Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S 2021 Review

The humble SUV has slowly but surely morphed into something truly impressive and the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S is best described as a weaponised family hauler.

Capable of preposterous straight-line speed and gob-smacking mid-corner grip, it’s also a very comfortable and luxurious large SUV.

Offered in conventional wagon and slope-backed ‘coupe’ body styles, priced at $220,600 and $225,500 (both plus on-road costs) respectively, it’s more expensive than its direct rivals: the Audi RS Q8 (from $208,500) and the BMW X5 M and X6 M Competition (from $212,900/$218,900).

As you’d expect, Mercedes-AMG has thrown pretty much every feature and high-end material at its latest high-performance SUV beast, starting with new – and very comfortable – multi-contour AMG seats finished in luscious nappa leather and microfibre upholstery. The seats are also heated and cooled.

Adjustable ambient LED interior lighting really brings the cabin to life at night, while the German car-maker’s tried-and-tested dual 12.3-inch high-definition cockpit screens provide class-leading levels of infotainment customisation and detailed driver information.

You’ve got everything from fuel consumption to AWD power spread, real-time power levels and much more. Rev-heads will love it.

There’s loads of useful features to make the driver and passengers’ lives easier too, such as a wireless phone charger, quad-zone climate control, an AMG performance steering wheel with touchpads, power-closing doors and a massive head-up display.

Some of the more extravagant standard equipment includes a top-shelf Burmester sound system with excellent power and clarity, a large panoramic sunroof and even heated and cooled cup holders.

There are also three USB-C ports up front and another two for back seat passengers. Speaking of which, rear seat legroom is very good in both models, while headroom is a little tight for my 182cm frame in the coupe (it’s better in the wagon).

Cargo space is very good in both rigs – 630-2010 litres in the wagon, or 655-1790L in the coupe – but the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S twins are not without criticism.

If you want a seven-seat high-performance GLE wagon, you’ll have to settle for the six-cylinder turbo AMG 53 version (from $159,700), and with only USB-C ports you’ll need adaptors if you use regular USB-A plugs (which for those with OCD tendencies can create a cabling calamity).

And then there’s the cheap plastic gear shifter mounted on the steering column… Could AMG not have demanded a gloss black lever? It feels low-rent and given it’s one of the first things you touch in the vehicle, more thought should have gone into this.

It should be mentioned that the more expensive Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe gets a few more features as standard, such as the Energising pack which adds a heated armrest, massaging front seats and so forth. Our test model also had the interior carbon pack ($4200) which adds lots of carbon-fibre trim and an exquisite ‘squircle’-shaped carbon steering wheel.

Both top-spec V8-powered AMG GLE beefcakes are backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and are offered with an up-front service package for 3/4/5 years, priced at $3050/$4000/$4550 respectively.

Service intervals are 12 months or 20,000km, and there’s pay-as-you-go capped-price servicing too.

Mercedes-Benz prides itself as one of the innovators in the automotive space, and with nine airbags, multiple grip, traction and stability control systems, not to mention acceleration skid control (good for lead-foots) and some of the best semi-autonomous driving aids available today, the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S is a very secure unit.

The GLE has a five-star ANCAP safety rating awarded in 2019.

As well as steering, braking and accelerating by itself, the GLE 63 S can also automatically adjust its velocity to the legal limit based on real-time speed sign scanning technology. It can park itself, or there’s a 360-degree parking camera and lots of proximity sensors if you want to do it yourself.

An advanced Multibeam LED headlight system uses dozens of computer-controlled LEDs to ensure optimum illumination at night, with anti-dazzle technology for low and high beams which are very effective, while auto-dimming mirrors reduce light flare for the driver at night.

The 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S is notable as the first Mercedes-Benz model in Australia to be fitted with the German luxury car brand’s upgraded 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which now features 48V ‘EQ Boost’ mild-hybrid tech and cylinder deactivation to reduce emissions and consumption.

But make no mistake, this is still a very thirsty, albeit exceedingly muscular, powertrain.

Fuel economy on the official combined cycle is rated at 12.4L/100km for the wagon and 12.6L/100km for the coupe. Our testing showed figures closer to 16L/100km, but the big brutes can be quite economical when cruising on the freeway in ninth gear at around 100km/h.

The EQ Boost adds an extra 16kW/250Nm to the hardcore V8 combustion engine, which is good for 450kW at 6500rpm and an earth-shaking 850Nm of torque from 2500-4500rpm. The 0-100km/h sprint takes a claimed 3.8 seconds, with its top speed hiked from 250km/h to 280km/h now.

With remarkable levels of grip and enough thrust to squeeze occupants into their cushy AMG sports seats at full throttle, the 3982cc twin-turbocharged direct-injection engine also emits a marvellous V8 warble, with a few crackles on the overrun. Well, it does in the coupe version. For some reason, the wagons on test were a bit quieter.

All that power is collected and reorganised by a nine-speed AMG Speedshift automatic transmission, which is then distributed to the wheels – 21-inch for the wagon, 22-inch for the coupe – via an AMG-tuned 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive system. There’s also an AMG electronic rear-axle limited-slip differential that helps reduce understeer when punching out of corners at extreme velocities, and it works a treat.

AMG has also added active engine mounts, which are kind of like adaptive dampers for the engine. They firm up for better handling in sportier drive modes, then loosen off for improved refinement when cruising.

All told, the V8 engine is an absolute pearler – refined, powerful and evocative. But it could go the way of other high-performance SUVs – the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk being a case in point – by downsizing, and there’s a chance this generation could be the last V8-powered GLE.

With the iconic Mercedes-AMG C 63 dropping its V8 for a four-cylinder hybrid engine for the new generation, who knows what will happen to mighty SUVs like this…

Weighing in at more than 2.5 tonnes, we were expecting the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S twins to deliver impressive straight-line speed but laborious, weight-affected driving dynamics.

However, with adaptive air suspension, active ride control, adaptive shock absorbers and even active anti-roll bars, these top-heavy tourers almost handle like a hot hatch. Almost.

Fair dinkum, I was laughing like a dolt after guiding the big AMG GLE 63 S coupe through a particularly demanding 10km stretch of winding, wending asphalt. No divider lines, no other cars, just unadulterated pace.

With a less-than-ideal surface, the top-spec GLE SUV coupe handled this challenging stretch of road with poise, and after just a few corners I was progressively pushing the big rig harder and deeper into corners, then blasting out of them with a level of intensity usually reserved for high-risk extreme sports.

However, like the GLE 63 S wagon’s more demure V8 engine acoustics, it doesn’t feel quite as agile as the coupe and that’s because the latter has bigger 22-inch alloy wheels shod with higher-spec Yokohama Advan tyres. It has a slightly shorter wheelbase and weighs a bit less, too.

Even so, the direct steering, high levels of grip and a super-flat attitude through corners that inspire confidence in the driver are a testament to AMG’s uncanny ability to take a huge machine and apply the sort of technology to make it satisfying to drive hard – really hard.

It’s the vehicular equivalent of a morbidly obese middle-aged bloke outperforming a youthful, highly-trained ballet dancer in Swan Lake. Implausible? Most definitely.

Along with epic acceleration and agile handling, the AMG-tuned SUVs deliver jaw-dropping stopping power via high-performance composite brakes. The brake discs measure 400x38mm at the front and 370x32mm at the rear. They are clamped by massive six-piston callipers up front and a single-piston calliper at the back, and the result is high velocity being expunged with alarming ease.

If you want carbon-ceramic brakes you may need to get a top-spec Porsche Cayenne, and Benz doesn’t offer adjustable brake pedal feel like in the BMW X5 M Competition either.

While there’s no denying the angry V8 SUV’s performance capabilities, the GLE 63 S is also a very classy cruiser, delivering impressive ride comfort and noise reduction in the cabin when required, the latter helped along by the push-button dual-mode AMG exhaust system.

The 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S is not a cheap automobile. If you’re looking for an inexpensive mode of transport, this is not it.

However, if you’re in a position to be able to afford or lease a $200K-plus V8 road rocket, this should be at the pointy end of your shopping list.

Delivering incredible straight-line speed mixed with a soul-stirring V8 war cry, excellent corner-carving capabilities and loads of visual presence, it’s pretty incredible that such a high-riding machine is so adept and engaging.

Whether or not it represents good value for money perhaps depends on your income and circumstance.

But if nothing else it’s an exceptionally luxurious and tremendously powerful SUV and a truly remarkable feat of engineering.

How much does the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S 4MATIC+ Coupe cost?
Price: $225,500 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol
Output: 450kW/850Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 12.6L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 286g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)

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