Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 D Is All About Pedigree, Bloodline

With a 362 HP 553 lb.-ft, straight-six powerplant, the 450 D delivers 30 miles for every gallon of diesel per every mile driven.

We have tended to rave about the Mercedes-Benz GLE over time. For good reason, we reckon. There were however aspects that were becoming a touch concerned with as the GLE more recently aged like wine. Happily, however, that has now mostly been addressed too.

Now available in wagon, 7-seater, or this sleek Coupé in our market, it carries fresh styling nuances that also apply to the US range. But you may need to go back and look at it again after you read this, to notice them. They’re there, promise! The biggest change on the GLE menu is Benz’ latest, more intelligent, even more immersive MBUX User Experience infotainment, along with this new GLE 450 d model now in a greener, fully 48-volt electrified range.

Pedigreed GLE 450 d Has a Fine Bloodline

The Mercedes-Benz GLE (nee ML), pioneered the premium SUV segment back in 1997. Built as always at Merc’s Tuscaloosa, Alabama plant, this architecture was released in 2018. Now it’s just been mid-life nipped, tucked. Detail tweaks include this one’s Tri-Star struck grille, a fresh front bumper, and those subtle trim tweaks.

This flagship for now gets full four-point DRL Multibeam LED headlamps. These latest-generation composite lights take full beam driving next level. Now rather than place black blocks around approaching cars, this one seems to identify the car and only blocks the windscreen out. So you can even see the car in your bright beam, while the driver and passengers in that car never will know the difference.

Add that grille, a car color AMG front apron, skirts, and wheelarch cladding. Talking colors, this new metallic blue changes hue according to the ambient light and even goes a bit red. Groovy indeed.

Latest Generation Starship Enterprise Infotainment

Hop aboard to that biggest GLE step in latest, more holistic, and aesthetic Starship Enterprise artificial intelligence ‘My Mercedes’ MBUX 12.3-inch intelligent touchscreen infotainment. It fills the same space that the old one did, but now with wireless CarPlay and Auto. It also brings great hardware and software strides.

Benz’ latest-generation sensor surface multifunction steering wheel is new too. It still runs the 12.3-inch driver display to the right and central displays to on the left. We remain unconvinced by the new steering pads. We think they’re useless versus the older, simpler, uglier stalk controls. Happily, the major controls remain in a row of buttons below the vents, and rollers in the center console. So it won’t lose NCAP safety points like those ridiculous knob less systems do, even in this car’s EQ siblings.

Other strides inside the crisp, cavernous, curvy, and current cabin include new chrome look real galvanized metal air vents. Our 450 d Coupé also had ambient lighting and a premium 590-watt Burmester surround audio with Dolby Atmos and 13 separate amplifier speaker channels among its intensive arsenal of kit. Even optional Energizing air quality control.