2024 Mercedes-AMG GLE53 review: Slower than some EVs, but who cares? It sounds glorious

Jun 24, 2024 3:00 pm

There are essentially two extremes when you browse for something from Mercedes-Benz – one extreme is the ultra-luxurious side with derivations from Maybach, and the other is the visceral brute force side with derivations from AMG. Everything else in the middle is a compromise due to practicality, efficiency, sensibility, and cost. And if you had a budget of RM873,888 for a Mercedes-Benz, it might as well be something ridiculous – exactly what the Mercedes-AMG GLE53 4MATIC is.

A little heads up for you is that this is a big 5-seater SUV “coupe” weighing over 2,000 kg that just so happens to pack 435 hp and 560 Nm from a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-6 engine. Think of it as a big silly SUV that’s trying to be a muscle car, and it becomes a rather entertaining idea. It will get smoked by a BMW M3 on a mountain pass, but that’s not the point of this car (we’ll get into this soon).

It is rather unfortunate that this isn’t the V8-powered GLE63, but this is the hottest version of the GLE that we get in Malaysia (at least based on the official brochure). Mind you, the GLE53 4MATIC is a mild hybrid (MHEV) which gets the usual Integrated Starter Generator (ISG). Here is a quick overview of what you’re getting yourself into:

	Mercedes-AMG GLE53 4MATIC
Engine	3.0-litre inline—6 with exhaust gas turbocharger and electric additional compressor
Engine displacement	2,999 cc
Engine maximum power output	435 hp (320 kW)
Engine maximum torque	560 Nm
ISG maximum power	22 hp (15 kW)
ISG maximum torque	200 Nm
Transmission	AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G
Drivetrain	AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive (AWD) with fully variable torque distribution
0-100 km/h acceleration	5.0 seconds
Top Speed	250 km/h
Price (Peninsular Malaysia, OTR without insurance)	RM873,888

Mercedes-AMG GLE53 Exterior – King of the jungle, but subtle

The GLE53 is a big hunk of metal, and that isn’t something foreign in 2024. The good thing about it is that it manages to look rather athletic despite weighing over 2 tonnes. And that’s probably because of its decent proportions and stance. Its hood is long (unlike the EQ models), its ridiculously large 22-inch wheels help balance things out visually, and its stance is nicely squat at the rear (unlike early-day coupe SUVs which looked like they were constantly diving).

It also looks properly furious, which is probably what it was going for in the first place. Park it against the backdrop of our tropical nature, and it does have a nice “king of the jungle” sort of aura. The organic-like design of the cross-spoke AMG wheels helps add to the effect.

Will you get stares in the GLE53? No. It is considerably subtle and takes an AMG fan to appreciate. Those driving the more compact AMG models like the A45 and GLA35 seem to admire it and I did occasionally see some of them whipping out their phones to get a photo of the GLE53. You could pretty much say that the GLE53 is an “IYKYK” kind of car since the average Malaysian will just think of it as another Mercedes-Benz SUV… until they hear it.

Mercedes-AMG GLE53 Driving Experience – for the grown-up who still enjoys firecrackers

Remember what I said about getting smoked by an M3 on a mountain pass? Yeah, you’re going to have to learn to not take yourself so seriously in the Mercedes-AMG GLE53. Open roads are where the GLE53 belongs, and it will sing an absolutely glorious tune when you floor it. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you’ll be carving corners on a mountain pass with it. It’s just too bulky for that sort of thing, and no amount of power is going to change that.

I know it is ridiculous to compare it to an M3, but the reason I’m doing so is because the M3 Competition M xDrive with the Pro Package costs RM877,600 (factoring in the extended warranty package). The GLE53’s glorious tune and “pops and bangs” will also invite a lot of tailgating from other high-performance cars – and sometimes you’ll want to play along too.

So, if you’re having a midlife crisis, there are a few other things within this price range which will give you an entirely different experience, just saying. With the GLE53, you can keep up with the typical yuppy sports cars on an open road, but just take it easy when things get a bit narrow and windy.

Another reason to not take yourself so seriously in the GLE53, is that it does 0-100 km/h in 5.0 seconds. This means that the average dual-motor electric vehicle (EV) is quicker than it from a standstill. And again, that is just not the point of the GLE53. It is just a big silly SUV that’s trying to be a muscle car. Enjoy it for what it is and enjoy the glorious tune that makes. I said that the CLA45S would make your inner child giggle, and the GLE53 would do the same – just in a slightly more sensible fashion.

And continuing on the topic of dual-motor EVs being quicker, once you’ve reached high speeds, the GLE53 is what will win you over (duh, since it costs so much right?). The GLE53 is the more stable vessel, and you feel a lot safer tackling high speeds with it. Even the cabin noise levels are much better, and your wife won’t even nag you for speeding since she’ll barely notice it. Of course, that has a lot to do with the better chassis and suspension geometry of a car of this calibre. The 22-inch wheels and wide tyres (285 mm front, 325 mm rear) seem ridiculous at first glance but make a lot of sense if you want to go fast safely.

So, you’re going to get smoked by a true sports car in the corners and by the average dual-motor EV in a 0-100 km/h test. What can the GLE53 thump its chest for then? It’s simple, the aural experience that it provides and the almost visceral driving experience, despite being cocooned in luxury. With the GLE53 in Sport+ mode, every single shift is an occasion even at low speeds – every upshift warrants a pop and every downshift warrants a series of crackles. And of course, it gets even better when you drive it hard. The average petrolhead would be able to appreciate it from the outside and you’ll be having the time of your life on the inside.

When you’re not in the mood for brute force and “pops and bangs” (and when you’ve pissed your neighbours off enough), the GLE53 can be that big soft SUV that some of us occasionally want. And that’s the beauty of it. To be honest, even with the Sport+ suspension setting, the GLE53 is rather pliant and soft (at least for my backbone). So, tuning it into comfort can just make it feel like the sensible GLE.

Interior

If you were blindfolded and had to rely on touch, you’d probably not be able to tell the Mercedes-AMG GLE53’s cabin apart from the normal GLE. Yes, the steering wheel is different, and the seats are more supportive, but the average person won’t be able to recognize it. And that’s why I like the GLE53’s cabin. It doesn’t feel youthful and that’s what it should be – a mature take on sportiness that is encapsulated in luxury.

If you want to talk about the dashboard and everything else, it’s just the usual GLE. It’s great that there are a healthy number of physical buttons and all passengers are seated comfortably. And since it isn’t trying to keep up with an M3 on a mountain pass, it is still very comfortable and practical too.