Our preliminary testing of the redesigned 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class had positive returns, to put it mildly. Cars.com reviewer Aaron Bragman went so far as to say that the GLE had “set the new segment benchmark for luxury SUVs.” High praise indeed.
Related: 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class: Excellence at a Premium
This means we’re tickled by the announcement of another member to the GLE lineup. The 2020 GLE580 will sit atop the GLE-Class offerings (AMG models excepted), and the big news is the addition of an electrified V-8 powertrain to the SUV’s engine offerings.
Mercedes has taken its twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 and added a mild-hybrid 48-volt onboard electrical system and integrated starter generator, which Mercedes calls EQ Boost. The V-8 alone makes 483 horsepower and 516 pounds-feet of torque; EQ Boost provides an extra 184 pounds-feet of torque and 21 hp as needed over short periods. That’s a total output of 504 hp. If that sounds like a lot of power, it is – it actually tops the 450-hp total output of the mild-hybrid inline-six-cylinder 2020 Mercedes-AMG CLE53, an impressive feat (though it won’t come with that vehicle’s “sport” air fragrance). All-wheel drive is standard.
Apart from that, expect a lot of luxury and technology as found on the rest of the GLE models including the Mercedes-Benz User Experience multimedia system and its pair of 12.3-inch screens, the E-Active body control suspension and a plush interior. The 2020 GLE580 will start at $77,795 (including destination charges), about $20,000 more than the entry-level AWD GLE350. It will go on sale late this year.
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
.png)