Item: Used Mercedes GLE 2019-present
Rating: 4
Author: What Car? Team

Our preferred used luxury SUV is the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/used-review/n813">Audi Q7</a> because it manages to offer all the comforts of the GLE, but with better long-distance cruising refinement and superior handling dynamics.

A <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery/4x4/used-review/n974">Land Rover Discovery</a> might be an unwieldy beast in comparison on the road, but it'll make mince-meat of the Mercedes off the beaten path. What's more, the 3rd row is far better for adults, although the boot is tiny with the rearmost seats in place.

<h3 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/mercedes-benz/gle?nearlynew=true&amp;used=true&amp;yearFrom=2019">Find a used Mercedes GLE for sale with&nbsp;What Car? Used Car deals&nbsp;&gt;&gt;</a></h3>

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What is it like?

Ownership cost

Advice for buyers

Our recommendations

Alternatives

<h3>Emissions software update</h3>

Some examples built between 1 April and 30 June 2019 require a software update to improve emissions. An additional booklet should&nbsp;also be added to the manual pack, and the NOx sensor will need to be checked and replaced if necessary. Find out from your Mercedes dealer if this applies to your GLE.

<h3>Wiring harness</h3>

The wiring harness routed under the 2nd row could be damaged in cars made from 15 January and 13 December 2019. Ask your Mercedes dealer if your GLE is affected by this because it will need to be checked over and repaired where necessary.

<h3>Welding errors</h3>

Two recalls have been issued for welding errors. The first is for a structural cross member at the rear of cars manufactured between 21 September and 23 October, while&nbsp;the second is for an issue with the fuel filler pipe that connects to the tank of examples constructed between 1 April and 30 June 2019.&nbsp;

This generation of GLE is a little too new to have been included in the most recent What Car? Reliability Survey,&nbsp;although the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/gle/estate/used-review/n989">previous GLE </a>did do quite well&nbsp;in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey-luxury-suvs/n20065">luxury SUV</a>&nbsp;category, so there's hope this latest one will continue that trend.

Meanwhile, Mercedes&nbsp;as a brand finished in a low 26th&nbsp;place out of 31&nbsp;manufacturers – a rather disappointing&nbsp;result.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>&nbsp;pages for more information.

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Estate

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

Some rivals are more practical and better to drive, but the Mercedes GLE has a dazzling interior,&nbsp;is a comfortable cruiser, and comes with plenty of equipment.

Used Mercedes GLE 2019-present

<h3>MPG</h3>

On paper, the 350de diesel plug-in hybrid is the most economical at 403.6mpg, but this figure will require religious&nbsp;charging and sparing use of the&nbsp;engine&nbsp;to achieve&nbsp;in the real world. The promise of 66 miles of electric range is good, though, and it'll take a little over three hours to recharge from 10-100% using a 7kWh home charger.

The rest of the diesel range provides reasonably good fuel efficiency given the huge proportions&nbsp;of the GLE. The smallest engine in the 300d is the most economical&nbsp;at 40.4mpg, followed by the 350d with 37.2mpg, and the 400d at 33.6mpg.

The most sensible petrol option is the 450 that manages 28mpg, but the two performance AMG models are by far the worst at 26.2mpg for the GLE 53&nbsp;and only 22.8mpg for the GLE 63s.

<h3>Car Tax (VED)</h3>

All GLEs get&nbsp;hit with an additional yearly&nbsp;luxury car tax bill because every version&nbsp;cost&nbsp;over&nbsp;£40,000 when new, and this applies from the second year of registration until the vehicle is six years old, at which point it reverts back to&nbsp;the&nbsp;flat-rate fee.&nbsp;The plug-in hybrid, however, gets a slight discount because it is classed as an alternative fuel vehicle. To find out more about the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/car-tax-changes-in-2019-%E2%80%93-what-do-i-need-to-know/n1153">road tax costs, click here</a>.

<h3>Servicing</h3>

Servicing costs will be high, but Mercedes&nbsp;offers a number of servicing plans to help spread the cost via direct debit. It'll still be pricier than comparative servicing costs from <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/audi">Audi</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/bmw">BMW</a>.

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Some rivals are more practical and better to drive, but the Mercedes GLE has a dazzling interior, is a comfortable cruiser, and comes with plenty of equipment.

You can find the earliest examples (usually in 300d form) for around £43,000, while a more versatile&nbsp;seven-seater version commands a slight premium and can be found from&nbsp;£45,000.

If you want a six-cylinder GLE, expect to spend at least £46,000. Petrol models are far less common and so you will need to fork out around £55,000 to drive one away.

The plug-in hybrid has only recently been added to the range, and so it will take a while before examples of these filter down to used car forecourts.

Check the value of a used Mercedes GLE with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/valuations/">What Car? Valuations</a>

<h3 dir="ltr">Engine</h3>

The entry-level 300d is plenty fast enough for most needs and brings with it the promise of decent fuel economy.

<h3 dir="ltr">Specification</h3>

As with the engine choice, we'd go for the entry-level trim level; you won't find AMG Line&nbsp;lacking in equipment, and we don't reckon it's worth paying more for a higher trim. Seek out a seven-seater version if you want&nbsp;an added dose of versatility.

Our favourite Mercedes GLE: GLE 300d AMG Line

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<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Logical and beautifully built interior, with great infotainment</li> <li>More than enough space for five passengers or, even better, seven</li> <li>Strong performance along with impressive efficiency</li> <li>Composed handling that limits any feeling of unwieldiness</li></ul>

We class a luxury SUV as being anything where our pick of the range costs more than £45,000 – and at this price point, buyers' expectations are high. So, as well as all of the qualities that make regular SUVs such well-rounded choices –&nbsp;such as decent space for passengers and luggage, a classy interior and robust materials – we also want a cosseting ride, the latest driver assistance technology and enough space to really stretch out.

The Land Rover Discovery proves that you don't need to spend a lot of money to get a luxurious SUV, but if you've got a bit more to spend, the Audi Q7 is perennially popular among buyers, and with good reason. Or, at the very top of this market, there are newer additions such as the BMW X7 to consider.

Luxury SUV

The majority of GLEs of this generation that are up&nbsp;for sale will still be within the Mercedes franchised dealer network, and will have&nbsp;most probably been reconditioned to look like new before hitting the forecourt.

You shouldn't expect to see any damage&nbsp;under the vehicle because the GLE isn't intended to venture into the wilderness in standard form. The first owner would have needed to specify&nbsp;the optional off road package with extra underbody protection and a special low-range gearbox for tackling tricky terrain.&nbsp;

In the intro section, we mentioned the Airbalance interior perfumer. If your potential purchase has it, try and get the dealer to replace the atomiser as part of the deal&nbsp;because replacements (there are five fragrances to choose from)&nbsp;cost £56 each.

Don't panic if you're a used car buyer looking at a pre-owned Mercedes-Benz GLE and you see it rocking about in an erratic manner. It isn't a malfunction, rather&nbsp;a neat&nbsp;party trick; &nbsp;air-suspension equipped models can&nbsp;rock&nbsp;in order to work themselves free in deep sand or snow. It's a neat attribute of the GLE, as is the fact that you can buy this hefty&nbsp;luxury SUV for an agreeable&nbsp;amount less than even its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mercedes-benz/gle/4x4/deals">best&nbsp;discounted&nbsp;price when new</a>.

Diesel&nbsp;power makes up&nbsp;the majority of GLE engine options, starting with the 242bhp 2.0-litre 300d, and followed by two 3.0-litre engines of 272bhp&nbsp;350d and 325bhp 400d power outputs. The only non-AMG, high-performance petrol&nbsp;model is the 362bhp 450. If money is no issue, there are two hotter GLEs; the 429bhp GLE 53 and 603bhp GLE 63s.

There are four different trim levels, starting with the AMG Line. This&nbsp;has 20in alloy wheels, LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">automatic emergency braking (AEB)</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-new-car-technology-that-could-save-your-life/n17548#9">lane-keeping assistance</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/the-new-car-technology-that-could-save-your-life/n17548#8">blind spot monitoring</a>. AMG Line Executive adds bigger 21in wheels and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">Android Auto</a> smartphone connectivity for the standard 12.3in screen.

You'll need to spring for AMG Line Premium if you want memory settings for&nbsp;the electric seats and a 360deg camera system. Finally, AMG Line Premium Plus has adaptive cruise control, a panoramic glass roof, upgraded Burmester stereo, plus an interior fragrance system called Airbalance. More on that later.

All engines (including the entry-level diesel) provide highly respectable performance and any din made during acceleration retreats into the background hum of road noise once at a cruise, although you will notice a little more wind noise at motorway speeds than in an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/used-review/n813">Audi Q7</a>. However, the GLE's standard nine-speed auto is less hesitant to respond than the Audi's, giving you greater confidence when joining a busy roundabout or overtaking.

Where the GLE can't beat the Q7 is in terms of the driving experience it offers. The steering is perfectly light for easy low-speed manoeuvres, but is pretty numb&nbsp;and doesn't feel as precise as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/used-review/n21110">BMW X5</a>'s. The suspension - particularly on air suspension (Airmatic in Mercedes parlance) – is set up to be comfortable rather than sporty&nbsp;and this translates into the GLE leaning over more in corners than Q7 would.

Inside you'll find the GLE is a bit of a tech-fest, with two large digital screens spread across the glitzy looking dashboard. The infotainment system can be controlled in a number of different ways, and while we still think that iDrive from BMW is easier to use, the voice recognition software in the GLE is far better than similar systems we've tried in rival cars.

Even the broadest of rugby players would have plenty of room in the front of a GLE, and the rear is far more accommodating than most other luxury SUVs – including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery/4x4/used-review/n974">Land Rover Discovery</a>. Unlike the X5, the GLE is available with seven seats, but the rearmost are best used for short trips only; space for knees is restricted to ensure&nbsp;a useable boot with all seven seats in use. With them down, cargo capacity is respectable rather than remarkable; we found that both a Q7 and Discovery can carry more luggage.

If you're interested in finding a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/mercedes-benz/gle?nearlynew=true&amp;used=true&amp;yearFrom=2019">used GLE</a>, or any of the other <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/category/luxury-suv">luxury SUVs</a>&nbsp;mentioned here, head over to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Car Buying</a> pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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Used Mercedes GLE 2019-present review

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Mercedes GLE estate?