Mercedes GLE 400 d 4MATIC AMG Line Premium Plus (2022 - )

If you fancy the versatility of seven seats but don’t want to be driving round in a car that resembles a bus, then Mercedes may have the ideal solution with its GLE model.

This stylish five-door SUV boasts a luxurious cabin design and is packed to bursting with all the latest infotainment essentials, while still covering the practicality bases really well.

It is available with five or seven seats and the option of 4x4 capability makes it an ideal towing car for family holidays.

With a choice of petrol or diesel powertrains and a wide selection of trim levels, the GLE is a dynamically-styled family SUV with bags of character and it’s very capable on the performance front too.

Not many seven-seaters can carry off the look as confidently as the GLE. Many appear bulky and oversized, while the Mercedes still maintains all the styling characteristics of a dynamic SUV.

Eye-catching features include a distinctive grille housing the Mercedes emblem, Multibeam LED headlamps with high beam assist, LED rear lights, large air intakes, roof rails, a panoramic glass sunroof, privacy glass and twin tailpipes. 

The ‘AMG’ label means there will be some sporty features to look out for, such as the AMG bodystyling which introduces model-specific front and rear aprons, side skirts in polished aluminium and 22-inch AMG five-twin-spoke alloy wheels.

The interior is beautifully refined with black Nappa leather upholstery and powered seats that can be heated to fend off the winter chill. The power-adjustable steering wheel means finding the perfect driving position is a simple task and there are memory settings to store several positions for separate drivers.

The driver can also move the front passenger seat back and forth creating more space for rear occupants which is a handy feature. In addition, seats in rows two and three are also power-operated.

The 64-colour ambient lighting, soft-touch dashboard and smart row of oblong-shaped air vents help create a very elegant and upmarket cabin.

A 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen merges with another 12.3-inch driver information display behind a single pane of glass and there is a wealth of technology to explore. This includes sat nav, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, a DAB radio, Bluetooth and a pitch perfect Burmester sound system.

The ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice recognition set-up offers quick and simple access to many on-board functions such as making a phone call, changing the sat nav route, opening the sunroof, altering the temperature and much more besides. 

The Mercedes GLE 400 d AMG Line Premium Plus model, as tested, was powered by a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder diesel engine delivering 330hp and 700Nm of torque. It could complete the 0-62mph sprint in 5.7 seconds and maxed out at an electronically-limited 155mph – that’s not bad for a car with a kerb weight of 2.2 tonnes.

The nine-speed automatic gearbox is beautifully timed and there are paddles for added driver engagement. Despite its SUV styling, the GLE is perfectly grounded when fizzing through the twisting country lanes with ample power on tap for sharp bursts of pace. There is a little body movement when pushed really hard, but generally this is not noticeable.

It cruises effortlessly at motorway speeds and the elevated seating results in good visibility, apart from over-the-shoulder where the wide B pillars obscure the view a little.

Dynamic Select drive modes called Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual alter the driving characteristics of the car to suit your mood and special mention to the air-balance package, which was standard on the test car, and helped smoothed out all but the most severe bumps and dips along the way. At times it feels like this SUV is gliding and occupants are well protected from any tyre rumble, engine and wind noise thanks to the efficient insulation set-up.

The steering offers ample driver feedback and there is the added reassurance of all-wheel drive so the car will not be fazed by more adverse driving and weather conditions.

Our seven-seat test car boasted plenty of road presence stretching 5,054mm in length, 2,157mm wide and 1,795mm tall. There is ample room up front for a couple of adults measuring six-foot-plus to stretch out and a couple more of a similar build can sit comfortably behind them. There is space for a third in the middle, but that seat is smaller and not so practical. It would be fine for a youngster though.

The additional pair of seats fold flat to the boot floor when not in use and can quickly be raised when needed. The second row of seats can be folded flat or raised via a button in the boot for added convenience.

The boot itself, which is accessed via a powered tailgate, is generously sized and can swallow 690 litres of luggage, but with only the front seats in use, this capacity increases to a whopping 2,010 litres.

Elsewhere, there are numerous convenient and practical storage options scattered throughout the cabin, including an air conditioned, illuminated and lockable glovebox, deep door bins with space to store a bottle, seat back nets, a central cubby with a charging pad, cup holders and a massive storage area beneath the centre console.

There are a number of USB-C ports to keep devices connected on the move and the wide-opening rear doors offer easy access to child seats with Isofix fittings to the outer seats in the second row.

And with family getaways in mind, the GLE 400 d 4MATIC can tow a caravan or trailer weighing up to 2.7 tonnes.

With Mercedes being a premium brand, prices will never be cheap, but they are competitive when compared to rival models. The current GLE line-up costs from £57,790 for the 300 d 4MATIC. Our test car was the range-topping GLE 400 d 4MATIC in AMG Line Premium Plus trim level costing £77,275 which included an additional £685 for the Cavansite blue paintwork.

When it comes to day-to-day running costs, the test car could deliver a combined 33.6mpg with carbon emissions of 220g/km.

This CO2 emissions figure would result in a first year Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) charge of £1,565 dropping to the standard fee of £180 for year two.

However, there are added costs to factor in because the car exceeds £40k. This means owners are subject to a government premium car levy which adds an extra £370 to the bill for five years starting from year two.

For any business drivers, the GLE is in the highest tax category with a Benefit in Kind rating of 37 per cent and the car, as tested, sits in insurance group 48.

The Mercedes GLE is a fabulous family SUV that offers excellent levels of practicality with the option of five or seven seats. The interior is beautifully constructed and packed with the latest technology and this vehicle also boasts off-road ability so is ready to tackle any of Mother Nature’s mood swings. 

With a comprehensive range of safety features and driver assistance aids, the GLE secured a maximum five-star Euro NCAP rating and that is also worth giving careful consideration to when purchasing a family vehicle.