The verdict: Offering the solidity and solitude of a bank vault, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE450 mid-size SUV embodies the brand’s classic definition of luxury, but with a modern suite of tech features.
Versus the competition: The GLE450 isn’t trying to be a BMW; it eschews infusing sporty driving dynamics into an SUV package in favor of a more comfort-focused outlook, which has served Mercedes well for decades.
The GLE-Class is Mercedes’ bestselling vehicle. A mid-size SUV with two or three rows, seating five or seven, it received some minor exterior and interior updates for the 2024 model year, as well as a new plug-in hybrid version: the GLE450e.
Related: Facelifted 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV Priced From $63,800, Coupe From $90,950
You can read our review of the new GLE450e here; this review covers the regular GLE450, which is powered by the mid-level gas engine in the GLE lineup: a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder with 48-volt mild-hybrid technology. The engine is rated at 375 horsepower and 369 pounds-feet of torque, and it works with a nine-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels via standard 4Matic all-wheel drive. The GLE450 starts at $70,650, including a $1,150 destination charge, but a long list of individual options and packages raised the price of our test vehicle considerably: Its as-tested price was $97,505.
Still Looks Like a GLE
The smooth lines of the traditionally shaped GLE450 SUV haven’t changed for 2024, and most of what’s new is concentrated at the front and rear of the vehicle. The grille, front bumper, headlights and taillights see styling tweaks that freshen the SUV’s look without taking its design aesthetic in a different direction.
A number of our test vehicle’s options were visible on its exterior, including Manufaktur Cardinal Red Metallic paint ($1,750), a body-colored roof spoiler ($685), 21-inch five-spoke AMG wheels ($1,100), a trailer-hitch receiver ($600), an AMG Line Exterior Package ($3,150) and a Night Package with black exterior accents ($400). The AMG Line Exterior gives the SUV AMG-style design cues, including a unique grille, body-colored wheel-arch trim and a rear diffuser-style treatment. Look closely and you’ll see that the grille insert is made up of numerous three-pointed stars — a cool touch. I could have done without the SUV’s $650 illuminated brushed-aluminum running boards, which aren’t wide enough to be of much use; be careful when stepping over them or your pant leg is likely to brush against them.
How It Drives
The GLE450 is a comfortable highway cruiser, and its focus on occupant isolation makes for a relaxing driving experience. The SUV steers with a light touch, and the drivetrain responds quickly with a part-throttle kickdown when you need to make a move around traffic. The cabin is sufficiently hushed, and like the brand’s flagship S-Class sedan, the GLE450 feels solid and substantial rather than sporty and sprite. Our test vehicle’s $1,100 Acoustic Comfort Package likely contributed to the SUV’s exceptional isolation; the package includes additional sound-deadening material and an acoustic membrane for the windows.
The GLE450’s ride quality is an interesting mix of cushiness and firmness. Our test vehicle had an optional Airmatic adaptive air suspension, which costs $1,710, and it gave the GLE the type of isolated floatiness that is the usual calling card of air suspensions.
It’s a good thing the GLE had this suspension setup, because it saved it from the wheel-and-tire package: The 21-inch AMG wheels on our test car were staggered with wider rubber at the rear. The tires are relatively low-profile, with 45-series tires in front and 40-series tires in back, and the result was firm impact responses when traveling on bumpier stretches of pavement or over utility covers; we definitely felt them in the GLE450’s otherwise isolating cabin. The tires on our test vehicle were set at the vehicle’s maximum load rating — 38 psi for the fronts and 44 psi for the rears — and it’s likely that running them at the normal load range of 31 psi front and rear would soften those impacts a bit.
Interior Blends Traditional and Modern Cues
Our test vehicle’s optional black-and-beige interior with leather upholstery is one of two new color combinations for the GLE, and it’s a $1,620 option. Combined with the optional piano-black wood trim ($850), the cabin was an inviting space, with the type of high-grade materials that have long defined luxury vehicles. The influence of modern technology, however, is also clearly visible in the interior.
It starts right in front of you, where dual 12.3-inch screens for the digital instrument panel and infotainment system are positioned side by side on the dashboard. The displays are crisp, clear and bright, and the center touchscreen’s menus are easy to navigate. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto gain wireless connectivity for 2024, and wireless CarPlay was easy to set up and worked well with my iPhone.
Not every function has been integrated into the touchscreen; Mercedes smartly includes a strip of physical climate controls below the center air vents, as well as a group of controls — including a volume roller — around the center console touchpad. The 2024 GLE’s new steering wheel has touch-sensitive controls that are reasonably easy to use, but I still prefer the more predictable responses of traditional buttons for the steering wheel.
The gear selector stalk on the steering column is easy to use, but it doesn’t free up as much storage space on the center console as you might expect. The touchpad that serves as an alternate user interface for the infotainment system takes up a lot of the available space, leaving room for a couple of cupholders and a wireless charging pad in front of it. Behind it is a smaller storage bin under the front center armrest.
The backseat in the two-row GLE450 is positioned close to the floor, which makes for a somewhat knees-up seating position. There’s plenty of headroom for adults, but the backrest doesn’t recline, which seems like an oversight. The seat does fold flat with the cargo floor when you need extra space, and the cargo area behind the backseat is sizable; Mercedes says it’s 33 cubic feet. You can also lower the rear portion of the air suspension via a switch in the cargo area to make loading and unloading easier.
A Pricey Proposition
With a price tag of nearly $100,000, our test GLE450 was indeed expensive — more than you’d spend for a well-optioned BMW X5 or Audi Q7. It’s not unusual, however, for a car with the three-pointed star on its grille to carry a price premium — though whether you believe it’s worth the premium is another matter. What’s not in question, however, is that the GLE450 offers a truly luxurious driving experience in a practical SUV package.
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