Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE at a glance

From M-Class to GLE: where the model sits

Mercedes launched the M-Class in 1997 as a body-on-frame SUV, sold as the ML in many markets. In 2015 the facelifted third generation (W166) was renamed GLE to fit the new naming scheme, in which "GL" marks an SUV and the last letter links it to a saloon class, here the E-Class. A coupé-roofed sister, the GLE Coupé, arrived at the same time; its story is told in our GLE Coupé guide.

The GLE sits between the GLC and the seven-seat GLS, with which it shares its body structure and its Alabama assembly line. The V167 was the first GLE offered with an optional third row, which turns the five-seater into a seven-seater. According to Mercedes, several million customers have bought a car from this model line since 1997. All Mercedes SUVs, from the GLA up, are listed in the Mercedes-Benz catalogue.

The 2026 update: Superscreen, MB.OS and a flat-plane V8

The second facelift was presented on 31 March 2026, with the Swiss launch at the end of May 2026 and the German launch in the autumn. The front gains a larger grille with an optionally illuminated outline and star motifs in the headlamps; Digital Light with micro-LED projectors is optional.

Inside, the MBUX Superscreen becomes standard: the driver display, the central screen and a passenger display sit under one glass panel. The new MB.OS operating system runs on a central computer and receives updates over the air. A panoramic roof is standard, and the suspension now uses cloud-based damper control, which adjusts the settings for road hazards reported by other cars.

The engine range was revised at the same time. Every combustion engine now has a 48-volt integrated starter-generator, the diesels get an electrically heated catalytic converter, and the GLE 580 receives a V8 with a flat-plane crankshaft and 395 kW (537 PS). The diesel plug-in hybrid was dropped, and the four-cylinder GLE 300 d is not part of the 2026 line-up announced for Germany.

GLE engines and versions in 2026

All versions use 4MATIC all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic gearbox. Figures are from Mercedes press material of March 2026 and Paul Tan's launch report.

Mercedes says the GLE 450e has 55 kW more system output than the GLE 400e it replaces, which had 280 kW (381 PS). The AMG GLE 53 Hybrid charges at 11 kW on AC and, as an option, at up to 60 kW on DC, which takes the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in about 20 minutes. The plug-in hybrids sold before 2026 used a 31.2 kWh battery with 90 to 99 km of WLTP range.

The 2019-2026 cars on the used market

The V167 started in 2019 with four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines. The 2023 facelift brought new lights, a new steering wheel and 48-volt assistance for the four-cylinder diesel, and it added the GLE 400e petrol plug-in hybrid with 280 kW (381 PS). ADAC's data for a 2025 GLE 300 d 4MATIC shows 198 kW (269 PS) from the engine and 213 kW (289 PS) with electric boost, 550 Nm, 0-100 km/h in 6.9 s, a top speed of 230 km/h, 6.9 l/100 km (34.1 mpg US) and 181 g/km of CO2. That car weighed 2,335 kg (5,148 lb) and listed at EUR 104,881 in Edition trim in Germany in 2025.

For high-mileage drivers, the 300 d and 350 d diesels are the economical choices. Before 2023 the six-cylinder GLE 350 d had 200 kW (272 PS) and 600 Nm. Buyers who mostly drive short distances should look at the plug-in hybrids with the 31.2 kWh battery and 90 to 99 km of WLTP range.

Space, towing and safety

At 4,924 mm (193.9 in) long, 1,947 mm wide without mirrors and 1,797 mm tall, the GLE is a full-size SUV by European standards. The boot holds 630 litres behind the second row; on the 2026 car, the second row can be moved to raise that to 825 litres, and folding it gives 2,055 litres. Electric fore-and-aft adjustment of the second row also frees legroom for the optional third row. With AIRMATIC air suspension the 2026 GLE can tow up to 3.5 tonnes (7,716 lb).

Euro NCAP tested a GLE 350 d 4MATIC in 2019 and awarded five stars, with 91 per cent for adult occupants, 90 per cent for children, 78 per cent for vulnerable road users and 78 per cent for safety assistance systems.

GLE rivals and which version to choose

ADAC names the BMW X5, Audi Q7 and Volkswagen Touareg as the main rivals. The Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90 also offer seven seats; the GLE counters with a wide range of six-cylinder engines and, from 2026, the long electric range of the 450e.

The GLE 450e makes most sense for drivers who can charge at home, because 106 km of WLTP range covers most daily trips without the petrol engine. The GLE 350 d suits towing and long motorway runs. The GLE 580 is the choice for buyers who want a V8, while the AMG GLE 53 Hybrid combines 430 kW (585 PS) with roughly 90 km of electric range.