2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-class has five trims but due to their differences in several segments we consider them to be separate models. This makes the 2023 GLE 450 a standalone trim that comes with a lot of standard and optional features to suit your style. The $67,560 luxury SUV comes with standard 19-inch twin 5-spoke wheels but they can be upgraded to 20, 21 and 22-inch wheels with different spoke combinations. The power front seats with driver-seat memory and dual-zone automatic climate control keep the comfort level high for the driver and the passengers. The safety features available for the model are practically unmatched at its price range and make the SUV all the more desirable. 

Packages

• AMG Line Exterior - $3,250
• AMG Line Exterior w/Night Package - $3,650
• AMG Line Interior - $400
• 3rd-row Seat Package - $2,100
• Premium Package - $1,375
• Warmth & Comfort Package - $1,050
• Air Balance Package - $350
• Driver Assistance Package PLUS - $1,950
• AIRMATIC Suspension Package - $1,710
• Mercedes-Benz Star Service / 2 years or 20,000 miles - $1,200
• Mercedes-Benz Star Service / 3 years or 30,000 miles - $1,640
• Mercedes-Benz Star Service / 4 years or 40,000 miles - $2,250

We Recommend

As the GLE 450 is considered the only trim from Mercedes-Benz this year, there is nothing to suggest but the myriad of options and packages helps you personalize it incredibly. We recommend the AMG Line Exterior and the AIRMATIC Suspension Package for better appearance and performance. You can avail the Star Service packages according to your affordability while the Comfort Package and Assistance Package depend entirely on your preference. The 3rd-row Seat Package is good for two children but for adults, they are not recommended. 

Release Date

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 is expected to be available in the US market in Late 2022. 

The Mercedes-Benz GLE-class is equipped with powerful engines in all its models but the GLE 450 deserves special treatment for its 6-cylinder turbocharged engine. The 9-speed automatic transmission offers a swift shift between the gears and the AWD drivetrain makes sure the overall performance is smooth even on rough surfaces. The engine needs only 5.5 seconds to reach a speed of 60 MPH from a stop and it has a commendable quarter-mile drag as well. The overall power output is 362 hp while it has a maximum torque of 369 lb.ft which is among the best for a midsize SUV in the current market. The top speed of 129 MPH is appreciable and there are few options that go beyond that limit. The maximum towing capacity of 7,700 lbs is incredible as well. 

The Porsche and the BMW have better power output when compared to the Mercedes-Benz but the Volvo has lower power and torque output. The 0 to 60 acceleration is the best for the Porsche Macan S and the GLE 450 takes the highest time in this case. The results are the same for quarter-mile drag but the top speed of the Mercedes is commendable. The Porsche has the highest top speed while the Volvo comes with the lowest figure here. It is worth mentioning that the BMW X3 has the lowest price tag and the Macan S comes with the highest tag here. 

Ride and Handling

The riding of the GLE 450 is a bit stiff, which to be honest, is the only aspect that we can give an average rating. It is true that the Mercedes-Benz is not as sporty as some of its primary rivals but it surely offers comfortable driving. In fact, the gear shifting is much smoother than its counterparts. The overall handling is immensely precise which makes the SUV turn through the corners very swiftly. The double wishbone suspension in the front and the multi-type suspension in the rear are appreciable but the cutting-edge AIRMATIC Suspension is immensely accurate. The steering is excellent as it offers incredible control and allows the driver to have superb control even at high speed. The braking is appreciable with a lot of advanced features and the pedal offers specific reactions making it easier to decelerate. 

Braking Performance

The Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 requires a strong braking performance because it has great acceleration and at the same time, the overall curb weight is quite high. However, the braking system meets all the expectations through the large enough brake rotors which counters the weight and provide excellent deceleration. The discs on all four wheels are competent enough but the anti-lock braking system improves it further. The adaptive braking technology is outstanding which includes a lot of different sensors to acquire data from the surroundings and apply brakes when necessary. The active brake assist is an integral part of the system which avoids rear-end collisions or any accident involving a pedestrian. 

The Mercedes-Benz comes with the biggest brake rotors in both front and rear and it is only justified because the GLE SUV has the heaviest body among its rivals. The Porsche comes with the second largest discs with a figure of 14.2 inches. The BMW has the closest figure in the rear with 13.5-inch brake rotors and it has a very low curb weight compared to other competitors. This results in the BMW having a braking distance of 110 ft in 60 to 0 MPH but the data for the rest of the models are not available. It is safe to assume that Mercedes, with its array of assistance technologies, has an immensely effective system. 

The fuel economy of Mercedes-Benz is certainly one of its strongest aspects. The GLE 450 is incredibly fuel-efficient for a luxury SUV and it has an EPA-certified mileage of 20 MPG in the city. The mileage on the highway is even better with a figure of 26 MPG which makes the combined mileage to be 22 MPG. The mileage is commendable but what truly makes it special is the fuel capacity. The Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 can afford 22.5 gallons of fuel at a time and as a result, the range of the vehicle is immensely high. The stats of 450 miles of range in the city and 585 miles on the highway definitely make it one of the best available options in its category. Even the closest competitors have huge differences in range and capacity. 

The fuel economy is the best for the BMW with a mileage of 21 MPG in the city but the Mercedes-Benz is shy of only a single unit. The GLE 450 along with the BMW X3 and Volvo XC90 has the same figure in mileage on the highway. The Porsche Macan S has lower stats in both categories and additionally, it comes with the smallest fuel tank in the competition. The Mercedes-Benz has the best fuel capacity and it results in the highest range on both highways and the city. The Volvo with the same figures in mileage offers a lower range than the GLE. 

The interior segment is the best aspect of the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 and it has both style and functionality to offer. Firstly, the midsize SUV comes with a lot of space around the seats and you can sit comfortably in both rows. The Mercedes-Benz comes with an optional third row which is best suited for children but the cramped seats certainly feel inadequate for adults. The 10-Way Driver Seat with heating and memory function and the heated front seats are meant for extreme comfort. The leather upholstery and the heated leather-coated steering wheel add to the comfort factor. The optional Multicontour front seats with massage and the 64-color LED ambient lighting are on an entirely different level. The trunk space is appreciable but with the 40/20/40-split 2nd-row seats folded, you get an incredibly spacious cargo. The Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control only adds to the standard comfort features. 

All the models come with a standard seating capacity of 5 except the Volvo XC90 which is a 6-seater. However, the Mercedes-Benz also has an option for adding a third row. The BMW X3 offers spacious head and legroom but the GLE 450 has better shoulder space. In the case of the trunk space, the Volvo has the smallest area while the Mercedes offers the largest. With the second-row seats folded, the Mercedes-Benz has a much larger area than its rivals. The BMW has a considerable trunk space with and without the folded seats but the Porsche has quite disappointing figures in this aspect. 

• 10-Way Driver Seat with heating and memory function
• Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control
• Heated Leather Steering Wheel with memory function
• 64-color LED ambient lighting
• 40/20/40-split folding 2nd-row seats
• Available Multicontour front seats with massage
• Optional Panorama roof
• Optional Black Exclusive Nappa leather

Infotainment System

The infotainment system has a 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia display and a 13-speaker Burmester premium audio system is also available. The standard Mercedes-Benz User Experience offers excellent UI and easy control and the multi-function aspects certainly make it more advanced than its primary competitors. The Steering-wheel Touch Control Buttons provide easier access to different features. The GLE 450 comes with in-built attributes like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and SiriusXM along with HD Radio are also there. The voice control with Natural Language Understanding allows the driver and the passengers to avail of the services of the infotainment system without even moving a finger and it has a superb response. The inductive wireless charging with NFC pairing technology is a great addition to the system as well. 

• 12.3-inch touchscreen multimedia display
• 13 Burmester premium speakers
• Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX)
• Voice Control with Natural Language Understanding
• Inductive wireless charging with NFC pairing
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• SiriusXM 6-month Platinum Plan and HD Radio
• Steering-wheel Touch Control Buttons

The luxury feel of the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 is not limited to its interior only. The exterior comes with bold styles and a premium look that enables you to stand out from the crowd. The 19-inch twin 5-spoke wheels come with a total of ten different options that you can choose from. The front fascia with the large and beautiful grille looks appealing. We had already seen the redesigned headlights and taillights and they are impressive. Especially the DRLs in the shape of eyebrows put life to the appearance. The chrome or gloss black trim on the exterior looks great, specifically in the mirror and window borders it improves the design. The power and heated mirrors also have an available option for logo projection that looks futuristic. The rear roof spoiler offers a sporty appearance for the SUV. 

The Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 comes with the heaviest body but it does not necessarily mean that it has a larger structure. The Volvo has the highest figure in both length and width while the height of the GLE 450 is slightly better than the XC90. The BMW comes with the smallest stats in length and width and the Porsche comes with the smallest height. The wheelbase is the largest in the Mercedes-Benz while the Porsche has a figure of 110.5 which is the smallest in the competition. The ground clearance of the GLE 450 is 7.1 and that of the BMW is 7.2 inches which are considerable figures for SUVs. 

• 19-inch twin 5-spoke wheels
• Optional 22-inch AMG twin 5-spoke wheels w/black accents
• Gloss Black exterior accents
• AMG body styling
• LED Daytime Running Lamps, Headlamps, and taillamps
• Rear Roof Spoiler

The Mercedes-Benz has passed all the tests with flying colors and achieved the highest scores in each of them. The NHTSA authorities have given five-star ratings for the GLE SUV in every test. IIHS is yet to test the 2023 model but the previous one had the highest ratings in all categories and it was even awarded the Top Safety Pick Plus. The high-strength unibody offers great overall durability and the structural integrity makes it incredibly safe. The 2023 GLE 450 comes with a myriad of safety features that aim to ensure the highest safety for the passengers. The DISTRONIC Active Distance Assist and Downhill Speed Regulation deserve special mention. The Electronic Stability Program and the Trailer Stability Assist are standard for the SUV. The optional Route-based Speed Adaptation can be a great addition for the drivers. 

• Electronic Stability Program
• Downhill Speed Regulation
• Antitheft alarm system with remote panic feature
• DISTRONIC Active Distance Assist 
• Trailer Stability Assist
• Active Blind Spot Assist
• Optional Route-based Speed Adaptation
• Available Surround View System

2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 vs. 2023 Porsche Macan S

The 2023 Porsche Macan S comes with a slightly smaller engine but the twin-turbocharged V6 offers marginally better power and torque output. The auto-shift manual transmission is smoother than you can imagine and it results in excellent 0 to 60 acceleration for the Porsche. The top speed of the GLE is no match for the Macan S. However, the handling for the Porsche is not as smooth as the Mercedes which comes with better braking as well. The fuel economy is not as impressive for the Macan S and its smaller fuel capacity offers a significantly lower range in both city and highway. The interior is spacious but the luxury aspects can not topple the luxury features in the GLE class. The overall appearance is great for Porsche and both these cars are viable options in the current market. 

2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 vs. 2023 BMW X3 M40i

The 2023 BMW X3 M40i has a similar engine and it comes with the same maximum torque. However, the acceleration is better and so is the quarter-mile drag. The ride and handling experience for the BMW is commendable and the great control and braking efficiency make it a great choice in the current market. The EPA-certified fuel economy is slightly better for the BMW X3 in terms of mileage but the smaller fuel tank results in a lower range than the Mercedes-Benz. The BMW offers better headroom in both rows and the cargo space available is appreciable. The standard comfort and safety features are commendable but they are not as great as the Mercedes. However, the lower price tag of the BMW X3 makes it a great alternative in this scenario. 

2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 vs. 2023 Volvo XC90

The 2023 Volvo XC90 has a smaller engine and it expectedly has lower power and torque output. The 0 to 60 acceleration is still better in the Volvo and it takes less time to cover a quarter-mile when compared to the GLE 450. The ride and handling are excellent and the braking is quite efficient as well. The mileage offered by the Volvo is exactly the same as the Mercedes-Benz but the Volvo comes with a slightly smaller fuel capacity resulting in a lower range. The interior is not as spacious as the GLE class but it comes with a six-passenger capacity. However, it compromises the cargo space in the process and we are not particularly happy about that part. Despite a commendable set of luxury and safety features, we would still not suggest you the Volvo over the Mercedes. 

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 is an excellent luxury SUV in every aspect. The turbocharged I-6 engine generates standard power and torque and the 0 to 60 acceleration is great. It is true that some of the rivals have better figures in the engine segment but they are never at a huge advantage. We frown upon the ride quality but the overall handling of the midsize SUV is ingenious. The braking system is incredibly efficient and the additional features offer improved performance. The fuel economy is great for a luxury SUV and the larger fuel tank offers a great range in both cities and highways. The interior is the epitome of luxury which houses an array of standard and additional comfort features. The design and functionality are unmatched making the Mercedes-Benz one of the most desirable options. The exterior aspects are commendable with a lot of available aspects. The safety system is immensely efficient with a strong structure and a lot of great safety features. There is nothing you will regret if you decide to take the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 home.