It’s been a while, but we’ve finally gotten back into the Mercedes-Benz GLE.

The big family SUV has gone through a number of changes over the years, starting life as the rugged body-on-frame ML-Class and morphing into the more road-focused – but still tech-laden – GLE we know today.

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The fourth-generation model you see here launched in 2019 and then received a mid-life refresh in 2023. While the design changes are fairly minimal, there’s tech like a new-generation infotainment system and 48V mild-hybrid tech across the lineup.

Prices are up substantially, but so are equipment levels. There’s also no petrol-powered non-AMG version in the SUV range, though the 3.0-litre inline six turbocharged petrol engine remains available in the GLE Coupe.

On test we have the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450d 4Matic, which has seen its base price rise by over $25,000 to $168,800 before on-road costs – and that’s $2000 up on the original pricing announced late last year.

That’s a lot of money in anyone’s books, and the six-cylinder Benz is more expensive than its key rivals in the luxury segment. The BMW X5 and Audi Q7 with six-cylinder diesel engines are some $30,000 more affordable – and it’s not like either are lacking in luxury appointments or badge credibility.

Does the GLE justify its premium positioning compared to the competition? And, is this mild refresh of the existing formula make for a compelling buy for affluent families wanting “the best or nothing”?

How much does the Mercedes-Benz GLE cost?

As noted earlier, the GLE 450d is priced from a lofty $168,800 after a recent price adjustment on July 1, 2024. That’s on top of the circa-$25,000 increase that came with this mid-life update.

It’s also worth noting when this generation of GLE first launched in 2019, the equivalent GLE 400d started at under $120,000. So, the six-cylinder diesel GLE has risen by nearly $50,000 during the course of its lifecycle.

To see how the GLE lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.

What is the Mercedes-Benz GLE like on the inside?

Apart from a new steering wheel design, you’d be hard pressed to notice any major changes to the GLE’s cabin.

You get the same dual 12.3-inch display layout, a wide design theme with sprawling dashboard and centre console, and the leather-clad grab handles in the centre that is very Porsche Cayenne.

There’s a new steering wheel shared other Benz models, but otherwise it doesn’t look like much has changed. There’s some pretty big changes if you dig a little deeper, though.

The dual display arrangement now runs the second-generation of the MBUX operating system, which brings with it a flatter, more intuitive menu structure, as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

That second part is a key change from the old model, meaning you don’t have to awkwardly have cables jutting out of the wireless charging pad to have your phone connected to smartphone mirroring. It also just works flawlessly.

Up front are electric front seats with memory and heating, as well as an electrically adjustable steering column which also aligns itself with the memory presets. You have to pay extra for ventilation, though.

The standard seats are pretty comfortable and offer good support, though the base is a little lacking in side bolstering. I’m not a fan of the rough-look graining of the black leather on our tester, though you can get lighter trims with a smoother appearance if you wish.

If you opt for the Plus Package ($6900) you get even nicer Multicontour front seats with ventilation and extended heating for the front armrests as well as a massaging function. Those weren’t fitted to our tester, however.

Given the price point I’m not sure the trims and finishes feel quite up to scratch for a car nudging $190,000 on the road before options.

The rough leather and cheap-feeling air vent mechanisms don’t really scream high-end Mercedes SUV, and I saw some misaligned stitching in areas like the centre grab handles. The lower sections of the doors are hard, scratchy plastic, and there’s no proper lining of the door bins to stop things rattling around.

I’m also not a big fan of Benz’s touch-capacitive multifunction steering wheels.

The uneven surfaces and the angle of some of the controls makes for a fiddly experience – it’s similar story for the MBUX touchpad on the centre console.

At least they’re indented so you don’t go pressing the wrong button like is quite easy to do in versions of the Volkswagen Touareg.

At least there’s still that clicky action to most of the switchgear, and the display tech is crisp and responsive. Still, the GLE doesn’t feel as polished as the Audi Q7 or BMW X5.

Storage solutions are pretty neat though, with big toothed cupholders, a wireless phone charger slot big enough to hold larger smartphones, big door bins, and a deep centre cubby underneath a double-lidded armrest console meaning there’s plenty of places to store your odds and ends.

One thing that can’t be refuted either is the GLE’s passenger-carrying capabilities in the rear. It’s offers good width to seat three abreast if you need, but also there’s heaps of head and leg room even for taller adults.

You can see the American origins of this SUV come into play here – keep in mind this is “mid sized” in the States. I can easily sit behind my preferred driving position and I’m a long-legged 6’1 (and a bit).

There are plenty of amenities back here too, like rear air vents, a fold-down armrest with cupholders, map pockets behind the front seats as well as your usual child seat anchor points (i.e. ISOFIX and top tethers).

It’s a shame you need to shell out for a $6900 package to get separate climate controls at the rear, particularly at this price. There’s also a bit of a driveline hump in the floor ahead of the middle seat, but it’s not super intrusive to the point you need to be knees up or splayed out to sit there comfortably.

Another thing to note, our test car’s optional third-row seating ($3900) adds electric adjustment for the second row, allowing you to adjust the standard slide and recline functions electronically, rather than using manual levers. There’s also a powered access function for the third row, though this is still painfully slow.

Once you’re in that back row, you’ll realise this is still best left for smaller adults or kids, and even then they’re best left for occasional usage rather than regularly. Adults will be knees up, and if you’re over 6’0 like me your hair might be brushing the headliner.

There’s a nice little console between the individually folding seats featuring cupholders and USB-C charge points, but otherwise there’s no air vents. If you’re looking to cart around three rows of people often, it could pay to look at the larger GLS.

With the third row in use there’s not much luggage space for more than a couple of small, soft bags. Drop the manual-folding rear seats and you get 630 litres with the second row in their rearmost position.

Fold the second row and that opens to a pretty handy 2055 litres, with a relatively flat load area save for a slight incline on the second-row seat backs. There’s no spare wheel available, just a tyre repair kit.

To see how the GLE lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.

What’s under the bonnet?

The 450d upgrades from the 300d’s four-cylinder turbo-diesel to a beefier inline six with 48V mild-hybrid tech.

To see how the GLE lines up against the competition, check out our comparison tool.

How does the Mercedes-Benz GLE drive?

Despite revisions to the drivetrains, the fundamental GLE experience remains the same with this facelift.

You could be forgiven for initially thinking the 450d was fuelled by petrol, such is the quietness and refinement of the 3.0-litre inline six on startup and when on the move.

With nine gears and 750Nm of torque from just 1350rpm, the GLE 450d is an effortless performer and a very relaxing thing to drive at all speeds. It offers linear performance with minimal lag, save for the odd hesitation off the line.

There’s no agricultural diesel clatter even under heavy acceleration, and the 48V mild-hybrid system smartly cuts in and out to save precious drops of fuel. As you decelerate it’ll cut out the engine around 15km/h, and then fire it back up when you lift off the brakes much quicker than conventional idle stop-start systems.

It’s so effortless it can almost feel lazy, given in its Comfort setting the GLE will shift up very early around the 2000rpm mark unless you really sink your boot in – thankfully there are nine ratios to choose from.

While I personally wish Mercedes didn’t force you into the AMG Line with larger standard wheels, the GLE with 21-inch AMG alloys is surprisingly pliant in and around inner-city Melbourne

Drain covers, road joins, and tram tracks were all handled pretty well during my daily commuting, with my only complaint being the slight edge to the initial bump absorption from said 21-inch rims and 45-profile Pirelli rubber.

Our tester was fitted with the standard steel-sprung suspension with passive damping, and if Mercedes hadn’t told me otherwise I could have been fooled into thinking it had the $3400 adaptive air suspension option fitted. I imagine this would only make it even better if ticked.

While the GLE generally did a good job filtering out road imperfections, it exhibited a trait I’ve found to be common to a lot of larger Mercedes models – there’s a sideways movement as you go over some harsher bumps that make the body feel like it’s rocking fore and aft as well as left and right.

It can be a little odd and at times unnerving because it feels like it lacks body control, almost giving the sensation of being dizzy. I felt a similar thing in the GLC to a lesser extent.

On the open road though, the GLE is very good. As is the case with a lot of high-end European metal designed to eat up miles on high-speed German autobahns, the Benz is comfortable, quiet and rock solid.

It settles nicely into a cruise at 100km/h and the six-cylinder diesel is barely above idle. Still, it has plenty of oomph to deliver more than ample response if you need to make a quick overtake or just get up to speed on an on-ramp.

Should you require its full power for a standing start or a proper squirt, the GLE 450d has quite a bit of grunt on tap to get its 2.4t mass moving quickly. Mercedes’s 0-100km/h claim of 5.6 seconds feels very accurate by the seat of the pants, and the rolling acceleration is arguably even more impressive.

It makes a sweet sound too. Whereas four-cylinder diesels can get a little rattly under load, the 450d’s inline six has a smooth and almost brassy tone to it which a little addictive.

You’ll get excellent fuel economy too. We managed an indicated 8.6L/100km with almost a week’s worth of peak-hour commuting, but we saw real-time readouts of nearly half that with more 80-100km/h highway cruising – for reference, the range indicator was showing around 1200km when I picked it up.

While I’ve lamented the requirement of options for fulls assistance suites on cheaper Benz model lines, the GLE thankfully has all the available driver assist systems fitted as standard.

The Driver Assistance Package incorporates adaptive cruise control and lane centring to provide semi-autonomous assistance on the highway, and there’s even an Active Lane Change Assist that gently nudges you into the lane you’re indicating into when it’s safe.

There’s also blind-spot and rear cross-traffic monitoring to give you that added safety net over your shoulder when navigating gaps in traffic or reversing out of tight spaces, and the additional exit warning function will warn you if an oncoming car or cyclist is in the path of your opening door.

Finally, there’s a surround camera system with Transparent Bonnet mode which makes parking this 4924mm-long and 2010mm-wide luxury bus that little bit easier – tough the rear camera perspective was a little off so at times it was difficult to park it nice and straight.

What do you get?

Besides the powertrain, the GLE 450d offers the same standard specification as the GLE 300d.

GLE 300d + GLE 450d equipment highlights:

• 21-inch AMG alloy wheels
• AMG Line Exterior Package
• Aluminium running boards
• LED headlights with adaptive high-beam
• Front seats with memory function
• 13-speaker 590W Burmester sound system
• MBUX Augmented Reality Navigation
• Panoramic sunroof
• Head-up display
• Semi-autonomous parking assist
• Keyless entry and start
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system

GLE 450 Coupe adds:

• AMG Line Interior Package
• AMG Night Package

Options

Plus Package: $6900

• Multicontour front seats
• Seat Heating Plus incl. heated armrests
• Ventilated front seats
• Surround lighting
• Interior Assistant
• Air Balance
• Energizing Package
• Guard 360 Vehicle Protection Plus
• Power-closing doors
• Temperature-controlled cupholder
• Thermotronic 4-zone climate control

7 Seat Package: $3900

• Third-row seating
• Power-adjustable rear seats

Airmatic Package: $3400

• Airmatic air suspension
• Adaptive damping

Towbar Package: $2900

• Trailer coupling
• Increased towing capacity

22-inch AMG 5-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels: $1500

Is the Mercedes-Benz GLE safe?

The Mercedes-Benz GLE retains its five-star ANCAP rating from when the pre-facelift model was tested in 2019 – this rating excludes AMG variants, however.

Standard safety equipment includes:

• 9 airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind-spot assist
• Lane departure warning
• Lane keep assist
• Traffic sign recognition
• Safe exit warning
• Surround-view camera

How much does the Mercedes-Benz GLE cost to run?

Mercedes-Benz Australia covers its range with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, though its servicing costs remain on the higher side of the segment.

CarExpert’s Take on the Mercedes-Benz GLE

While the GLE has its strengths, I simply cannot justify why you’d spend a whole $30,000 more on this over an Audi Q7 or BMW X5.

There’s definitely a presence and prestige to the GLE, helped by the big Three Pointed Star on the nose. It also has that big screen wow-factor the brand’s cars impress with when you first get in.

While the 450d inline six diesel is a peach, that’s about where the GLE’s selling points end.

For me, there’s nothing about the Benz that really justifies the $30,000 premium over a similarly engined Audi Q7 or BMW X5, both of which arguably offer better perceived build quality, equivalent performance, and similar prestige.

I don’t think Mercedes-Benz is necessarily more premium than Audi and BMW simply because it chooses to position itself as such with its pricing.

The X5 is probably still the benchmark in this segment, and the Audi is the most practical with the most conventional cabin design.

Even beyond other brands, the GLE 450d is a whole $20,000 more than the four-cylinder GLE 300d, which other than different power outputs and the perception of desirability that comes with four-cylinder and six-cylinder luxury cars, the spec sheets are otherwise pretty much the same.

I’d argue that while the 450d is my preferred engine choice in the entire GLE lineup, the 300d is powerful enough to do all the things a GLE should, and you can have it well optioned and still be cheaper than the base pricing of the 450d.

But, unless you’re completely sold on the Benz, I’d be looking at an Audi Q7 50 TDI quattro or a BMW X5 xDrive30d and pocketing the change for family holidays or other more practical outlets.

MORE: Buy a Mercedes-Benz GLEMORE: Everything Mercedes-Benz GLE

Pros

• Six-cylinder diesel is a beauty
• Comfort-focused drive is plush
• Updated tech works well

Cons

• $30,000 dearer than equivalent X5
• Still needs (expensive) options ticked
• Cabin execution feels underdone

Top Line Specs

• Power: 270kW
• Fuel Type: Diesel/Electric
• Economy: 7.4L/100km
• CO2 Emissions: 194g/km
• ANCAP Safety Rating: 5