Archive first published
Mercedes GLE vs GLE Coupé: How the 2015 Pair Really Differed
In 2015 Mercedes-Benz split its large SUV into two bodies. The facelifted M-Class was renamed GLE, and the new GLE Coupé added a sloping roof to the same platform. They share engines, four-wheel drive and the cabin, but the Coupé is longer and lower, with a smaller boot.
Key takeaways
- GLE (W166 facelift): revealed in New York in April 2015; GLE Coupé (C292): revealed in Detroit in January 2015.
- Both were built in Alabama and share the platform, mechanicals and interior.
- The Coupé is about 80–100 mm longer and about 70 mm lower, with 650 litres of boot space against 690.
- Both were replaced in 2019 by the W167 GLE and the C167 GLE Coupé.
How the M-Class became the GLE in 2015
Around this time Mercedes reorganised its SUV names so that each showed the size class: GLA, GLC, GLE and GLS. The third-generation M-Class (W166) received a facelift and its new name at the New York show in April 2015, and sales started in the second half of the year. The Coupé had arrived first, at the Detroit show in January 2015. It answered the BMW X6, which had created this niche seven years earlier.
GLE and GLE Coupé dimensions compared
| Figure | GLE (W166) | GLE Coupé (C292) |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,819 mm | 4,891–4,918 mm |
| Height | 1,796 mm | 1,718–1,731 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,915 mm | 2,915 mm |
| Boot, seats up | 690 l | 650 l |
| Boot, seats folded | 2,010 l | 1,720 l |
| Kerb weight from | 2,150 kg | 2,145 kg |
With an identical wheelbase, rear legroom is similar; the difference sits behind the rear axle and overhead. By our calculation, the Coupé gives up 40 litres of boot space with the seats up and 290 litres with them folded. Tall rear passengers also lose headroom under the falling roof. You can set the two bodies side by side with the 1cars size comparison.
Engines: what each body offered
| Version | Engine | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|
| GLE 250 d | 2.1 four-cylinder diesel | 150 kW (204 PS) | 500 Nm |
| GLE 350 d | 3.0 V6 diesel | 190 kW (258 PS) | 620 Nm |
| GLE 400 | 3.0 V6 twin-turbo petrol | 245 kW (333 PS) | 480 Nm |
| GLE 450 AMG / AMG GLE 43 | 3.0 V6 twin-turbo petrol | 270 kW (367 PS) | 520 Nm |
| GLE 500 e | V6 petrol + 85 kW electric motor | 325 kW (442 PS) system | – |
| AMG GLE 63 S | 5.5 V8 twin-turbo | 430 kW (585 PS) | 760 Nm |
The regular GLE covered the whole table. According to the old 1cars report, the Coupé started with the 350 d in Europe and skipped the entry diesel. Its sporting 450 AMG model was later renamed AMG GLE 43. Both bodies offered the V8 AMG 63 and 63 S at the top, and most versions used the nine-speed automatic.
What happened next: the W167 and C167
The new W167 GLE appeared at the Paris show in October 2018. The C292 Coupé was built until August 2019, when the C167 GLE Coupé based on the W167 replaced it. The current pair keeps the two-body recipe with mild-hybrid and plug-in engines. The full story is on the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé page.
Which to choose: GLE or GLE Coupé from 2015–2019
The GLE suits families, towing and long trips; the 350 d balances pace and economy, and the 250 d keeps running costs lowest. Choose the Coupé if styling matters more than space; its rivals were the BMW X6 and, from 2018, the Audi Q8. On either body, check the air suspension and service history. Compare both with their rivals using the 1cars comparison tool, and see the whole range in the Mercedes-Benz catalogue.
FAQ
What is the difference between the Mercedes GLE and the GLE Coupé?
They share the platform, engines, four-wheel drive and dashboard. The Coupé has a sloping roof, is about 80–100 mm longer and about 70 mm lower, and its boot holds 650 litres instead of 690.
When did the M-Class become the GLE?
The facelifted third-generation M-Class (W166) was renamed GLE when it was revealed at the New York show in April 2015. Sales began in the second half of 2015.
Is the GLE Coupé bigger than the GLE?
It is longer, at 4,891–4,918 mm against 4,819 mm, but lower and with less luggage space. The wheelbase is the same 2,915 mm, so the cabins are similar in length.
Which engines did the GLE Coupé have?
At launch it offered the 350 d diesel with 190 kW (258 PS), the 400 petrol V6 and the 450 AMG with 270 kW (367 PS). The AMG GLE 63 S topped the range with 430 kW (585 PS).
