The GLE offers a choice of five powertrains, which were updated to improve responsiveness and reduce noise, vibration, and harshness for this generation of GLE. Noise-absorbing fleece and matting were added to the driveshaft tunnel, engine partition, and engine cover, all to keep engine noise out of the interior.
All GLE models have nine-speed automatic transmissions and Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. The transfer case was redesigned to increase the amount of torque it can send to the wheels, plus it can lock both axles to rotate at the same speed to past tricky off-road obstacles.
Three of the GLE models use a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, which helps smooth out the transition between engine and battery-only power, including when stop/start is enabled. The base model is the GLE 350, which carries over the same 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder mild-hybrid engine from the 2026 model and still outputs 255 hp and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. The mid-grade GLE 450 has a 375-hp, 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid engine with a slight increase in torque to 413 lb.-ft. for 2027.
The GLE 580 serves as the top of the standard GLE range, with a twin-turbo 4.0 liter V8 engine. This has also been updated for the 2027 GLE, with a new flat-plane crankshaft and turbocharger components designed to meet stricter emissions standards and increase performance. The new modifications added 20 more hp for a total output of 530 hp and 553 lb.-ft. of torque.
A GLE 500e plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is also available, which gets a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder engine that makes 74 more horsepower than the previous-generation GLE PHEV’s four-cylinder engine. Combined, the gas engine and the hybrid system make a peak output of 429 hp and 502 lb.-ft. of torque. U.S. range figures have yet to be released, but it achieves nearly 66 miles of all-electric range in the WLTP-style tests used for European-market automobiles.
The high-performance AMG GLE 53e is also a plug-in hybrid. Like the GLE 500e, it features a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine. However, the AMG GLE 53’s PHEV powertrain is higher-revving and tuned for additional torque, improved throttle response, and better acceleration at a variety of different speeds, making a combined 577 hp and 553 lb.-ft. of torque.
U.S.-market range features for the AMG GLE 53e also haven’t been released yet, but Mercedes claims it can refill its PHEV battery from 10 percent to 80 percent state-of-charge in about 20 minutes when it can hit its maximum DC fast-charging speed of 60 kilowatts. A 9.6-kW AC charger for home charging is also included.
The GLE Coupe body style is available with two of these powertrain options: the GLE 450 and AMG GLE 53e. The GLE Coupe actually has a 2.4-inch shorter wheelbase than the standard GLE body, plus a quicker steering ratio than the standard GLE, which makes it more suited to enthusiastic on-road driving.
In addition to the revised powertrain options, Mercedes retuned both the GLE’s standard suspension and optional air suspension to have a slightly firmer, sportier ride than the outgoing model’s. The air suspension analyzes the road ahead and information from other Mercedes-Benz cars on the road to adjust the GLE’s damping before it hits a bump.
The available E-Active Body Control active suspension system on the top GLE 580 model stabilizes the body further by constantly adjusting the suspension at each wheel individually to minimize pitching from front to back, body roll, and any other disruptions from bumps or enthusiastic driving that might keep the vehicle’s body from staying as level as possible.
This top-end active suspension system also comes with user-selectable drive modes that set the suspension’s components to prioritize comfort or handling. It also comes with some neat tricks, including Free Wheel Mode, which can bounce the vehicle up and down to get the GLE 580 unstuck from mud or sand, and the ability to individually raise or lower a wheel that needs to make better contact with the ground for traction. It also allows the rear of the vehicle to lower by up to two inches to make loading cargo easier.
A different adaptive air suspension system—AMG Ride Control System+—is available on the AMG GLE 53, which focuses less on total isolation from road bumps and features a more sport-tuned and PHEV-specific range of selectable drive modes. An Electric drive mode allows all-electric operation at up to 87 mph until the battery is depleted. The Battery Hold mode limits the use of the electric motor to maintain the same state of charge over the course of a trip.
Additionally, the GLE is rated to tow 7,700 pounds, and it has a towing stabilization feature to reduce trailer sway.
