The current Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class has been on the road since 2018, a run that could have made it a relative dinosaur in the fast-moving world of luxury SUVs. A new generation is not on the immediate horizon, either, but Mercedes is bringing the next best thing for the 2027 model year: an extensively refined GLE, complete with what the brand says are over 3000 new or revised components.
Like the similarly-updated GLS-Class, the biggest changes for the GLE come under the hood. Mercedes calls it an “extensively revised engine range,” and at the top of that lineup is a new flat-plane crank V-8 that will sound familiar to anybody who read about the S-Class revisions announced in January. Just as in that application, the V-8 in the GLE580 4Matic produces 530 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Mercedes says that this engine is in line with coming emission standards, meaning that it should stick around even as European regulations tighten what manufacturers can sell on the continent.
Six-cylinder models get more torque, jumping to 413 lb-ft at peak output. A new plug-in hybrid model adds that same six-cylinder engine, adding a 74 hp increase in engine output over its four-cylinder plug-in predecessor. A non-plug-in four-cylinder model continues on, too.
In addition to the conventional options, Mercedes has also taken the cover off the GLE’s mid-range AMG performance model. Now called the AMG GLE53 Hybrid, the new AMG pairs a 443-hp six-cylinder with a 400-volt plug-in hybrid system to produce a total system output of 577 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. That’s enough to get the GLE to 60 miles an hour from a standstill in 4.4 seconds, half a second quicker than its predecessor at this trim level. The AMG plug-in picks up 60-kW DC fast charging support, too.
Courtesy Mercedes-Benz
Courtesy Mercedes-Benz
A transfer case should improve performance off-road, while a new water-cooled processor helps with the function of a suite of advanced driver assistance systems. That family of features will eventually include “City Pro,” a semi-autonomous feature for dense city traffic that the brand says should be available at a later date. An optional active suspension for V-8 models, called “E-Active Body Control” in classic word-heavy German style, offers off-roading-focused features like a bouncing function to free a car stuck in sand or individual wheel control to get a car out of particularly sticky situations.
Visual changes are significant, particularly at the front of the car. A new grille in the latest Mercedes style features a texture of metallic three-pointed stars inside a chrome frame, all surrounding a massive, illuminated badge in the center. The star motif is also present in the shape of both the headlights and the tail lights, just as it is on most other current Mercedes models.
Inside, a standard full-length screen (called “Superscreen” rather than “Hyperscreen” in this particular layout) stretches from the more conventional driver’s display to a smaller display for the passenger. Interior options include a new “Birch Brown” primary interior color option, which thankfully does not replace the still-available Bahia Brown option. A red and black two-tone is also available, as are two different wood grain trim options and an more performance-oriented aluminum option. A couple of physical controls are back on the ever-busy six-pronged Mercedes steering wheel, too; one handles “Distronic” adaptive cruise control, the other adjusts volume.
Courtesy Mercedes-Benz
Courtesy Mercedes-Benz
And buyers uninterested in the GLE’s conventional SUV shape can still purchase the updated car in a “coupe” body style, as well. The coupe retains most of the upgrades available on the more traditional GLE, and the GLE53 AMG variant will be available in both body styles. Expect pricing information closer to the new GLE-Class’s launch, which we expect will be later this year.
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Fred Smith’s love of cars comes from his fascination with auto racing. Unfortunately, that passion led him to daily drive a high-mileage, first-year Porsche Panamera. He is still thinking about the last lap of the 2011 Indianapolis 500.
