Mercedes-Benz GLE 2019 Review — Australia

As mainstream cars like the Toyota Corolla hatch and Mazda CX-5 SUV continue to lift their game in terms of quality and refinement, so it is at the top of the table.

The Mercedes-Benz GLE is a great example of a large, cutting-edge luxury SUV, delivering a very quiet and refined driving experience with almost as much tech as the International Space Station.

Occupants are cossetted in a luxo-tech blend that provides impressive levels of comfort via big, well-cushioned front seats that are easy to adjust. Very few of the tech tricks are supercilious; they all have a purpose, are easy to operate and generally function well.

Take the automated drive systems, for example. On the freeway at 110km/h, just flick the indicator and the family-size SUV changes lanes automatically. It will even wait for other cars to pass/be passed before executing the manoeuvre.

The semi-autonomous driving systems (aka driving assistance package) fitted as standard on all models work well and are some of the best in the biz. Steering assist keeps the car firmly in its lane and adaptive cruise control takes care of accelerating and braking. These systems allow for seamless assisted driving on freeways, where the car flow freely as it confidently navigates turns and works around traffic.

The new Mercedes-Benz GLE is also a sweetie in urban situations and around dense traffic, where it (mostly) requires hands on the wheel and feet on the pedals. The steering is light but direct and pairs well with the responsive turbo-diesel engine and nine-speed automatic gearbox.

Although it’s got big hips, the GLE's length of 4924mm (up 105mm on its predecessor) doesn’t feel grossly oversize when parking. That's because it has a reasonably tidy 12-metre turning circle and enough parking helpers to put Qantas Valet Parking out of business.

We're talking a multi-camera 360-degree surround-view system, all-round parking sensors and an automated parking assistant as standard equipment. All of these systems work well and most engage automatically when you slot the car into reverse gear.

There's no shortage of air-vents either, with a quartet up front that can be aimed at the rear seats, plus outlets for the middle row. The Thermatic climate-control system works effectively and the ambient LED interior lighting system with 64 colours adds a premium look to the cabin at night.

In terms of incidental storage, twin concealable front cup-holders are gargantuan (and adjustable) and there's a sizeable central armrest storage bin and door pockets for other bits and bobs.

The German-designed, US-built troop-carrier tips the scales at a hefty 2165kg but with two adults in the vehicle it doesn't feel as big, fat or lethargic as expected. It may well do so when fully-loaded with luggage and people, plus bikes or boards strapped to the roof, but the GLE 300d generates adequate thrust from its four-cylinder oil-burner.

Just two litres to propel such a large chunk of metal, glass and plastic may sound underdone, but out on the road the turbo-diesel's generous 180kW of power at 4200rpm and 500Nm of torque at 1600-2400rpm provides ample force.

It's not a speed demon and its claimed 0-100km/h sprint time of 7.2 seconds is about as believable as the emotion displayed on tawdry TV show The Bachelor (my missus watches it, OK?), but on the open road the nine-speed automatic ensures you always get the propulsion you need when you drop the hammer.

It also delivers good fuel efficiency when punting about at prosaic velocities. Benz claims 6.9L/100km combined and we recorded 8.5L/100km, which ain't too bad.

This was the first time I’d sampled Daimler’s impressive new 2.0-litre turbo-diesel and I can't wait to see how it transforms other Mercedes models, such as the C-Class.

Engine refinement levels are good too, and with the work Benz has put into improving the GLE's aerodynamics – and reducing wind noise – the big diesel SUV is smooth and quiet.

We tested two types of suspension on the launch drive, starting with regular steel coil springs, which provided an acceptable blend of ride comfort and handling dynamics on optional 21-inch alloy wheels.

But for an extra $3400 the optional Airmatic suspension is worth a look. With adjustable air chamber suspension and adaptive dampers (shock absorbers), ride quality is smoother as the vehicle generates more absorptive vertical wheel travel.

Driven on dirt roads the Mercedes GLE 4MATIC (read: four-wheel drive) was predictable and planted and while it did boom heavily over a couple of the deeper water-filled pot-holes at 80km/h, few cars wouldn’t.

If you really don't want to wake the baby in any situation, there's an optional $13,000 E-Active body control system. (Well, it costs $9000 and you pay $3000 luxury car tax and around $1000 GST.) It wasn't available at the Australian GLE launch but I sampled it in the USA in the GLE 450 early this year and it's effective.

As well as employing a camera-based road surface scanning function that identifies crummy surfacing on the run, adjusting the suspension to more effectively absorb impacts, this option adds a curve tilting function.

This is pitched at family buyers who want to avoid kids/friends/parents from getting queasy by reducing sway and tilt in corners. It's a weird feeling as you steer through faster corners but is very effective.

There are a few detractions when driving, such as the cheaper, rock-hard plastics around the doors, the flimsy indicator stalks from the entry-level Mercedes A-Class and the Artico pleather seat upholstery, which falls into the 'hardy' rather than 'luxury' category.

The 300d is the entry-level variant in the GLE range and carries a $99,900 sticker price – which means about $110K once on-road costs are added. More if you add options, of which there are many.

Even without options, it certainly doesn't feel like a 'base' grade.

Standard features across all models includes 20-inch alloy wheels, advanced LED headlights with adaptive high-beam, side steps, aluminium roof rails and a powered tailgate.

Inside, the most eye-catching features are the dual high-definition 12.3-inch screens. One is an instrument panel that shows road speed, fuel economy and so forth, the other an infotainment screen for music, navigation, climate, etc. Both are fully customisable, as is the giant head-up display with three custom panels (see the vid) – also now standard equipment across the range.

These systems work brilliantly thanks to clear, colourful and high-definition graphics and couple nicely with the MBUX operating system that features smartphone-like voice control. For instance, you can change the music, make a call or open the sunblind by saying "Mercedes, do cool stuff please. Thanks cobber."

On top of these items, standard equipment includes a Nappa leather-clad steering wheel, heated front seats, digital radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and open-pore (read: rough natural finish) oak woodgrain accents. There are two other interior finishes that are no-cost options too: brown walnut open pore timber and brushed aluminium.

Furthermore, there are at least two USB ports per seat row. Only problem here is that the ports are USB C – which is fast-charging but not ideal if you have an Apple iPhone which doesn't support USB C. You get one adapter with the car and extras will cost between $10 and $20 at an online seller.

Or you can charge one phone in the wireless charging pad up front. Only problem is you can only get it as part of an option pack, the cheapest of which is the vision package at $4200. This also adds a (gigantic) panoramic sliding sunroof and a rather spiffy 13-speaker, 590W Burmester surround sound system. But if you want the wireless charger on its own, bad luck.

There's a whole bunch of other option packs, including the $9900 AMG sport package that brings lots of exterior upgrades, 21-inch alloy wheels, the big glass roof, wireless phone charging, bovine leather trim and tinted windows.

The Energizing package plus ($6200) would be on my list, primarily due to the addition of the brilliant multi-contour massaging front seats.

There are three model grades offered in Australia at present -- the GLE 300d ($99,900), the GLE 450 ($111,700) and GLE 400d ($118,500).

The Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 is powered by a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo petrol-engine (270kW/500Nm) that gets a boost from its mild-hybrid module (16kW/250Nm).

The Mercedes-Benz GLE 400 uses a turbo-diesel version of the inline six-cylinder engine (243kW/500Nm).

Interestingly, the standard features list is the same for all three models, so the significant price premiums are only buying you more cylinders, more power and faster acceleration, but no extra equipment.

There is also a Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 model on its way to Australian late in 2019 or early 2020, which pumps out 320kW and 520Nm and will probably cost close to $140K.

The seven-seat layout is optional and costs $3900, which brings electrically-powered second-row seats, rear-seat entertainment mounts and run-flat tyres (because the space-saver spare tyre recess is eaten up by the added seats).

Boot space is ample at 630 litres, which is down on its predecessor's 690 litres but expands to 825 and 2055 litres when the second row seats are slid forward a few inches and folded down respectively.

The sub-$100,000 starting price buys you plenty of real estate and high-tech doodads, including some of the best semi-automated driving systems on the market today.

At that price, the new Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d undercuts its main rival – and Australia’s best-selling large luxury SUV – the BMW X5 by around $18,000 (for now).

The $117,900 BMW X5 30d has a bigger and more powerful (190kW/620Nm) 3.0-litre inline-six turbo-diesel but, really, the 2.0-litre unit in the GLE 300d provides more than enough hustle for most situations.

Chuck on the towbar pack ($1900) and it’s rated to tow 3500kg, which is impressive.

There is a more affordable BMW rival coming and the X5 25d could slide under $100K and give Benz's feature-packed base-grade GLE a run for its deutschmarks.

But the entry-level X5 won't pump out as much power as the Benz (170kW/450Nm versus 180kW/500Nm).

Entry-level versions of the Audi Q7 ($97,800) and Range Rover Sport ($97,725) are similarly priced but don't have the same level of equipment, missing out on 20-inch alloy wheels, active lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control, to name just a few of the omissions.

Mercedes' standard three-year warranty is par for the course in the prestige car segment, matching its German competitors but not Lexus' four-year warranty or the five- and seven-year warranties offered by mainstream car brands.

The big luxury diesel SUV from Mercedes-Benz has a five-star Euro NCAP safety rating thanks to lots of standard safety equipment, including nine airbags, autonomous emergency braking, active brake assist with cross-traffic function, active blind spot assist, a crash preparation system and the semi-automated driving aids in the driving assistance package.

The new 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d is an impressive machine in most respects. It might not have the most supple leather or the best indicator stalks, but overall it delivers on its promise of more space, more tech and improved driveability.

The BMW X5 is still Australia’s favourite large luxury SUV as well as the most dynamic, but improved road manners and strong value via a comprehensive equipment list give the new GLE a good shot at thieving some of its market share.

How much does the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d cost?
Price: $99,900 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 180kW/500Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 8.5L/100km (as tested)
CO2: 182g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star Euro NCAP (2019)