Mercedes GLE 300d
Powerful diesel engine and a high-quality interior for the all-new large premium SUV
WE’RE testing the GLE 300 d, while the whole range is only available in AMG Line trim. In seven-seat form (a £1,995 extra), it costs £57,380.
Design & engineering
THE latest GLE is longer and wider than the previous version, while the wheelbase has been stretched, helping to boost legroom in the rear.
At 4,930mm long and 2,018mm wide, this is a big car – yet it’s slightly more compact than its rival here, because the XC90 is even longer.
Adaptive air suspension was fitted to our test car, which was an early production model, but it’s actually not available on the 300 d, which comes with steel springs. The XC90 B5 (D) is available on air suspension, but you’ll have to pay extra for the option or go for a higher trim level.
The GLE uses a nine-speed automatic gearbox, sending power from the 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel to all four wheels. The motor has 242bhp, a little more than the Volvo’s 232bhp, and 500Nm of torque.
A big part of the GLE’s appeal is the interior, and it’s with good reason because it’s luxurious inside. Material quality is very high and there are soft-touch surfaces all around the cabin. The XC90 has been around with only a few changes since 2015, and its interior is just a little less modern-looking than the GLE’s, although quality is similar, so some will prefer the Swedish car’s simpler, cleaner design.
Mercedes’ latest infotainment system, MBUX, is what makes the GLE’s interior look and feel so modern, and it’s standard here. It features two 12.3-inch displays for the dials and infotainment, which means it has a very hi-tech feel, and it’s good to use. Standard kit is great and includes 20-inch alloys, LED lights, two-zone climate control, heated seats, blind-spot assist and AEB.
Driving
BOTH cars use four-cylinder diesel engines and are evenly matched, despite the Volvo’s mild-hybrid tech. However, both four-pot engines tend to rattle as you rev them, and even a lot of soundproofing can’t mask the grumble. Still, they only grate at higher engine speeds, and they work fine in day-to-day driving.
In our 0-60mph tests, the GLE managed a time of 7.4 seconds, which was 0.6 seconds ahead of the less powerful XC90, and the Merc was half a second faster from 30-70mph through the gears as well.
The Mercedes was also faster in most of our in-gear tests, because its smooth-shifting ninespeed gearbox uses slightly shorter ratios than the eight-speed box in the Volvo. For example, 50-70mph in sixth gear took 6.3 seconds in the GLE and 6.6 seconds in the XC90. Victory went to the Mercedes in our 30-50mph tests as well, and that’s thanks to its healthy 500Nm of torque from just 1,600rpm. This means it’s easy to drive in a relaxed way; you can rely on that big reserve of pulling power so you don’t necessarily have to push the engine that hard, especially when cruising.
Our test car’s air suspension did a good job of keeping lumps and bumps out of the cabin, but the GLE isn’t as controlled or as comfortable as the XC90
on its air package. However, high-speed ride refinement and comfort are fine.
The steering weight is good. There’s no feel, but that’s to be expected; at least the steering makes it easy to manoeuvre, but it’s not as precise as the XC90’s at higher speed. The Mercedes is quieter than its rival, though, especially on the motorway.
Practicality
THE huge dimensions of these models mean there’s loads of interior space; that’s a big part of the appeal of these cars, after all. There’s more than enough room in the second row for tall adults to sit comfortably, and there are lots of large storage spaces.
However, in seven-seat form, the GLE is compromised. If you need to carry extra passengers the XC90 is a better option, because there’s more room in the third-row seats – and they’re easier to get into. The GLE’s rearmost seats are quite cramped and only small children will fit.
Still, the Mercedes has lots of boot space; with the third row folded, there’s 630 litres available, which is easily big enough for a full family’s suitcases. The Volvo is bigger still, at 680 litres. With all seven seats in use, the GLE’s boot will take only 130 litres, while the XC90’s can accommodate 302 litres.
Ownership
OWNERS ranked Mercedes a poor 26th place in our 2019 customer satisfaction survey. Volvo took a more respectable 13th, which shows the Swedish brand’s cars are closer to matching buyers’ expectations.
Euro NCAP recently tested the GLE and awarded it a full five stars, matching the XC90’s score. The Volvo is among the safest cars on the road, but one area where the GLE beats it is that blind-spot assist is standard, yet it’ll cost you £500 as part of the Intellisafe Surround pack on the XC90.
Autonomous braking with collision warning is standard on the Mercedes, while the £1,695 Driving Assistance package adds adaptive cruise and many other active safety systems.
Running costs
THE Volvo B5 (D)’s mild-hybrid tech meant it was more efficient on test. The GLE returned 31.9mpg, which equates to £2, 256 a year in fuel costs, while the XC90 did 33.4mpg – that’s £2,154 a year. It’s not a huge difference, but the fact that the GLE will cost our example driver £901 a year to insure is a harder pill to swallow; they’ll pay only £725 for the XC90.