2017 Mercedes Benz GLE Class Pros vs Cons

The 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE Class offers luxury midsized SUV buyers two body styles, four engines including a plug in hybrid and a wide array of standard and optional features. With all the choices to make when shopping the GLE Class, its hard not to have something for everyone.

What’s New for 2017

The 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE Class has done away with the diesel engine option in 2017. Aside from that, the 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE Class has only made a few modifications to the standard equipment packages compared to the 2016 lineup.

Ten Reasons You May Like the 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE Class – The Pros

1. Range of Engine Options

Engine options range from the fuel efficient to the high performance with four variations of the V6. The base engine is a 3.6 liter V6 with 302 h.p. From there, buyers have three AMG engines to choose from ranging from 362 to 577 h.p. Also available is a plug in hybrid.

2. Plug in Hybrid

The 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE Class offers a fuel efficient hybrid variation of the twin turbocharged 3.0 liter V6. The hybrid doesn't sacrifice power despite keeping fuel costs down. With the electric and gas portions working together, the GLE550e cranks out 436 h.p. It also qualifies some buyers for a $4,000 federal tax rebate.

3. 4MATIC AWD on all Models

The 4MATIC AWD system in the 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE Class offers versatility while driving in real life. The system can adapt to slick conditions by shifting power to the wheels that have grip. It also peps up driving through turns offering excellent handling.

4. Interior Features

The 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE Class features a large center display and plush materials in the cabin. The GLE Class is accented by burled wood trim and standard MB-Tex vinyl seat upholstery. The seats are upgradable to full leather with highly adjustable front seats.

5. Cargo Space

Though the Mercedes Benz GLE Class offers a coupe model with more streamlined design, buyers looking for a lot of cargo space will opt for the full SUV model. The 38.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row seating sits toward the top of the rankings in this category. The rear seats have the ability to fold down to allow 80.3 cubic feet of cargo space.

6. Standard Features

The base model in the 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE Class family offers a long list of features. Highlights include 4G LTE, power liftgate, heated and retractable mirrors, LED daytime running lights and backup camera.

7. Fuel Economy

The 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE Class models all come with automatic engine stop and start technology. For maximum fuel economy, the hybrid will get drivers an estimated 43 mpg. The standard V6 will get a non impressive 18 city and 23 highway.

8. Driving Safety

The 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE Class won an Insurance Institute of Highway Safety designation of Top Safety Pick+. It also features standard safety capabilities that include driver drowsiness monitor and cross-wind assist capabilities which are anything but standard. There are also many driver assist options that can be added to the GLE Class for added road safety.

9. Coupe and AMG Options

The 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE Class offers a coupe design for the 2017 entry. Though it still has four doors, it features a more athletic and aerodynamic styling. Also available are the AMG models. These serve basically as premium trim models that feature the more powerful engine options.

10. Optional Packages

All models of the 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE Class offer upgrade packages. Some packages that are available include the park assist package with 360 degree camera and automated parking. Also available are the premium interior packages and the sport exterior packages.

Reasons You May Not Like the 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE Class – The Cons

1. Warranty Falls Short

The Mercedes Benz GLE Class comes backed with a four year or 50,000 mile warranty. Though not lacking in protection, there is a noticeable absence of an extended powertrain warranty.

2. Ride and Handling

The Mercedes Benz GLE Class is designed to be a comfortable ride. It is moderately capable of smoothing out potholes and features automatic adjusting suspension. Upgradable features like Active Curve System and drive mode select make it more agile.
The engine options from the GLE Class definitely offer better than required acceleration.

3. No Third Row Seating

The Mercedes Benz GLE Class does come standard with 60-40 fold down seating for extra cargo space capacity, but hauling more passengers would be more comfortable with a third row of seats. Buyers will not have to look too far to find a similar vehicle that comes with third row seating.

How It Stacks Up to the Competition

The 2017 Mercedes Benz GLE Class has plenty of positives like a variety of engine offerings and fairly new redesign. It also offers a coupe option and AMG models. It stacks up nicely against other luxury midsize SUVs like the Cadillac XT5 and the Land Rover Range Rover Sport.

As is the case in many categories with dozens of options, competition is very tight. Mercedes-Benz does not match the luxury, technology or options offered by competitors like the Audi Q7 and the Tesla Model X, though these SUVs will cost quite a bit more.

Conclusion

The Mercedes Benz GLE Class is relatively new to the luxury midsized SUV market. Newly redesigned in 2016 to replace the M Class from Mercedes Benz, the GLE Class offers a wide range of engine options. There is a long list of standard features and upgrades that are available as well. The GLE Class includes a plug in hybrid model that will qualify some buyers for a hefty tax rebate.