Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
The 2024 GLE 450 4Matic is a highly recognizable vehicle out of the Mercedes-Benz fleet as well as being one of the best luxury SUVs on sale today. The GLE is known to be luxurious, comfortable and responsive. This week it is my turn to see how it measures up.
The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, formerly Mercedes-Benz M-Class, is a mid-size luxury SUV 4×4 produced by the German automaker Mercedes-Benz since 1997. The GLE-Class name was used in 2015 for the facelifted Mercedes-Benz M-Class and the new five-door coupé derivative GLE-Class Coupe which was unveiled to the public in January 2015 at the North American International Auto Show. The GLE is slotted in between the smaller GLC-Class and the larger GLS-Class.
The Mercedes-Benz GLE received a facelift in 2024. Upon first look you will notice the completely restyled headlights, taillights and restyled bumper. The model that I reviewed came in a Twilight Blue Metallic hue that covers the exterior, the black 20-inch AMG Twin 5-Spoke wheels with black accents. The Night Package added gloss black accents all around as well as blacked-out chrome exhaust tips. The Mercedes-Benz emblem on the grille is prominent and fitting for a statement maker such as this.
Now on to the design and quality of the interior keeps the luxurious feel going. The GLE 450 4Matic came with Machiato Beige/Black Leather and Natural Grain Brown Walnut trim gives the interior a premium feel. The sport seats with red contrasting stitching, a sport steering wheel, red seatbelts and aluminum accents all add to this magnificent package. There are even more luxury features such as heated power-adjustable leather seats, dual-zone climate control and optional features such as ventilated front seats and four-zone climate control. There is an optional third row that our review model came with. It felt a bit cramped for the passengers, so I would opt for skipping over that option and use the space for storage.
The 2024 GLE 450 4Matic has two large 12.3” displays that cover the dashboard. One is used as the touchscreen display, while the other is used as a widescreen digital instrument cluster. The infotainment system comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Satellite Radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot and the MBUX voice recognition system. The MBUX responds to voice commands in an effort to keep your hands on wheel instead of on the touchscreen.
Now on to the driving of the 2024 GLE 450 4Matic. Under the hood is a 3.0L inline-6 turbo with mild hybrid drive engine kicking out 375 hp horsepower at 369 lb-ft of torque, linked to a 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission. I enjoyed driving the GLE 450 around town because it was extremely comfortable. It got up to speed when I needed it to, as well as handling corners with minimal body roll. This could easily be a daily driver, with enough space to get the family around to where they need to be. The fuel mileage is pretty decent, coming in at 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg combined.
I showcased this beast from Mercedes-Benz at my “Sunday Service” car show at Sandlot Tysons, at the Boro in Tysons Corner VA and it garnered much attention and discussion from patrons at the event and onlookers throughout the week. Comments ranged from the refreshed styling, to the luxurious cockpit, rounding out with the infotainment capabilities.
The GLE 450 that I reviewed came with the Driver Assistance PLUS Package, at the cost of $1,950. Here is a breakdown of the package and what it all means.
- Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC®: Keeps you moving at a set speed, and adjusts your speed in response to the presence of other drivers
- Active Steering Assist: Keeps you centered in your lane at all times
- Evasive Steering Assist: Executes more controlled emergency maneuvers when you take evasive action
- Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function: Detects potential collisions and adjusts your braking pressure accordingly
- Active Emergency Stop Assist: Automatically slows and stops your vehicle if an imminent collision is likely to occur
- Active Speed Limit Assist: Automatically detects changes in the speed limit and adjusts your set speed accordingly
- Active Lane Keeping Assist: Returns you to the center of your lane if you cross over a road line
- Active Blind Spot Assist: Returns you to the center of your lane if you start to move while another vehicle is in your blind spot
- Active Lane Change Assist: Automatically transfers you to the lane of your choice when you leave the turn signal active for several seconds
- PRESAFE® PLUS: Closes the windows and adjusts settings in order to minimize the threat of a collision
- PRESAFE® Sound: Emits a sonic tone that protects the ears from damage in a collision Route-based Speed Adaptation
- Active Stop-and-Go Assist. Active Stop-and-Go Assist allows DISTRONIC® to continue operating in stop-and-go traffic, where the stops are less than one minute in length.
Mercedes-Benz has a standard warranty and maintenance package. Warranty and Maintenance Coverage. The limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles, the powertrain warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles and there is no complimentary scheduled maintenance. The 2024 GLE 450 4Matic sits in a highly competitive class amongst the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Lexus RX and the Volvo XC90. The 2024 GLE 450 4Matic that we tested came in at $94,940.00.
Overall, I felt the 2024 GLE 450 4Matic is a pretty solid vehicle that is sure to do well in the market. It looks great, built for comfort, plenty of speed and agility, with enough tech to fill all your infotainment needs. Please enjoy the photo gallery.
