GLE Coupe: More Mercedes Than Mercedes Itself

These days, it's safe to say that unless you live in a monastery, walk barefoot to work, or lie to yourself every time your eyes catch the hood of a Mercedes-Benz GLE, you’ve dreamed about owning a luxury SUV. Let’s be honest, the GLE is that one friend who can do it all: wears a suit when needed, treks through the woods like a seasoned hunter, and knows every restaurant’s best staff by name. It’s never flashy, but it’s always present. Elegant, silent, and with the iconic silver star on its grille.

The GLE story begins in 1997, when Mercedes introduced the M-Class. Back then, the idea of a luxury off-roader seemed as contradictory as vegan bacon or a quiet child at a birthday party. But the M-Class proved the doubters wrong: big cars can have class and softness, and both business execs and muddy kids can sit on leather seats without offending anyone. Since then, this model has won the hearts of over two million urban buyers—more than some pop stars’ streams or politicians’ supporters.

When the GLE name appeared in 2015, it wasn’t just rebranding—it was about putting the model in its rightful place. The GLE positioned itself comfortably alongside the E-Class, signaling a level of aristocracy above your typical city SUV. This isn’t a cheap trick or just a pretty shell. This is a Mercedes that doesn’t ask if you want luxury—it assumes you do.

Now, the 2025 version is more than an update—it’s the dawn of a new era. The fourth generation is built on a fresh technological platform and features more brainpower than some governments. Sharing its DNA with the GLE Coupé and the larger GLS, it strikes a balance between glamor and ruggedness, fitting equally well in the city or out of it.

The GLE stands proudly in the Mercedes SUV lineup: not as big as the GLS, not as iconic as the G-Class, but the ideal choice for anyone wanting it all—power, comfort, quality, and a dash of "look at me." Like a luxury multitool, it’s ready for the concert or the cottage, shows you the stars, and even parks itself when your hands are full.

The GLE’s design is an exercise in measured precision—nothing feels excessive, everything just right. Changes from the previous model are so subtle even fans might squint. But those in the know will notice and approve. The grille is a showcase of German perfectionism, with a horizontal line and tiny shimmering stars, like eyebrow makeup you only notice when praised. Massive side intakes look like the car’s own breathing passages.

The headlights keep their shape but get an update, like a new season of a hit Netflix series—familiar yet more striking. The new daytime running lights sketch a modern pattern, as if designed with a laser. The taillights match in flair, shining like a controlled disco after dark.

From the side, the GLE is like a bulldozer that’s spent time with Giorgio Armani: 4.92 meters of German precision, a wheelbase offering plenty of legroom for both kids and even a dog zone. Long lines, high beltline, and short overhangs give it a form more admired than merely used.

Then there’s the GLE Coupé: like a ballerina from the gym. It shares the same tech as the regular GLE but with a different silhouette. The sloping rear flows smoothly, like an expensive suit on a man who knows exactly how much cuff should show. The result looks like an antelope in heels: practical? Hardly. Impressive? Absolutely.

The Coupé adds details you only notice when a friend asks, “What’s that flap next to the taillight?” That little thing hides the charging port—because, of course, it’s a plug-in hybrid. It doesn’t spoil the look. Mercedes has hidden everything so well you don’t even know what’s inside, but you feel its value.

Sitting inside the GLE, you can’t help but imagine a humidor to your left and a bar cabinet to your right, stocked with fine cognacs and whiskies. It doesn’t feel like a place to simply wait at a red light—you wish your home had the same soft leather, warm wood, and pleasant scent that greets you here.

Mercedes aimed for an S-Class vibe inside the GLE, and frankly, they’ve not just come close—they’ve embraced it. Everything you touch is designed to make you forget you’re in an SUV, not a CEO’s lounge. The leather is silk-soft, the metal and real wood are as good as they look. In some trims, you get oak veneer that makes you wonder if the tree grew in a tranquil forest to the sound of classical music.

The dashboard isn’t just a panel—it’s an interior architect’s dream: two-tiered, chrome-accented, blending seamlessly into the door panels. The circular air vents have more character than some small-engine rivals.

But the real show begins with the screens. In front of the driver sit two 12.3-inch high-def displays merged into a digital altar, placing you in the seat of a tech high priest. The left screen is a fully customizable instrument panel: choose classic dials or pull navigation front and center like a James Bond gadget. The right touchscreen handles infotainment and now works quicker and smarter than ever. Wireless Apple and Android connectivity is standard.

And then the delightful anachronism—the touchpad. That little black slab lets you swipe with your finger. Odd, but preferable to adjusting seat heaters three menus deep on a touchscreen. The steering wheel gets small touch buttons too, letting your thumbs browse menus so you barely take your eyes off the road. It’s a bit uncomfortable and takes practice. Hopefully, physical buttons will make a comeback, as a proper tactile button is always welcome. Fortunately, the GLE still offers a parade of classic buttons for climate, volume, and driver aids—no labyrinthine menus, just straightforward controls. Mercedes believes drivers should truly drive.

The sound system is a staged opera for your ears. Burmester 3D surround, Dolby Atmos, and audio quality that makes classical music feel like a live philharmonic performance.

The seats aren’t just places to sit. Electrically adjustable, leather, comfortable, and supportive. The AMG Line adds a sportier shape, holding you in curves like a fine lounge chair. Top trims offer massage functions, making each mile feel like gentle pampering.

Ambient lighting offers 64 colors. At night, it feels like landing in a Berlin lounge: soothing blue, sensual purple, or fiery red if you want to channel an AMG ad.

The driving position feels like a captain’s bridge. The center console is so wide and high you could play tabletop football. In the back, three adults enjoy generous space—no elbow wars, and even tall passengers have headroom.

The trunk is a Mary Poppins bag: 630 liters empty, over 2 cubic meters with seats down. It fits ski gear, a bike, a stroller, and even a bit of dignity.

This car is not built for the racetrack but for making you feel more important and calm than your schedule might suggest. Look at the GLE 400 e 4MATIC Coupé—it’s that elegant friend who loves quiet mornings, fine wines, and sometimes a spark of electricity.

The GLE is big. Not just big, but truly substantial. Unladen weight is about 2.6 tons, so this car glides rather than drives. That’s exactly what it’s made for. Mercedes never claimed the GLE should be a sporty SUV racing on the autobahn. It’s more like a rich Swiss retiree’s comfy armchair on wheels. Now, every GLE comes standard with AIRMATIC air suspension, filtering out almost everything from the road except the weather.

Turn the wheel and you quickly realize the GLE isn’t here to stress you out. At low speeds, the steering is light as butter, making city parking a breeze. Step on the gas—wait, what’s that sound? Oh, it’s a four-cylinder. Really? But why does it move like a six?

The GLE 400 e 4MATIC combines a 2.0-liter petrol engine with an electric motor for a total of 381 horsepower and 650 Nm of torque—more than many old-school V8s. While the idea of a four-cylinder Mercedes may make some petrolheads shudder, the truth is this engine is nothing to be ashamed of. It does 0-100 km/h in about six seconds—quicker than your neighbor’s “coupe,” which is really just a low-slung Golf.

The petrol engine’s sound can break the electric quiet like a cough in an exclusive jazz club. Still, the powertrain is smooth and discreet. Electric and petrol power blend nearly perfectly, transitions are seamless, regenerative braking is logical, and pedal feel is solid. This is a car that thinks about you more than you do.

The GLE 400 e plug-in hybrid packs a 31.2 kWh battery. You can genuinely spend an entire day driving electrically. Mercedes claims up to 96 kilometers of range, and unless you commute between cities every morning, that’s plenty. Plus, the GLE 400 e is among the rare plug-ins to support DC fast charging up to 60 kW. Translation: you can recharge quicker than you can finish your coffee and sandwich. Many rivals can’t come close.

When the battery runs out, you just keep going—the combustion engine kicks in and the journey continues without a hitch. This isn’t a "range anxiety" car. It’s a "relax and repeat" car.

Take the GLE on a sharp winding road and, yes, the body leans, and you feel its heft. The suspension does its best, but physics can’t be denied. This isn’t a Porsche Cayenne that purrs through corners—it’s a car that closes its eyes and quietly hopes your sporty phase passes soon.

On the highway, though, the GLE feels totally at home: strong, quiet, and confident. Noise isolation is first class—even the mirrors barely whisper. With the Burmester Dolby Atmos playing, you might not even notice when you hit 130 km/h.

If the four-cylinder doesn’t appeal, you can opt for diesels (300 d or 450 d, both mild hybrids), a six-cylinder petrol (GLE 450), or, of course, the AMG versions. And then there’s the beast: AMG GLE 63 S, with a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, over 600 hp, and 0–100 times that embarrass sports cars. But that’s a world of its own.

The GLE is also a rolling Fort Knox, engineered with more sensors, radars, and emergency plans than NASA’s next moon mission. If any car could claim it truly cares for you, it’s this one.

The body is as tough as a German philosopher’s argument, made from high- and ultra-high-strength steel. If trouble comes, you’re protected like precious cargo in a safe. If that’s not enough, airbags are everywhere: front, knee, side, curtain. Don’t be surprised if future models add more.

Under the PRE-SAFE banner, Mercedes has assembled a frontline of technologies to make sure that if things go wrong, you don’t. The GLE senses impending impacts (sharp braking, a sudden stop ahead), tightens seatbelts, adjusts seats, closes windows and the sunroof, and even plays a special sound to trigger your ear’s natural defense and help prevent hearing damage. This car is straight out of an audiologist’s office.

The GLE thinks with you, sometimes better than you. Adaptive cruise control maintains a safe distance, braking and accelerating automatically. Add Active Steering Assist, and the car stays in its lane like a well-trained dog that won’t chase a squirrel. In traffic, Stop-and-Go Assist means the car moves, stops, and starts by itself, freeing you up to check Instagram if you wish.

Active Brake Assist warns you of pedestrians, cars, or scooter riders in your path. If you don’t react, the car will, braking or even avoiding collisions itself. It even monitors intersections, taking charge if someone appears from the side, like a vigilant mother keeping a child from a hot stove.

Blind Spot Assist warns you about vehicles in your blind spot—if you indicate and someone’s there, the GLE flashes and beeps. Ignore it, and it’ll remind you not to swerve into trouble.

Exit Warning is a handy feature that tells you not to open your door if a cyclist’s coming up behind. The car notices even when you might not—sometimes we barely notice the handle ourselves.

Active Lane Keeping Assist helps you stay in your lane, gently nudging you if you drift due to tiredness.

The GLE recognizes traffic signs: speed limits, no-passing zones—all displayed on your dash. The car can even adjust speed accordingly. Attention Assist monitors your driving for signs of fatigue, popping up a coffee cup icon if it senses you need a break.

Parking a GLE could seem like parking an elephant at the supermarket, but not here. PARKTRONIC and 360-degree cameras make it simpler than finding a sausage roll at a gas station. The see-through hood is no joke—Mercedes virtually shows where your wheels are going, like playing Forza with higher stakes. If you still don’t want to park yourself, let the car do it. Active Parking Assist handles steering, braking, and throttle—just hold a button like you’re controlling a massage chair.

Add in ESP, ABS, traction control, and all the basics taught in driving school. Mercedes goes further: Crosswind Assist keeps you steady on a windy bridge, trailer stability keeps your holiday dream calm, stopping any sway before it becomes a YouTube clip.

And if all else fails, there’s Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call: the car will call for help, give your location, and likely boost your spirits knowing help is on the way.

If you had to sum up the Mercedes-Benz GLE in two words: calm confidence. This isn’t a car trying to please everyone. It knows it doesn’t have to. It doesn’t chase clicks or throw popcorn. It sits at the head of the table, orders cognac, and waits for things to settle down.

The GLE is like an old gentleman who’s learned modern manners but never forgets his roots. It’s the best example of evolution: a luxury SUV that’s grown smarter, quieter, and more sophisticated—without losing its classic charm.

If you want a car that can do everything—comfortably, safely, and with grandeur—without ever being garish or pushy, the GLE is for you.