Mercedes GLE review

The Mercedes GLE is not the first of the German brand’s models to be born in the USA – it’s the latest in a long line of luxury SUVs that the famous three-pointed star has built in America.

Starting with the M-Class when Tony Blair was still in power, big Mercedes SUVs have been rolling off the production line in Tuscaloosa, Alabama for generations. The name may have been changed to GLE but the recipe remains the same: take a tall, generously proportioned body (for a family and all its clutter), mix in a wide range of petrol and diesel engines, then season it with a generous sprinkling of luxuries.

Some elements have changed, though. You can now have seven seats and there’s a plug-in hybrid option to cut your company car tax bill. If you’re more interested in excitement than economy, you can choose from not one, but two hot AMG versions.

The Mercedes GLE has lots of stylish and practical seven-seat rivals in the luxury SUV class, including the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Land Rover Discovery and Volvo XC90, not to mention the Porsche Cayenne and other sportier alternatives.

So, does the GLE have what it takes to mount a serious challenge to the class leaders? That's what we'll explore over the next few pages, and we'll also tell you which of the multitude of engine and trim options make the most sense.

And don’t forget, our New Car Buying service can easily net you huge savings on the Mercedes GLE and hundreds of other new cars from the comfort of your own home.