
The updated MBUX multimedia system comes with Burmester speakers and an augmented-reality navigation system. The 13 speakers produce punchy, unmuddled bass and superb midrange definition. The augmented-reality navigation, however, takes some getting used to. It’s high-def and has superior visual assistance compared to Google Maps or Waze, but the installed Philippine map needs a major update.
Unfortunately, you can’t split navigation guidance between the two 12-inch screens. Having Waze on the main touchscreen and the augmented-reality navigation on the driver screen would be a welcome functional feature. “Hey Mercedes” voice control is useful for navigating the MBUX menu, but not the best in implementation. That’s why the trackpad and the dedicated buttons around it become essential for convenient menu selection.
The steering wheel control clusters are crammed with a mix of physical buttons and capacitive sliders. A bit overwhelming initially, but it gets easier as you learn the mechanics of the design. The buttons are tiny and difficult to read, but it may be possible to just rely on memory and tactile guidance from the lumps and divots of the controls—a solution probably inspired by the Braille alphabet.
I also appreciate the details and quality of the slender steering column stalks. The confident click of the drive selector stalk with the park button on the right, as well as the shared wiper control and turn signal stalk on the left, are unmatched. The stalks are slender, but even the tiny buttons and switches on them still provide assuring positive feedback.
The rear passengers have their share of the four-zone climate controls, with the A/C vents located at the B-pillars and rear of the center console. Below that sits a couple of USB-C ports.
Due to the battery location on the trunk’s floor, loading height is relatively high. Trunk space is still roomy at 490 liters and expands to more than double that with the power-folding rear seats.
The 115 kW electric motor is in between the longitudinally-mounted engine and the nine-speed automatic transmission. The drivetrain system’s power and torque from the M254 engine with Camtronic, together with the electric motor, are more than adequate for its kerb weight of 2,665 kg.
You only get the system’s combined 381hp and 600Nm with Sport mode. In EV mode, 440Nm of instantaneous torque from the electric motor alone will knock you back in your seat. When in Hybrid mode, it prefers to use the electric motor except when additional torque is demanded, like when overtaking aggressively, which is rare when you have that much electric torque on tap.
The transition from EV to ICE/hybrid drive is subtle, but you do hear the engine fire up immediately, then feel the additional torque available. You won’t feel underpowered when in EV mode, but additional power from the engine is available when needed. The twin-scroll turbocharged inline-four engine will automatically start up as you deplete the battery’s charge before getting to a charging station.
If charge is running low, the combustion engine then takes over drivetrain duties with augmentation from the electric motor. The engine thus saves on its number of running hours and maintenance costs, while the electric motor gets a chance to cool down while still providing partial torque when the engine is cranking. Energy consumption therefore is optimized in any of the dynamic drive modes.
Fuel efficiency is fairly close to manufacturer specifications. That’s a total combined range of 700km for a full tank of 65 liters of premium gas and a full battery charge. The 31.2kWh battery has a range of about 100 kilometers, and can be AC-charged up to 11 kW, though a 7kW AC Type-2 wall-mounted charger is available from Mercedes-Benz Philippines.
Pampered by the finest appointments with exceptional space and quality materials, you expect the same for the ride attributes. Handling is suited for an unhurried lifestyle. Whether you’re racking up hundreds of expressway kilometers at legal speeds or stuck in urban gridlock, you’re cocooned in a luxe cabin listening to a well-tuned sound system.
The permanent all-wheel drive allows it to exuberantly take a sharp turn at a decent pace and not get flustered, but it wasn’t meant just for that. It’s ready to take on brutal weather conditions like wet, slippery roads or loose terrain where there are no roads. The grip from the 21-inch Pirelli P Zeros is particularly reassuring on wet or dry tarmac.
On harsh, uneven pavement, it doesn’t have air suspension to smooth the ride completely, but the conventional front double wishbones and independent rear multi-link suspension do an adept job soaking up bumps and thumps.
It’s like traveling in business class, and that about sums up the experience.
The Multibeam LED headlights have Adaptive High Beam Assist. There’s exterior surround lighting with a projection of the brand’s logo, while the running boards are also illuminated. Inside, there’s color-configurable LED ambient lighting and auto-dimming rear view mirror and driver’s side mirror.
Active Parking Assist helps with accurately positioning the massive vehicle in tight parking spaces. The Driver Assistance Package is never intrusive, yet it’s there. Active Steering, Active Distance Control, Drowsiness Detection, and Presafe proactively prevent collisions as well as prepare passengers for an imminent crash. Although the seatbelts have a comfort fit function, Presafe will activate belt tensioners and tension limiters just before impact. The airbags then deploy in two stages for the front occupants. There are window airbags for all windows, side airbags for the driver and front passenger, and a knee airbag for the driver.
Urban Guard utilizes the exterior cameras and interior sensors and notifies the driver, via the MBUX or a connected app, of collisions while parked or motion inside a parked car.
Downhill Speed Regulation is proof that the 4Matic was designed to be driven off-road; that’s also why there are a couple of aluminum-accented grab handles next to the track pad with a palm rest. Then there’s the awkwardly located wireless charging pad on the console in front of the handy track pad. Apparently, it’s angled that way to prevent a smartphone from sliding off the pad. Anyway, there are two USB-C ports near it and another one inside the deep center cubby.
A practical and posh daily driver that can do it all. Fully charged overnight, a daily urban commute—including the occasional run to the grocery or dinner out—can be an all-electric affair. A weekend family trip to the beach with a few rough dirt tracks to drive through would be effortless and wouldn’t consume much gasoline. An out-of-town business trip with a couple of golf bags in the back is par for the course. A brisk drive up to a mountain resort won’t be boring and numbing.
The GLE400e can do all of that in style, with a remarkable commanding presence that turns heads anywhere it drives.
Price: P5,790,000
Powertrain: 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, synchronous electric motor
Battery technology and capacity: Lithium-ion, 31.2 kWh
System Power: 381hp (combined 252hp ICE + 136hp electric motor)
System Torque: 600 Nm (combined 400Nm ICE + 440Nm electric motor)
Transmission: 9G-Tronic, nine-speed automatic
Layout: Front-mounted longitudinal engine, 4Matic permanent all-wheel drive
Seating: 5
Score: 8.5/10
