Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe Review

The Mercedes GLE Coupe is a car you buy with your heart rather than your head. If your head were choosing a big luxury SUV, it’d choose one with seven seats, a big boxy cabin, a comfortable, quiet ride, decent fuel economy, and all at a relatively affordable price. Basically, your head would choose an Audi Q7. But not everyone wants sensible. Some want fun. Some want eye-catching. Some merely want to be different to everybody else, and they’re prepared to pay a premium to get it. If you’re one of those people, then the GLE Coupe could well fit the bill. Compared with its rivals, it offers bags of luxury kit, powerful engines and a clever infotainment system that tech-heads will love.

While most SUVs have a boxy, upright stature, the GLE Coupe adopts a design that’s driven more by style than it is practicality or versatility. 

Although those with a taste for pedantry might struggle to call it a genuine coupe, due to the fact it has more than two doors, there’s little doubt that the rakish appearance delivered by the car’s sloping roofline catches the eye. Yes, it’ll probably disgust as many people as it delights, but it sure won’t go unnoticed.

The GLE Coupe isn’t alone in occupying this part-SUV-part-coupe niche, either. The BMW X6 has offered a similar mash-up of conventions for a number of years, and although it’s a relatively new kid on the block, the Audi Q8 offers style-conscious buyers another choice.

Another reasonably new entrant is the Cayenne Coupe based on Porsche’s brilliant family SUV, while the Range Rover Sport has been joined by the slightly smaller Velar in Land Rover’s offensive on the class. That’s some pretty impressive company for the GLE to keep, so can it compete?

Well, practicality might not be the be-all-and-end-all here, but importantly, the GLE has generous space for five, provided those in the back aren’t much over six foot, in which case headroom becomes a wee bit tight.

The boot is the biggest in the class, though, and access to it is easier than in most rivals. You could also argue it has an edge on infotainment, with its two high-definition glass-fronted screens - that handle a wide range of functionality - injecting some real wow-factor. The GLE’s cabin is also classy enough to feel at home in such well-heeled company.

True, the big Merc might look a bit expensive, but there’s a reason. While the regular GLE - a conventional five-door SUV - offers a wide range of petrol and diesel engines, plus a number of different equipment grades to suit all tastes and budgets, the Coupe only comes in a couple of high-spec forms, with big powerful engines and loads of luxury kit.

You’ll want for nothing in terms of power and pampering, so it’s no wonder you’ll be required to pay for it.

Exactly how the car drives isn’t quite so clear-cut yet, though. The only car we’ve tried was fitted with a suspension that you can’t have in the UK, even as an optional extra, so a few questions remain unanswered. However, it’ll have to be pretty special when in such prestigious company.

Regardless, the GLE Coupe is a desirable car, and makes a decent case for itself against rivals, especially if you’re into your tech.

The GLE 350 d Urban Edition is the best all-round choice.

Its 286PS six-cylinder diesel engine is smooth, strong and more than powerful enough for ordinary use. It also delivers the same official 38.2mpg as the more powerful GLE 450 d.

Urban Edition provides the essential comfort, infotainment and parking equipment without climbing to the price of the highest trims.

The GLE 450 d is noticeably quicker and suits buyers who want effortless high-speed performance, while the GLE 450 e makes more sense for company-car users and private buyers with reliable home charging.

The Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe starts at around £82,000, with the GLE 450 d Urban Edition priced at approximately £85,280.

Higher Premium and Premium Plus trims move towards or beyond £90,000, while the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 can exceed £100,000.

That makes the Coupe more expensive than the regular GLE and many comparable BMW X6 and Audi Q8 models. Used examples offer better value, although buyers should check the exact engine, trim and equipment fitted.

The BMW X6 is the closest rival. It feels sharper and more controlled through bends, while the GLE has a more dramatic dashboard and calmer overall character.

The Audi Q8 has an understated, high-quality cabin and a more composed ride. Its infotainment is less visually striking and the design is more restrained.

The Porsche Cayenne Coupe is the best option for keen drivers. It disguises its size more effectively, but becomes extremely expensive once options are added.

The Range Rover Sport feels more luxurious and has greater off-road ability. Running costs and long-term ownership require careful consideration.

The regular Mercedes-Benz GLE is the sensible alternative. It provides the option of seven seats, a more practical roofline and broadly the same technology for less money.

Legroom is pretty good in the back. There’s less than in the regular GLE SUV, admittedly, because the Coupe has a slightly shorter wheelbase, but there’s still loads of the stuff to play with. However, headroom isn’t quite so generous.

That sloping roof line means that anyone much over six foot will find their head brushing the ceiling, so tall passengers will find themselves scooching down in their seat to fit.

While a seven-seat option has been introduced on the GLE SUV, the Coupe version is still exclusively a five-seater.

Probably just as well when the roof line drops so rapidly. That does mean that the boot is a little shallower than in a conventional SUV, but it’s still really good on size. It’s bigger, in fact, than you get in the Audi Q8, BMW X6 and Porsche Cayenne Coupe, and easily enough to cope with a bulky buggy and a selection of bags. The flush load lip also means that the space is easy to get to.

The GLE Coupe measures 4,940mm long, 2,018mm wide and 1,729mm high, increasing to 2,164mm across the mirrors.

Its width is the main challenge on narrow roads, in older car parks and through width restrictions. The high seating position helps, but the broad bonnet and restricted rear view make the standard parking sensors and camera essential.

A 360-degree camera is worth prioritising, particularly on used examples. The 11.87-metre turning circle is reasonable for a car of this size, although it still feels cumbersome in tight urban spaces.

The GLE uses Merc’s latest MBUX infotainment system, which centres around two glass-fronted 12.3-inch screens that are mounted side-by-side in front of the driver.

These take most of the car’s numerous functions, plus all the information that would usually be delivered on traditional instrument dials, and present them all in one integrated unit. 

You can control the system in a number of ways. Voice control is the easiest, and the GLE’s sophisticated system is designed to recognise natural speech rather than specific commands. Otherwise, you tap and swipe on the left-hand screen, or via a touchpad and shortcut buttons placed on the central partition between the front seats.

The graphics are sharp and the menus are logical, so it’s fairly easy to find your way around the system. However,  the touchpad controller is less precise, and thus more distracting, than the iDrive rotary dial you get in a BMW X6.

The functionality of your system includes DAB radio, Bluetooth, a whole bunch of connected services, a wireless phone charging plate, Apple Carplay/Android Auto, a Burmester surround sound system and augmented reality sat-nav.

This overlays instruction graphics over a camera image of the road ahead of you, pointing out precisely where you need to go. It looks really cool, and it’s also very handy.

The seats are leather (naturally) and the dashboard has a plush-feeling covering made from a (very convincing) man-made leather substitute.

Dark wood trims inject a sense of modern sophistication, while those infotainment screens mean there’s a high-tech feel, too. In terms of poshness, then, the GLE’s cabin feels right up there with its rivals.

However swish, though, the interior doesn’t feel quite as solid as rivals from Audi and BMW: pokes and prods of various bits and pieces result in a few more creaks and flexes than they do in the other German cars, so the Merc doesn’t feel quite as dense or substantial. That said, it really isn’t far behind, and you’ll certainly won’t feel like you’re slumming it.

The GLE 350d provides all the performance most buyers need. Its 650Nm of torque arrives low in the rev range, allowing the car to accelerate strongly without the engine working hard.

The GLE 450d increases torque to 750Nm and feels seriously quick. It gathers speed with very little effort and provides particularly strong overtaking performance. Both diesels return the same official combined figure of 38.2mpg in current specification.

The GLE 450e combines a 326PS petrol engine with a 184PS electric motor for a total of 435PS and 680Nm. The electric motor provides immediate response at low speed, while the petrol engine joins smoothly when more performance is required.

The Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Hybrid increases combined output to 585PS and 750Nm. Its 4.5-second 0-62mph time is remarkable for a car weighing more than 2.8 tonnes.

Bit of a grey area, this. All GLE Coupes come with air suspension as standard, while the AMG 53 gets an even more sophisticated system, but the test car we drove was fitted with an optional suspension system that’s not offered in the UK. Bit odd, but there you go...

It’s still very good at absorbing the effects of bumps and ruts, but there’s more control over the body’s up-and-down movements, so you’re not tossed about quite as much, resulting in a more settled ride.

There is loads of grip and traction from the standard four-wheel-drive system, so things always feel secure, but it doesn’t disguise its bulk as well as a Porsche Cayenne Coupe, and there’s more body roll. It doesn’t steer as sweetly, either, because things are rather light and vague.

While the Mercedes GLE Coupe hasn’t specifically been crash-tested by Euro NCAP, GLE SUV's full five-star rating is applicable here. However, because it was conducted using less stringent protocols in 2019, the result has since expired.

Standard safety kit includes seven airbags, clever multi-beam LED headlights, an active pop-up bonnet to better protect pedestrians and a self-parking system with a 360-degree camera. 

You also get automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane keeping assistance, traffic sign recognition with automatic amendment of your speed, and super-clever adaptive cruise control that brings in a whole bunch of other clever functionality, allowing the car to pretty much drive itself under certain circumstances.

The GLE 350d and GLE 450d both return an official 38.2mpg. That is respectable for a large four-wheel-drive SUV weighing close to two and a half tonnes. Real-world motorway economy in the mid-30s should be achievable with restrained driving, although urban use and frequent acceleration will reduce the figure.

The GLE 450e has a 25.72kWh usable battery and an official WLTP electric range of 63 miles. Mercedes quotes a 65-mile equivalent all-electric range for company-car calculations. Real-world range will depend on temperature, speed, wheel size and use of the heating or air conditioning. Around 45 to 55 miles should be achievable in mixed conditions.

The GLE Coupe has a three-year manufacturer warranty, plus three-year paint cover and 30-year anti-corrosion protection, subject to Mercedes’ terms. Separate warranty conditions apply to plug-in hybrid batteries.

Servicing and repairs are likely to be expensive because of the car’s air suspension, four-wheel drive and complex electronics. A complete service history is essential when buying used.

As to be expected the GLE Coupe matches the insurance groupings of the regular SUV that falls into groups 49 and 50 for the most powerful versions, making premiums very expensive. Because the Coupe only uses the most powerful engines, it sits in group 49 and 50 so insurance won’t be cheap.

The Expensive Car Supplement applies to all versions of the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, so between years two and six of the car's life, owners will be required to pay tax at a rate of £640 per year. After that, your annual tax will drop to the £200 flat rate.