Mercedes VLE review

Wandering Albatross are big birds, and their long wingspans (of nearly 12 feet) help them soar over ocean winds for hours without flapping. So, they’re big and they can travel far. You might be able to see where this is going in regards to the new Mercedes VLE. 

The VLE is more than 5.3m long; it’s a massive MPV. However, thanks to a big battery and clever aerodynamics – it has a Toyota Prius-beating drag coefficient – the VLE can travel a good distance on charge. 

The distance in question will worry the Volkswagen ID Buzz. It’s going to do the same for electric seven-seat SUVs, too, like the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9. 

The VLE goes on sale in late 2026, with first deliveries planned for early 2027. Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but we expect it to cost around £80,000. Here’s how it stacks up in all the key areas.

What's new?

- June 2026: We attend the international media launch and drive the Mercedes VLE for the first time
- March 2026: Mercedes debuts its ‘grand limousine’, the all-new VLE electric people mover

How fast is it and which motor is best?

You can have the Mercedes VLE with front or four-wheel drive. The former version (badged VLE 300) feels punchy enough in any scenario. We’d argue it gives you all the performance most people could ever demand from a big MPV. 

Still, the four-wheel-drive VLE (badged VLE 400 4Matic) is a lot quicker on paper: mind you, it feels like a smaller margin in the real world. 

If amazing acceleration is priority, you’ll be more impressed with the VW ID Buzz GTX or, even more so, a Hyundai Ioniq 9 Performance AWD. 

Is it agile and is the ride comfortable?

To call the VLE agile would be an overstatement, but it has good grip levels and accurate steering. It also has some tricks up its sleeve to aid manoeuvrability, including four-wheel steering which shortens the turning circle and grants extra stability on faster roads. It really works wonders in a big beast like the VLE, but ultimately it still doesn’t feel as nimble as the smaller, lighter ID Buzz. 

But of course, ride comfort is even more important in a car like this. And thankfully, the VLE’s ride is super smooth. The air suspension does a great job of soaking up bumps, yet the ride never feels too floaty or bouncy. 

It’s the role reversal you might’ve been expecting: for ride comfort, the VLE is a step up on the ID Buzz, as well as the Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9 for that matter.

Is it quiet and how easy is it to drive smoothly?

The VLE is indeed quiet. We picked up on a minor amount of road and suspension noise, but that’s about it. Wind noise is barely noticeable, even at motorway speeds. 

Driving smoothly is a doddle, too. All the controls feel well weighted and precise. The brake pedal, for instance, feels strong, and it's easy to judge how much pressure to apply. What’s more, there are different modes for the regenerative braking system, including one-pedal driving.

It’s worth noting that the VLE 400 4Matic is capable of towing 2500kg, while the VLE 300’s maximum towing limit is 1000kg. 

What’s the range and efficiency like and how quickly can it charge?

Range figures are yet to be fully finalised, but we do know that the VLE 300 will waver around the 435-mile mark (officially); for reference, there isn’t an ID Buzz, Ioniq 9 or EV9 that’ll touch 400 miles, let alone 435 miles. 

To get a better range, you’ll have to drop down to five seats and get, say, a BMW iX3 (up to 500 miles). 

The VLE’s maximum charging speed, we’re told, is going to be at least 300kW, which is another competitive figure when you compare it with the ID Buzz (up to 200kW), Ioniq 9 and EV9 (both 250kW). Using a fast-enough charger, you can top up the VLE’s massive 115kWh battery in a little less than half an hour. 

“Around town, I saw more than three miles per kWh, which is good efficiency for a big, heavy people mover.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

What does the interior look like and is it well made?

The Mercedes VLE’s interior is modern and minimalistic. It’ll feel familiar to anyone who’s just hopped out of the new Mercedes GLC Electric. 

Material quality is generally good for the class, with soft-touch materials on the tops of the doors and armrests – there are some scratchier plastics further down. 

The VLE feels a step up on the VW ID Buzz and it’s miles ahead of the (admittedly much less expensive) Kia PV5. The Hyundai Ioniq 9 has a plusher interior, though. 

We did pick up on one build quality issue (to do with something rattling away in the dashboard), but we’ll give Mercedes the benefit of the doubt: it was a pre-production model and the other VLEs we tested felt solid. 

Is the driving position comfortable and is it easy to see out?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, you sit high and upright inside the VLE. You have a great view of the road ahead, plus you get a good view out to your side, over the shoulder and out the rear window. However, your view at junctions is restricted by the thick front pillars. There are small quarter windows, but they barely make a difference. 

To help with manoeuvring and parking, the VLE has all-around parking sensors and cameras. 

Is the dashboard and infotainment system easy to use?

The 10.25in driver’s display is clear, easy to read and configurable. The head-up display, with its augmented reality sat-nav instructions, is impressive but also a bit overwhelming. Some might wish to turn it off (which is doable). 

The 14.0in infotainment screen has crisp graphics, good response times and the menus are pretty easy to navigate. There are some physical buttons located below it, but unfortunately none for the climate control. The ID Buzz at least gives you touch-sensitive climate controls that are a bit easier to use while you’re driving. 

A third, passenger-facing screen is also available. Your passenger will probably enjoy it but you probably won’t. It can be quite distracting to have in your peripheral vision – it can turn itself off, but only due to prolonged glances from the driver. 

“The upgraded sound system has built-in Dolby Atmos, and top trims get a huge 31.3in screen for the rear passengers. There’s even a cinema mode. I found that pretty awesome.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

How much space does it have for people?

A lot. Even as an eight-seater, you can have a Mercedes VLE full of six-foot-tall adults. What’s more, because you can move the seats around on sliders and even remove them entirely, there are plenty of seating options to play around with. 

On the top trim, called Exclusive, you have two chunky armchairs in the second row, but there’s still room for a third row. This third row consists of three seats and, guess what, you can still fit six-footers in them. 

How much room does it have for luggage?

Even with the third row in place, there’s enough space behind them for at least four large suitcases. In fact, there’s almost 800 litres available, which is more than you get with a VW ID Buzz LWB (306 litres). 

Removing the seats gives you up to 4078 litres of boot space and, at that point, you’ve effectively got a van. Speaking of which, there will be a commercial version of the VLE coming later, as well as a long-wheelbase version.

“I was given a tour of the full model line, all the way from the more basic people mover to the more extravagant Exclusive trim and the upcoming long-wheelbase VLE. They’re all huge and the versatility is remarkable.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer

How much does it cost and what equipment do you get?

This is a tricky question to answer because pricing is yet to be confirmed. That said, we expect the Mercedes VLE to have a starting list price of about £80,000, making it more expensive than the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the VW ID Buzz, and a lot more expensive than any Kia PV5. 

Full UK specification is yet to be confirmed, but as of writing, three trims are due at launch: the standard VLE, AMG Line and Exclusive. The standard VLE seems like all most buyers will ever need. It has 19in wheels, electrically sliding rear doors with retractable windows, and wireless phone charging. 

AMG Line adds sporty styling, including 20in wheels, a different front bumper and red seat belts. Then, Exclusive gets all the bells and whistles, including the aforementioned armchair-style second-row seating and a 31.3in fold-out screen. 

It’s also worth mentioning that, in Germany, the VLE’s air suspension and four-wheel steering are optional extras; it’s yet to be confirmed whether the UK will follow suit or make them standard-fit features. 

Is it reliable and how long is the warranty?

We’ll have to wait and see how reliable the VLE will be. As a brand, Mercedes ranked 22nd out of 30 car makers featured – above VW but below Hyundai and Kia. 

If anything were to go wrong, Mercedes gives its cars a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty, which is decent but you’ll get a longer warranty with Hyundai (five years) and Kia (seven years). 

How safe is it?

The VLE is yet to be safety tested by Euro NCAP, but it comes with an extensive suite of safety kit. There are active safety aids like distance assist, lane-keep assist, manoeuvring assist and autonomous evasive steering. If a crash were to occur, there are 11 airbags available to deploy. 

“Given all the safety kit it gets, I’d be very surprised if the VLE doesn’t get a full five-star rating from Euro NCAP.” – Oliver Young, Reviewer 

Buy it if

- You have a big budget

- You want your MPV to be fully electric

- You need a massive car

Don’t buy it if

- You don’t need at least six seats or a huge boot

- You want the quickest or most agile MPV 

- You can’t comfortably afford a VW ID Buzz

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