Speaking of physical controls, Mercedes listened to buyers’ — and, ahem, journalists’ — feedback, and has reimplemented a real rocker switch and volume wheel on the steering wheel, replacing the previous swipe controls that were notoriously difficult and imprecise to use.
Other interior changes are more minor. The outermost air vents are now round and feature ambient lighting and intricate details; Mercedes is really great at making something as mundane as an air vent look like an art piece. A panoramic sliding glass roof is now standard across the board, there’s a lovely new Beech Brown upholstery color available, and the gauge cluster display can be optioned with a 3D effect. Overall, this is a solid update for the GLE’s interior, and it feels both more modern and easier to use.
Enhanced autonomy
Every GLE is equipped with 10 exterior cameras, five radar sensors and 12 ultrasonic sensors. Standard driver aids include adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assistance and more, while an MB Drive Assist package adds features like steering assist and lane change assist. The big news, though, is the availability of MB Drive Assist Pro.
Drive Assist Pro is a Level 2++ assist system, which means the vehicle can seamlessly drive itself from point to point without intervention — though the driver’s hands must remain on the wheel. We’ve had experience with the system ourselves in the new CLA around San Francisco, and it’s pretty phenomenal.
Mercedes has also upgraded its self-parking system, and it seems like it might be a lot more usable now. These systems have been around for some time, and have generally been slow and finicky to use no matter the automaker. However, Mercedes says the new MB Drive Parking Assist tech can now detect spots earlier, including those that aren’t marked by white lines, and maneuver into them at up to 3 mph — around 60% faster than before. Plus, even if the driver parked the vehicle manually, the system can assist with leaving the parking spot. Nifty.
