If there’s one SUV to feel grand and commanding on the road, the facelift seven-seater GLE 450 4MATIC AMG Line gets my vote. At RM528k, it costs RM20k more than before but it comes with an exterior makeover and has picked up new tricks.
The Multibeam LED headlamp and daytime running lights have been redesigned, replacing the boomerang look. With that new grille, I’m certain no one would ever ask, “What car is that?” when it draws attention – something it’ll do everywhere it goes.
The front bumper looks sportier and youthful. The taillight has been redesigned and the wheels aren’t two-tone anymore but behind them are larger brakes. It somehow looks muscular and elegant at the same time. Add some chrome into the equation and what you get is an SUV that announces its (and your) arrival in a way that the others don’t.
I like that to this day, from the first generation ML, before Mercedes-Benz renamed it to GLE, they’ve stuck to tradition and maintained the ‘speedboat-like’ C-pillar design. That alone, I think makes it stand out just a little from everything it goes against. You can get the GLE 450 in four colours and an optional RM6,000 MANUFAKTUR Diamond White Bright paint job.
With the facelift comes a new Nappa leather-wrapped steering with touch-sensitive controls, just like the latest Mercedes-Benz vehicles, along with a new MBUX interface, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The GLE has been around since 2015 (2019 in Malaysia) and compared to the more futuristic new interiors of Mercedes-Benz cars, some might say the GLE looks a little dated. I might sound old-fashioned but I liked that it had buttons and switches, for the essential controls.
Having big screens to do everything sounds noble and impressive, declutters the interior but I consider switches and physical controls to be a safety feature. It’s safer when you don’t have to take your eyes off the road just to adjust your air-conditioning temperature or aim for the ‘Home’ button.
With the new facelift, the GLE 450 gets an Off-Road drive mode that feels as if you’ve engaged ‘4L’ in a pick-up, for the best possible traction on loose surfaces. It even warns you to not use it when on public roads. There are various other off-road displays on the centre screen and in front of the driver, along with under-car display.
As you’d expect, the best seat in the house is in the back. You can either drive the GLE or be driven in it and neither would lack enjoyment.
It ticks the right boxes to be a chauffeur-driven car. There’s a panoramic roof, electric sunshades, air-con vents on the left, right and centre, reclinable seats, air-conditioning controls, and most importantly, it’s rich in legroom. In case you’re wondering, those USB-C ports are powerful enough to charge a MacBook.
If there’s a need to, the 2nd-row seats can be moved forward entirely with the flick of a switch. Should the GLE be used for transporting goods, there are switches to lower the boot floor and collapse the 2nd-row seats. The GLE’s refinement can be experienced even before you drive it.
There’s hardly any sound or vibration when starting the engine or at idle. Once you get going, the smoothness of the 3.0-litre straight-six engine truly shows. It’s like gliding through butter and it’s accompanied by a gentle rumble without affecting cabin comfort.
With an updated turbocharger and integrated start-generator system, it’s not only more powerful, with 381 hp and 500 Nm of torque but overall, smoother in its power delivery.
With a 0-100 km/h time of 5.6 seconds, the GLE 450 is pretty quick from a standstill. Sports mode firms up the steering and air suspension yet in some situations, I thought it could’ve been more composed but that’s not the point of this car.
The GLE is for enjoying the journey, not rushing to the destination. It does everything you’d expect of an E-class Mercedes-Benz SUV – with elegance, grace and prestige.
Amid the hustle and bustle, the GLE 450 almost detaches you from the unpleasant elements outside. At low speeds, it’s a serene and calming place to be when you start cruising upwards of 10km/h, there is noticeable wind noise which came as a surprise.
I was conscious to avoid tight and congested areas but when caught in one, the GLE did better than expected. U-turns were hardly a problem and the parking cameras deserve some credit.
Being in a tall car, it helps when you can rely heavily on what is shown on the centre screen while parking it. As for fuel consumption, I think it’s done pretty well. For a two-tonne SUV, it has consistently clocked around 13-14L/100km. It hardly puts a foot wrong, truly one to be missed.
GALLERY
