All-new Mercedes-Benz GLE to replace M-Class

Mercedes-Benz has taken the veils off its its all-new GLE mid-sized luxury SUV ahead of its first public appearance scheduled at the New York International Auto Show next week. Officially replacing the M-Class, the GLE is claimed to be, model for model, 17 percent cleaner and more efficient than its predecessor; its portfolio of available powertrains include a highly-efficient four-cylinder diesel, a plug-in hybrid, as well as an AMG-fettled V8.

Following from the earlier-launched GLE Coupe, the more conventionally-shaped GLE similarly follows Merc’s newly christened three-alphabet SUV model nomenclature, all of which henceforth will spot ‘GL’ for the first two alphabets followed by the third letter that denotes the vehicle’s place in the model hierarchy – much like the GLA is tied with the A-Class, the GLE has hierarchical parity with the E-Class and consequently competes against the BMW X5 and Audi Q7.

The GLE’s range of engines start off with the familiar 2.1-litre OM651 four-cylinder powering the GLE 250 d with 204hp whilst returning commendable consumption and emission numbers of 5.4 l/100km and 140 g/km respectively if optioned without 4Matic all-wheel drive. Above it comes the V6-powered GLE 350d with 258hp and 620Nm on tap and rated fuel consumption of 6.4 l/100km.

Petrol power, meanwhile, is available in V6 and V8 configurations, both boosted by twin turbochargers, generating 333hp/480Nm in the GLE 400 and 435hp/700Nm in the GLE 500 respectively. The same 3.0-litre V6 powering the GLE 400 is strapped with an electric motor, integrated inside its transmission housing, to create the GLE 500 e, a plug-in hybrid variant with net system output of 442hp and 650Nm whilst returning only 3.3 l/100km on the combined cycle (compared to 8.8 l/100km in the GLE 400). With one full charge, the GLE 500 e is able to cover 30km purely on electric power.

All variants of the GLE come with automatic transmissions, developed in-house as usual by Mercedes, as standard; regular petrol models persist with the proven 7-speed drivetrain, whilst the 500 e gets a modified version of the same. Meanwhile, the diesel models welcome the company’s latest 9-speed gearbox. All-wheel drive, or 4Matic in Mercedes-speak, is optional in the GLE 250 d but standard in all other models above.

Completing the range is the AMG-tuned variant officially called the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 powered by AMG’s 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 generating 557hp in the ‘regular’ GLE 63 and an uprated 585hp in the GLE 63 S. Sporting a completely revised chassis to match its increased performance, the 63 version’s all-wheel drive system is also tuned with a 60 percent rear-bias as its default setting, as opposed to the 50:50 distribution applied in garden variety GLE models.

Gallery: Mercedes-Benz GLE 250 d