Pick of the bunch? ACTIVE FUNCTIONALITY
Richard Bosselman travelled to Texas to take the 2019 MercedesBenz GLE for a spin.
ONE question that might come to mind about the newgeneration MercedesBenz GLE landing here next year is: Why are we getting a new version so soon? After all, the model is relatively new, having just marked its third year in New Zealand.
To answer that question, we need to go back to 2015 when MercedesBenz announced it would adopt the GL prefix for its range of SUVs
(excluding the GWagen). In this instance, it meant new badge and quick refresh for what was then known as the MClass.
Although it has done the trick in terms of raising the model’s stature and sales pace — to the point where it has become Mercedes’ bestselling SUV — the rate of progress within the sector means it is time for change.
The fourthgeneration GLE is almost allnew and represents a huge investment. It has a roomier interior, a hightech allwheeldrive system, a suite of semiautonomous technologies and new drivetrain imperatives, including a plugin hybrid, blending diesel and electric motors to deliver 100km of electric driving.
Shifting to a new platform derived from the C, E and SClass cars improves strength, keeps weight in check and delivers enough of an improvement in overall length and wheelbase to allow a third row of seats.
On the road, the GLE has an active functionality, allowing more stable cornering, while offroad it has a special trick: ‘‘free driving’’.
When engaged, free driving bounces the GLE to help free the stuck vehicle, much the same as the old school solution of having your mates jump up and down on the bumpers. It was a real shame we didn’t try it out in rough terrain during the launch.
There is a ton more tech, including the latest version of the MBUX multimedia system, pedestrian avoidance and a number of new driver assists. There also a feature that identifies and responds to traffic jams and has the ability to activate the brakes if it detects you have pulled in front of oncoming traffic.
The biggest change, though, is to the vehicle as a whole. It has joined the Audi Q7 and BMW X5 in becoming more carlike. Actually, more luxury carlike.
The styling retains carryover cues, but it’s a much plusher experience.
On the highways around
San Antonio, Texas, GLE 450 4MATIC felt pretty good. The sixcylinder petrol motor, supplemented with an integrated electric system
(known as EQ Boost, which assists the combustion engine, but also makes it possible to drive on battery power alone) makes fuel savings that were previously the exclusive domain of highvoltage hybrid technology possible.
Even so, it’s easy to understand the decision to opt for dieselonly models here — the 400 d is highly enjoyable and has just as much outright punch and even better torque.
The 300 d is also impressive, although less muscular and needing more time to get itself sorted. It is, however, more overtly guttural.