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2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

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Make
Mercedes-Benz
Model
GLE-Class
Year
2023
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CarsDirect Target Price
$67,600
Expert Rating
3.8

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Select a Trim
Select a Trim
2023 AMG GLE 53 Base 4dr All-Wheel Drive 4MATIC+ Sport Utility
most popular
Price:   -  From $78,100
2023 GLE 450 Base 4dr All-Wheel Drive 4MATIC Price:   -  From $67,600
2023 AMG GLE 53 Base Coupe 4dr All-Wheel Drive 4MATIC Sport Utility Price:   -  From $82,350
2023 GLE 580 Base 4dr All-Wheel Drive 4MATIC Price:   -  From $85,000
2023 AMG GLE 63 S Coupe 4dr All-Wheel Drive 4MATIC Price:   -  From $121,850

Overview

What's New

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class continues without noticeable change. The current GLE-Class arrived in 2020.

Choosing Your Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

The GLE-Class SUV comes in five trim levels: 350, 450, 580, AMG 53, and AMG 63 S. Pricing starts at $58,850 including destination, and tops out at $117,900 for the AMG 63.

The GLE Coupe variant is available in AMG 53 and AMG 63 S trims only, priced from $82,350 and $118,900, respectively.

Engine Choices

The GLE 350 is powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and the GLE 450 gets a six-cylinder turbo with mild hybrid assist for enhanced efficiency. The GLE 580 packs a twin-turbo V8, also with a hybrid assist.

On the performance front, the AMG 53 gets a specially tuned version of the six-cylinder turbo with an electric compressor to minimize turbo lag. The AMG 63 S carries a hand-built twin-turbo V8 that takes the GLE from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. All engines are paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

All-wheel drive is standard on all trims except the 350, where it's a $2,500 option. AWD models are rated to tow up to 7,700 pounds.

Engine TypeHorsepowerTorqueFuel Economy (Combined)
2.0L 4-Cylinder Turbo255 hp273 lb-ft22/21 mpg (RWD/AWD)
3.0L 6-Cylinder Turbo362 hp369 lb-ft22 mpg
4.0L V8 Twin-Turbo483 hp515 lb-ft18 mpg
3.0L 6-Cylinder AMG Turbo429 hp384 lb-ft19 mpg
4.0L V8 AMG Twin-Turbo603 hp627 lb-ft17 mpg

Passenger and Cargo Capacity

The GLE is a midsize crossover available in two body styles. The GLE SUV offers seating for five — or seven with the optional power-sliding and -reclining third row ($2,100). The SUV offers 33.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 74.9 cubic feet with it folded.

The GLE Coupe features a sloping, couple-like roofline for a sportier look, albeit at the expense of rear headroom. Cargo space also decreases to 27.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 63.2 cubic feet with it folded. The third row isn't available on the Coupe.

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Safety Features

The GLE starts out with an automated parking system, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive headlights with automatic high beams. Surround-view cameras are available on the 350 and 450 in the $1,375 Premium Package, which is standard on subsequent trims.

Available on all trims for $1,950, the Driver Assistance Package PLUS adds adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, evasive steering assist, front cross-traffic alert with brake assist, road sign recognition with speed limit assist, and driver condition monitoring with stop assist. A head-up display is also available on all models for $1,100.

Connectivity

The standard infotainment system for the GLE includes a 12.3-inch touchscreen, navigation, eight speakers, HD and satellite radio, five USB ports (seven with a third row), wireless phone charging, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The $1,375 Premium Package includes a 13-speaker Burmester sound system and a household-style outlet. The navigation screen can be augmented with live front-facing video for $350.

Exclusive to the AMG 63 S is a 25-speaker Burmester 3D surround-sound system for $4,550.

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-CLASS SUV 350 — MSRP From $58,850

The GLE offers a synthetic leather interior with heated 12-way power front seats, driver memory, a 12.3-inch instrument screen, ambient lighting, a power-adjustable steering wheel, wood trim, and a universal home remote. Other features include a single-pane sunroof, proximity access, a hands-free power liftgate, power-folding side mirrors, and 19-inch wheels. The Warmth and Comfort Package ($1,050) tacks on rapid-heating front seats and heated front armrests and upper door panels. Nappa leather seats are available for $2,990.

The AMG Line Exterior Package provides sporty trim elements and 20-inch AMG wheels for $2,900. This treatment can be combined with the Night Package, which adds gloss black body and wheel accents, for a total cost of $3,300.

Individual options for the 350 include a panoramic sunroof ($1,000), ventilated front seats ($450), passenger seat memory ($350), heated second-row seats ($580), a heated steering wheel ($250), and AMG Line interior trim ($400). Models equipped with leather, passenger memory, and the AMG interior can get multicontour massaging front seats for $1,100.

2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-CLASS SUV 450 — MSRP From 67,600

The 450 picks up the six-cylinder turbo and standard AWD. The 450 also gains a few options: soft-close doors ($550), an interior acoustics package ($1,100), and a cabin air purification and fragrance system ($350). The AMG Line Exterior Package increases to $3,250 because it includes a sport exhaust system on the 450.

2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-CLASS SUV 580 — MSRP From $85,000

The 580 receives the twin-turbo V8 engine, plus the AMG Exterior Line Package, Premium Package, and genuine leather as standard. The Night Package remains available for $400.

2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-CLASS SUV and Coupe AMG 53 — MSRP From $78,100

The AMG 53 carries the high-output six-cylinder turbo, supplemented by an adaptive sport suspension and performance-tuned transmission. The AMG exterior and interior packages are also standard.

The $5,200 AMG DYNAMIC PLUS Package adds active roll stabilization, high-performance brakes, additional driving modes, a microfiber steering wheel, and a performance data recorder. An AMG version of the Night Package costs $750. Other equipment and options are shared with the 580.

2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-CLASS SUV and Coupe AMG 63 S — MSRP From $117,900

The AMG 63 S adds the 603-hp twin-turbo V8 and the AMG DYNAMIC PLUS Package as standard.

Compare GLE-Class Trims Side-By-Side

CarsDirect Tip

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class in 450 trim provides the six-cylinder performance most buyers expect in this class, so we recommend it over the base 350. The 580 seems ideal for V8 lovers who don't necessarily need or want the all-out performance of the AMG.

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Automotive Editor
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Prices & Deals

Expert Review

Pros
  • Rides well on standard wheels
  • Colorful, characterful interior
  • Generous standard equipment
  • Excellent space for five
Cons
  • Third row seats feel pointless
  • So do AMG SUV variants
  • So does the Coupe
  • Prices become silly
Expert Rating
3.8

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

author image
Automotive Editor

How much power would you like? Mercedes-Benz likes to spoil its customers. Not only does the German marque sell a total of 19 different models, it also includes numerous configurations across individual model ranges. For instance, the mid-sized GLE-Class can be ordered in conventional SUV or CLS-on-stilts Coupe variants. You can have five or seven seats, and either rear-wheel drive or AWD. In addition, there are five engines available, including a hybrid and two AMG firebreathers.

Let’s start with the prosaic 255hp two-liter turbocharged engine fitted to base GLE 350 models, which is still capable of propelling you to 60 in around seven seconds. Next up is a 362 hp three-liter mild hybrid unit known as the GLE 450, followed by a 483 hp 580 model using a four-liter twin-turbo V8 to crack the 60 sprint in under five seconds.

Still not enough? You could choose between a revised version of the 450 engine or an AMG-assembled V8 that produces over 600 horses and will reach 60 in 3.7 seconds. That’s outrageously fast for an SUV, while few rivals offer comparable towing capacities of up to 7,700 pounds. Just don’t expect much in the way of fuel economy – combined figures start at 22 mpg and fall away steadily as the engine sizes increase.

That’s fast for an SUV. It certainly is, but then Mercedes is quite happy to pretend the GLE isn’t actually an SUV. Of course, the Coupe doesn’t live up to its billing, and even a curvaceous roofline doesn’t distract the eye from those outsized wheel arches and elevated stance. It does soften the profile somewhat, albeit at the cost of rear headroom and ease of access. Add in a cargo bay that shrinks from 33 cubic feet to 27, and the Coupe’s appeal is likely to be niche.

Most buyers will gladly accept the standard SUV body style, and they’ll be rewarded with a spacious interior with power-adjustable front seats that remain supportive even during long journeys. Middle-row occupants are also well catered for on their synthetic leather seats (the real thing is an option higher up the range).

Buyers can extensively personalize their cabins – at a cost, of course – while optional third-row seats will be of limited appeal given their cramped conditions and their effect on luggage space. On the subject of comfort, it’s best to avoid the 22-inch wheels on AMG models despite their active roll stabilization system. Body lean might be minimal, but the ride is far firmer than on smaller wheels. If comfort is a high priority, you can spend $1,710 equipping GLE450 models with adaptive dampers and air suspension for a limo-quality ride.

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

A lovely place to sit. To the traditional Mercedes hallmarks of quality and durability, we can now add a serious dose of style. The GLE borrows elements seen on other recent Mercs, including a pair of 12.3-inch high-definition screens extending across most of the dashboard. Below these is a quartet of air vents, with a single row of buttons and switches before a broad center console opens out towards the gear lever between a pair of padded grab handles. Contrasting materials and colored seats provide welcome points of interest, as do liberal swathes of carbon fiber or real wood.

Not only is this a fine place to sit, but it’s also impressively safe. Every GLE comes with excellent outward vision, generous standard safety gear and top ratings from the two crash test agencies. It’s just a shame that adaptive cruise control and active lane control are options, rather than standard fitments.

What else does it come with? If your budget starts with a five, the $59,000 GLE 350 won’t leave you feeling like a poor relation. You’ll still get those stunning twin screens with smartphone mirroring and navigation, plus powered synthetic leather front seats and LED headlights. To add AWD, the aforementioned driving aids, and full leather, you’ll be looking at around $65,000.

An additional $12,000 accesses a model with a Burmester audio system, a head-up display, and massaging seats, while an AMG GLE 63 will set you back $118,000. Run mad with the options list and your GLE’s price could reach $150,000, which would also pay for a high-trim long-wheelbase Range Rover. A four-year warranty is standard on every GLE, though maintenance isn’t included.

Final thoughts. Let’s assume you’re not planning on spending six figures on a GLE because that sort of money would buy competitors from a higher class altogether. This range makes far more sense at its lower end, where $65,000 secures a comfortable, powerful, and refined vehicle. Ignore the pointless Coupe and the best-for-children third-row seats, and treat this as the luggage-swallowing five-seater SUV it was always intended to be.

Other than grousing about the high price of AMG models – if performance is all that matters, ask the salesman about a C 43 sedan – there isn’t much to criticize here. The lack of certain standard-fit safety equipment doesn’t besmirch an otherwise excellent safety card, while people wanting to move half a dozen passengers can buy a GLS instead. You could spend a fortune on upgrades and extras, but nobody’s forcing you to. In its standard guise, the GLE should be more than sufficient for most buyers.

Check prices for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class »

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Specs & Features

Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
3.0L I-6 / 362 HP / 369 ft.lbs.
Transmission
9-spd sequential shift control auto w/OD
Drive Type
Full-time 4matic All Wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
20 / 25 / 22 Mpg
Passenger Capacity
5 / 7
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Mechanical Specs
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
3.0L I-6 / 362 HP / 369 ft.lbs.
Drive Type
Full-time 4matic All Wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined
20 / 25 / 22 Mpg
Brakes
4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension
Double Wishbone
Rear Suspension
Independent Multi-link
Spare Tire And Wheel
Compact Steel
Fuel Tank
22.5 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank
$86
Dimensions & Capabilities
Maximum Cargo Volume
74.9 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume
Exterior Length
194.3 "
Exterior Width
76.7 "
Exterior Height
70.7 "
Front Headroom
40.5 "
Rear Headroom
39.6 "
Front Legroom
40.3 "
Rear Legroom
40.9 "
Front Shoulder Room
59.3 "
Rear Shoulder Room
58.3 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight
5,016 Lbs.
Wheel Base
118 "
Turning Radius
19.7 '
Exterior Features
Door Count
4 Doors
Wheels
19.0 " Silver Aluminum / 19.0 " Gray Aluminum / 20.0 " Silver Aluminum / 20.0 " Machined W/painted Accents Amg Aluminum / 21.0 " Silver Amg Aluminum / 21.0 " Machined W/painted Accents Amg Aluminum / 22.0 " Machined W/painted Accents Amg Aluminum
Paint
Metallic Monotone
Exterior Mirrors
Dual Heated, Power Remote Driver, Power Remote W/tilt Down Passenger
Bumpers
Body-colored
Grille Moldings
Chrome / Black W/chrome Accents
Rear Spoiler
Lip
Exhaust
Stainless Steel
Interior Features
Seating
Passenger Capacity
5 / 7
Seat Trim
Mb-tex Leatherette / Cloth/leatherette / Leather / Nappa Leather
Front Seat Type
Bucket / Sport Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Driver And Front Passenger Heated-cushion, Heated-seatback
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls
(10-way Power) / (12-way Power)
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls
(10-way Power) / (12-way Power)
Front Armrests
(10-way Power) / (12-way Power)
Rear Armrests
Center
Rear Seats
40-20-40 Split-bench
Radio & Infotainment
Radio
Mbux Siriusxm Am/fm/hd/satellite, Seek-scan
Speakers
8 / 13 Burmester
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity
Convenience Features
Steering Wheel Type
Power Telescopic Tilt / Power Telescopic Tilt Style
Climate Control
Automatic Air Conditioning
Cruise Control
Sun Roof
Express Open/close
Rearview Mirror
Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window
Front And Rear
Tinted Windows
Deep
Vanity Mirrors
Dual Illuminated
Remote Keyless Entry
Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets
4
Safety Features
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Front Impact Airbags
Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags
Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Driver
Passenger Side Impact Airbag
Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Rear Side-impact Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Front And Rear
Anti-Lock Brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Active Brake Assist With Autonomous Emergency Braking Forward Collision Mitigation
Blind Spot Sensor
Blind Spot Assist Blind Spot / Active Blind Spot Assist Blind Spot
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Departure / Active Lane Keeping Assist Lane Departure
Autonomous Cruise Control
Active Lane Change Assist Hands-on (with Lane Change) Steering Assist / Active Steering And Active Lane Change Assist Hands-on (with Lane Change) Steering Assist
Pedestrian Detection
Active Brake Assist Front Pedestrian Detection Prevention
Driver Attention Alert
Attention Assist Driver Attention
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Adaptive Highbeam Assist (aha) Auto High-beam
Adaptive Headlights
Directionally Adaptive
Parking Sensors
Active Parking Assist Automated
Security Systems
Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable
Immobilizer
Warranty
Bumper To Bumper Months Miles
48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Major Components Months
48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months
48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Corrosion Perforation
48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Accessories Months