Mercedes-Benz GLE 2021 Long-Term Review

UPDATED 24/11/2021: And so, here we are. It is time to hand back our long-term 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d.

The big six-cylinder diesel-powered seven-seater was a welcome member of the carsales’ long-term garage this year, where we’ve got to grips with its size, pored over its interior and infotainment, amassed big overnight miles in the form of a road trip, and much, much more.

Read through our various updates and introductory review below for the full story.

In the end, we amassed 7527km in only a few months, despite travel restrictions imposed during the height of the pandemic. Those miles included plenty of highway time to and from Sydney, regular school runs, supermarket runs and even some driving on dirt in the final weeks, which we’ll get to in a moment.

Over the term of the loan the GLE averaged 9.1L/100km – marginally above the official 7.7L/100km average claim but equal to the official extra-urban figure of 9.1L/100km. The trip computer reveals that figure came after 166 hours’ worth of driving, averaging 51km/h.

All told, the best figure we experienced over that time was 5.8L/100km over a 106km loop averaging 85km/h. The worst figure was about 12L/100km during a congested urban run averaging about 30km/h.

We conclude our long-term series by doing what many GLE owners probably won’t – off-roading! Well, sort of: we use that phrase in the lightest possible tone.

In the final weeks of running in the carsales garage, there was the occasional opportunity to test the GLE 400d along a series of moderate-speed dirt tracks.

And it handled the task superbly each time.

The air suspension maintained its control over corrugations and potholes, the stability control suite and laundry list of driver aids were as effective as ever when called upon, and the GLE’s all-wheel drive system was razor-sharp with its inputs and stability.

Moreover, the air suspension came into its own during some very light scaling of banks, lifting the entire vehicle up well beyond its standard 212mm clearance.

Thankfully, the brief stints off-road do little to blemish the GLE 400d’s appearance. Running boards and small plastic extensions that sit proud of the wheel-arches seemingly help protect the Mojave Silver paintwork.

And that is a true representation of the GLE 400d overall.

The build quality appeared strong throughout the duration of our 7500km loan, with no interior squeaks or rattles, and no visible marks to the interior or exterior.

Similarly, the tactile alloy switchgear still bristles, the carpet feels plush and the seats have retained newness in their bolstering and support.

As we’ve mentioned in the past, that centre screen is a magnet for fingerprints, yet it is not alone.

The GLE 400d has been a solid performer throughout our long-term series. It isn’t without its quirks and idiosyncrasies, yet the luxe factor, big engine and huge safety suite are all big selling points, allowing the Benz to properly differentiate itself from a cast of up-and-comers.

UPDATED 12/10/2021: Wherever possible during lockdown in New South Wales, we’ve hit the road in our long-term 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d – including a return trip from Sydney to Thredbo in pursuit of a new-found mountain biking obsession.

With more planning and foresight, you’d fit the GLE 400d with requisite roof racks as a means of ferrying the mountain bike.

But thankfully when you have a big seven-seat SUV, interior space isn’t a problem.

We depart Sydney in the early hours of the morning. Seat comfort is great, the Burmester sound system is belting out clean, bassy audio and the climate control and seat warmer systems are working a treat as we amble out of a barely-awake city.

Now, for a little more legroom… and herein lies a minor problem. Loading the GLE 400d to the hilt with luggage, mountain bike, safety gear and the like necessitates the stowage of the split-folding second-row seatbacks, which extends boot space from 630 litres to a not-insignificant 2055 litres.

Upon loading the GLE 400d, its electrically-controlled seating is a cinch to stow and configure to your liking – but it’s a double-edged sword. In order to make enough room for the split-folded second row, the GLE 400d automatically slides the driver’s seat forward.

And because everything is electrically-controlled, you can only slide it so far back.

That means the driving position is a little bit tighter than my 175cm frame would ordinarily command for the duration of the five-hour journey.

It’s an annoyance more than anything, but would be much more of an issue if you stood taller than 6ft.

Even so, open-road conveyance is effortless. The brutish diesel engine and nine-speed automatic gearbox work in harmony, the lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control functions intervene benignly as required (and without overzealous chimes that tend to afflict many modern cars), and the seats and contact points enamour with their bolstering and comfort.

The GLE’s optional air suspension is a delight on smooth, open roads. It follows the curvature and gradient of the road with deft control, while also ironing out high-speed imperfections with aplomb.

Smaller bumps are transferred through the cabin accordingly, and occasionally the body will take longer to recover from harsher hits than expected.

The GLE 400d casts a nice broad light on the road ahead, and its automatic high beam function is effective in picking up oncoming traffic or dimming the lights through townships.

This is a first-class ride to Thredbo, even if the driver is a little cramped.

By the time we roll through Cooma and into Jindabyne, the GLE 400d’s trip computer reads 7.2L/100km – marginally below its 7.7L/100km average claim yet above the official 6.8L/100km ‘extra urban’ or open road claim.

An 80-litre tank (plus a supplementary AdBlue tank that requires refilling every 8000km) means we’re on track to cover 1000km between refills at this rate – enough to cover the return trip.

We arrive in Thredbo and, despite the early start and circa-450km journey, jump out feeling relatively fresh.

On the ascending road to Thredbo, bumps are telegraphed succinctly by feedback from the key controls and chassis, while the steering wheel facilitates easy, predictable passage through varying corners thanks to ample weighting and accuracy.

The GLE 400d feels stable under braking and acceleration alike, and the engine is hardly fussed by a 2.5-tonne kerb, using its nine-speed automatic gearbox to pedal clinically through the ratios.

UPDATED 8/09/2021: The interior of a car is a lot like Christmas lunch with your extended family: you appreciate the finer points of those present and there’s no hiding the bad.

The cabin of our long-term 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d has had a thorough family test over many weeks, accommodating baby seats, prams, surfboards and all other shapes and sizes.

As most parents will appreciate, space is precious; and thankfully, the GLE 400d has acres of room.

Beginning with the boot area, there’s 630 litres of space with the optional sixth and seventh seats stowed away – not the biggest in the segment in terms of length, but not the smallest either.

The real-life translation is the GLE 400d will happily accommodate a designer pram, plus a swag of overnight bags, a child’s bike or other incidentals.

If you do spring for the optional sixth and seventh seats ($3900), space is reasonable back there. Ingress and egress is facilitated via the push of a button atop the outbound second-row seats and there are few complaints from passengers.

The third row has air vents and is relatively easy to access (and exit) via a second-row opening.

It is also possible for those in the third row to easily converse others in the cabin, including the driver and front passenger, thanks to a microphone function in the front row which plays into the rearmost speakers. It means those in the bleachers can hear even a faint conversation – a potential word to the wise.

From the driver’s seat, you’d barely notice a full freight of passengers on board – the powerful and gutsy 243kW/700Nm diesel engine and clever air suspension quickly alleviate those concerns. The oiler makes light work of the additional heft, using its gearbox to maximise mid-range cadence, while the air suspension adjusts its travel and ride height automatically to suit the additional heft.

With that said, the sweetener to the Benz’s layout is a huge second-row area. Legroom, shoulder-room and headroom is generous across the GLE 400’s broad cabin.

Children have had no issues whatsoever getting themselves comfortable, while adults have appreciated the supportive seats, assortment of cubbies and charging points, and rear air vent access with separate controls.

Entry into the GLE’s second row is excellent, thanks to large door apertures, a running board (read: step) and ample grab rails to hoist yourself into its elevated seating position.

What’s more, an open window line is another boon for parents of little ones – they’ll have very little trouble seeing out and keeping themselves occupied.

All told there are two ISOFIX attachment points in the GLE 400d’s second row, and three top-tether points. We’ve only installed two child seats at once in the second row, so can’t speak to whether exactly you’d get three abreast.

Even with optional third-row seats fitted, there are no attachment points in the bleachers.

Over many weeks in 1RB-2RX, cabin materials have proven to be well-wearing yet soft and comfortable enough as contact points.

Thick carpet and lush materials are minor details that help make the daily experience in the luxury SUV that little bit special – commensurate with the GLE 400d’s $130K sticker price.

UPDATED 23/07/2021: We’re now several weeks into ‘living with’ the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d and are beginning to get to grips with navigating its myriad features and technology.

The GLE’s infotainment system is replete with the latest MBUX software and dual-screen arrangement, and is a cinch to operate once you’ve become accustomed to its layout. There’s an ideal mix of touch-screen capability, hard-wired buttons and a centrally mounted haptic controller.

Sometimes, simplicity is king for a vehicle’s dashboard layout and infotainment. And that usually rings true in the case of traditional hard-wired switchgear.

Although the GLE’s dashboard subscribes to the latest minimalist layout trend, we love the fact you can still control basic climate control features on the fly without having to touch a screen. Things like recirculated air, fan speed, climate control temperature or seat heating and ventilation.

There are charging points aplenty across all three rows – but a word to the wise, the GLE 400d has transitioned to the latest USB-C ports, meaning older iPhones and other devices with USB-A ports will require a connecting cable like that residing in our vehicle.

Mercedes-Benz deviates from most manufacturers in offering a steering column-mounted gear shifter and seat adjustment controls on the door cards. The shifter’s positioning liberates a heap of space for odds-and-ends storage underneath the centre fascia, a slew of hard-wired switchgear and a couple of big ol’ grab rails.

Handily, the steering wheel also features its own switchgear touchpads on a the 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock positions; essentially, you can control the GLE’s left screen with the left-hand side controls of the steering wheel, and the right screen with the right-hand side controls on the steering wheel.

The steering wheel switchgear is particularly efficient in allowing the driver to perform tasks without taking their eyes off the road. And should you wish to streamline the process even more, a ‘Hey Mercedes’ feature allows you to use voice commands and no switchgear cues whatsoever.

Simply say the words ‘Hey Mercedes’ and the GLE is at your beck and call… infotainment, climate control temperature, sat-nav, you name it. And it doesn’t work half bad.

About the only real gripe is the sensitivity of the GLE’s centrally mounted haptic controller. If, like my clan, you’re regularly loading up the cup holders and cubbies with odds and ends, there are often phone cables spilling out in front of the centre console.

These cables (as well as errant hands) are prone to coming in contact with the haptic controller and erroneously navigating the infotainment system into unwanted menus and commands.

The GLE 400d’s overhead camera is a real boon for tight car parking scenarios, helping to mitigate the GLE’s large 4.93-metre length and increase your own spatial awareness. The system is particularly handy in that it’s automatically activated on the centre screen when you are in close proximity to an object at low speed – not just when reversed is engaged.

We also took up Benz’s offer to join the Mercedes me program for the duration of our GLE 400d loan. The system allows you to start and unlock the vehicle remotely using your smartphone, pre-heat the cabin or seats, check the vehicle’s status and much more.

It’s an added feature which helps optimises the way you use your vehicle, and adds a heap of real-world convenience.

ORIGINAL REVIEW PUBLISHED 21/06/2021: The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d sits atop the regular non-AMG, non-GLE Coupe line-up in Australia, now priced at $132,300 plus on-road costs after a recent price hike of more than $6000.

That positioning commands a circa-$20,000 premium over the four-cylinder turbo-diesel GLE 300d entry model, and a $7400 premium over the similarly-specced six-cylinder GLE 450 petrol.

Mechanically, the GLE 400d is fitted with a 2.9-litre turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder engine mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Shuffling drive to all four wheels via Mercedes’ much-vaunted 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, the GLE 400d claims an official 0-100km/h acceleration time of 5.7 seconds, as well as a claimed fuel efficiency rating of 7.7L/100km on the combined cycle.

Standard equipment includes 20-inch alloy wheels, LED lighting with adaptive high beam headlights, a powered tailgate, 360-degree parking camera, colour head-up display, ‘artico’ leatherette upholstery with heated front pews, digital radio and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

Infotainment is facilitated via two sizeable 12.3-inch screens – the left controlled via touch, a centrally-mounted touch pad or separate buttons on the steering wheel; the right screen via another set of buttons on the tiller.

Naturally for a vehicle wearing the three-pointed star, there’s a big emphasis on safety, and standard equipment includes autonomous emergency braking (AEB), lane departure warning, lane keeping assist (with active lane assist, which allows the vehicle to merge into the next lane when you indicate), blind spot monitoring, front and rear cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, driver fatigue monitoring and semi-autonomous parking.

There are also dual front airbags, side chest-protecting airbags for front and second row outboard positions, side curtain airbags and a driver’s knee airbag as standard.

The GLE range boasts a five-star ANCAP safety rating according to 2019 protocols.

Optional extras are de rigueur in the luxury landscape as well, and the GLE 400d has its share of those too. Opting for a sixth or seventh seat, for example, will set buyers back an additional $3900 – although there is consolation in the fact the outlay extends the vehicle’s head-protecting curtain airbags to the third row.

An AMG Sport Package ($9900) fitted to our vehicle brings larger 21-inch alloy wheels, electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, wireless phone charging, panoramic sunroof, tinted windows, ambient lighting and open-pore oak wood trim.

The GLE 400d is backed by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty in Australia. Capped-price servicing is available for the first three years of ownership, amounting to $3300 in total based on 12-month/25,000km intervals.

Buyers also have the option of purchasing ‘servicing packs’ upon buying the vehicle, priced from $2700 over three years or $5200 over five years. Mercedes-Benz says those packages include all consumables save for brake pads and discs, and wiper inserts.

So, getting back to the question at hand: How does the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d tangibly separate itself from other aspiring luxury SUVs?

Initially, it’s all down to the details. Our long-term press car sets an immediately positive first impression, from the way its seat belt pretensioners give a reassuring tug, to something as small as the interior lighting at night, which will blanket the front passenger seat in light if it can sense the driver reaching over to rifle through their bag.

Even the seat warmers are special in the way they heat the centre console and door arm rest concurrently.

We’ll get to more of these GLE-isms in the coming updates, but first impressions are that the GLE imparts a sense of luxury and occasion with its cabin fitment and finish, as well as the operation of its infotainment system and meticulously-tuned driver aids.

Similarly, the front seats are broad and comfortable, incidental storage is well considered, and ingress and egress into the GLE’s high-set cabin is a cinch thanks to broad running boards.

Materials at all the contact points feel up to the GLE’s circa-$132,000 price tag (before options and on-road costs) and we’ve had no problems in finding our way through the SUV’s huge 12.3-inch screens, though we’ll go into more detail on that in later updates.

Other than its price tag, there’s nothing really intimidating about the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d.

Light steering, myriad driver assistance systems and a broad outlook (augmented by bird’s-eye view cameras) lend it a strong degree of usability. After little time at all, we get to grips with the finer details of our long-termer and its 4.93m length.

Despite its sub-3.0-litre displacement, the diesel engine is a brute, offering the kind of effortless torque curve and quick-witted gearshifts that an SUV of the GLE’s calibre might demand. Similarly, it does so with a suitably muscular oiler soundtrack, sans the typical agricultural rattle.

Elsewhere, the SUV’s optional air suspension tries to straddle the fine line between comfort and performance duties, which is no mean feat given the huge 21-inch wheels and hefty 2.2-tonne kerb weight…

In ordinary conveyance on billiard-table-smooth roads, the GLE acquits itself well, loping along confidently and shaking off mild bumps with barely a sweat.

The more telling observation arrives on B-grade bitumen, where the air suspension is more prone to shimmying and is more readily upset by jarring imperfections in the road.

The result is the GLE’s air suspension can take longer to recover from extended sections of rough bitumen than some users may like.

With that said, the SUV’s preference for the easy life bodes well for its long journey amenity – evidenced by some initial highway miles, whereupon the diesel engine saunters barely above idle and the large body simply soaks up the imperfections beneath it.

How much does the 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d cost?
Price: $132,300 (plus on-road costs); $153,000 (plus ORCs) as tested
Available: Now
Engine: 2.9-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 243kW/700Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.7L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 202g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)