63 Mercedes-AMG GLE 2021 S review

Such is the SUV craze that high-riding station wagons are increasingly tasked with doing the work of sports cars, despite the fact that the immutable laws of physics are clearly working against them.

Although the results were mixed, Mercedes-AMG made some serious progress in this area, so much so that it was confident enough to release the second generation GLE63 S.

Yes, this large SUV aims to emulate a sports car in the best possible way, so we want to find out if it is convincing in the image of Jekyll and Hyde. Read more.

2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class: GLE63 S 4Matic+ (hybrid)
Safety Rating
engine's type	4.0 L turbo
fuel type	Hybrid with premium unleaded gasoline
Fuel efficiency	12.4l / 100km
Landing	5 Places
Price from	$189,000

Is there anything interesting about its design? 9/10

First things first, the new GLE63 S is available in two body styles: a station wagon for traditionalists, and a coupe for style lovers.

In any case, few large SUVs are as imposing as the GLE63 S, which is a good thing considering it needs to be taken seriously.

From the front, it is immediately identifiable as a Mercedes-AMG model thanks to the distinctive Panamericana grille insert.

The angry look is accentuated by the angular daytime running lights integrated into the Multibeam LED headlights, while the massive front bumper has large air intakes.

On the side, the GLE63 S stands out with its aggressive fender flares and side skirts: the station wagon gets 21-inch alloy wheels as standard, while the coupe gets 22-inch alloy wheels.

The GLE63 S station wagon received 21-inch alloy wheels. (wagon version in the photo)

Starting with the A-pillars, the differences between the wagon and coupe bodywork begin to become apparent, with the latter's much steeper roofline.

At the rear, the station wagon and coupe differ even more clearly with their unique tailgates, LED taillights and diffusers. However, they do have a sports exhaust system with square tailpipes.

It's worth noting that the difference in body style also means a difference in size: the coupe is 7mm longer (4961mm) than the wagon, despite its 60mm shorter wheelbase (2935mm). It is also 1mm narrower (2014mm) and 66mm shorter (1716mm).

Inside, the GLE63 S features a flat-bottomed steering wheel with Dinamica microfiber inserts, as well as Nappa leather multi-contour front seats, as well as armrests, instrument panel, door shoulders and inserts.

The door drawers are made of hard plastic. That's not impressive for a car that costs this much, since you're hoping they'll have cowhide applied to them, or at least a soft-touch material.

Inside, the GLE63 S features a flat steering wheel with Dinamica microfiber accents and multi-contour front seats. (coupe variant in the photo)

The black headlining serves as another reminder of its commitment to performance, and while it darkens the interior, there are metallic accents throughout, and the trim (our test car had open-pore wood) adds some variety along with ambient lighting.

However, the GLE63 S is still filled with cutting-edge technology, including two 12.3-inch displays, one of which is a central touchscreen and the other is a digital instrument cluster.

There are two 12.3-inch displays. (coupe variant in the photo)

Both use the Mercedes MBUX multimedia system and support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This setup continues to set the benchmark for speed and breadth of functionality and input methods, including all-time voice control and touchpad.

How practical is the interior space? 9/10

Being a big SUV, you would expect the GLE63 S to be pretty practical, and it is, but what you don't expect is that the coupe will have 25 liters more cargo capacity than the wagon, at a generous 655 liters, due to behind its taller window line.

However, when you fold down the 40/20/40 rear seat with the second row latches, the station wagon has a significant 220-liter advantage over the 2010-liter coupe thanks to its boxier design.

In any case, there's a slight load edge to contend with that makes loading bulkier items a little more difficult, although that task can be made easier by flipping a switch as the air springs can lower the load height by a comfortable 50mm. .

What's more, four attachment points help secure loose items, as well as a pair of bag hooks, and a space-saving spare is located under the flat floor.

Things are even better in the second row: the station wagon offers a crazy amount of legroom behind our 184cm driver's seat, plus two inches of headroom for me.

With a 60mm shorter wheelbase, the coupe naturally sacrifices some legroom, but still provides three inches of legroom, while the sloping roofline reduces headroom to an inch.

The wheelbase of the coupe is 60 mm shorter than that of the station wagon. (coupe variant in the photo)

Regardless of body style, the five-seat GLE63 S is wide enough to fit three adults abreast with few complaints, and the transmission tunnel is on the smaller side, meaning there's plenty of legroom.

There's also plenty of room for child seats, with two ISOFIX attachment points and three top tether attachment points for installing them.

In terms of amenities, rear passengers get map pockets on the backs of the front seats, as well as a fold-down armrest with two cup holders, and the door shelves can hold a couple of regular bottles each.

Beneath the air vents at the rear of the center console is a fold-out compartment with two smartphone slots and a pair of USB-C ports.

First-row passengers have access to a center console compartment that has two temperature-controlled cupholders, in front of which sits a wireless smartphone charger, two USB-C ports, and a 12V outlet.

The central storage compartment is pleasantly large and contains another USB-C port, while the glove box is also on the larger side and you also get a top sunglasses holder. Surprisingly, the baskets in front of the front door can hold three ordinary bottles. Not bad.

While the station wagon has a large, square rear window, the coupe is a letterbox by comparison, so rearward visibility isn't its forte.

Does it represent good value for money? What functions does it have? 8/10

Starting at $220,600 plus travel expenses, the new GLE63 S wagon is $24,571 more expensive than its predecessor. Although the growth has been unsuccessful, it has been accompanied by the installation of much more standard equipment.

The same goes for the new GLE63 S coupe, which starts at $225,500, making it $22,030 more expensive than its predecessor.

The GLE63 S coupe is $22,030 more expensive than before. (coupe variant in the photo)

Standard equipment on both vehicles includes metallic paint, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, heated and power folding side mirrors, side steps, soft-close doors, roof rails (wagon only), keyless entry, rear protective glass and a back door with the electric drive.

Inside, you get push-button start, a panoramic sunroof, satellite navigation with real-time traffic, digital radio, a Burmester 590W surround sound system with 13 speakers, a head-up display, a power steering column, power front seats. with heating, cooling and massage functions, heated front armrests and side rear seats, four-zone climate control, stainless steel pedals and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

The GLE 63 S is equipped with satellite navigation with real-time traffic and digital radio. (coupe variant in the photo)

GLE63 S competitors include the less expensive Audi RS Q8 ($208,500) as well as the BMW X5 M Competition ($212,900) and the 6 M Competition ($218,900).

What are the main characteristics of the engine and transmission? 9/10

The GLE63 S is powered by Mercedes-AMG's ubiquitous 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine, with this version delivering an incredible 450kW at 5750rpm and 850Nm of torque from 2250-5000rpm.

But that's not all, because the GLE63 S also has a 48-volt mild hybrid system called EQ Boost.

The 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine delivers 450 kW/850 Nm. (wagon version in the photo)

As the name suggests, it has an integrated starter generator (ISG) that can deliver up to 16kW and 250Nm of electric boost in short bursts, meaning it can also reduce the feeling of turbo lag.

Paired with a nine-speed torque converter automatic transmission with paddle shifters and Mercedes-AMG's 4Matic+ fully variable all-wheel drive system, the GLE63 S accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds in either body style. style.

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How much fuel does it consume? 7/10

The fuel consumption of the GLE63 S on the combined cycle (ADR 81/02) varies: the station wagon reaches 12.4 l/100 km, while the coupé requires 0.2 l more. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are 282 g/km and 286 g/km respectively.

Considering the high level of performance on offer, all of these claims are quite reasonable. And they are made possible thanks to engine cylinder deactivation technology and the 48V EQ Boost mild hybrid system, which has a coasting function and an extended idle stop function.

The GLE63 S is said to consume 12.4 liters of fuel every 100 km. (coupe variant in the photo)

However, in our real world tests with the station wagon, we averaged 12.7L/100km over 149km. While this is a surprisingly good result, its launch route was mostly high-speed roads, so expect much more in urban areas.

And in the coupe, we averaged a higher but still respectable 14.4L/100km/68km, even though its starting route was exclusively high-speed country roads, and you know what that means.

For reference, the station wagon has a fuel tank of 80 liters, while the coupe has 85 liters. In any case, the GLE63 S only uses the more expensive 98RON premium gasoline.

What safety equipment is installed? What is the safety rating? 9/10

In 2019, ANCAP awarded the second-generation GLE lineup a maximum five-star rating, meaning the new GLE63 S receives a full rating from an independent safety authority.

Advanced driver assistance systems include autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keeping and steering assistance (also in emergency situations), adaptive cruise control with stop and go function, traffic sign recognition, driver warning, help when turning on the high beam. , active blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic alert, tire pressure monitoring, hill descent control, park assist, surround view cameras, and front and rear parking sensors.

The GLE63 S comes with surround view cameras and front and rear parking sensors. (wagon version in the photo)

Other standard safety equipment includes nine airbags, anti-skid brakes, electronic brake force distribution, and conventional electronic traction and stability control systems.

Warranty and safety rating

Basic Warranty

5 years / unlimited mileage


guarantee

ANCAP Safety Rating

How much does it cost to own? What kind of guarantee is provided? 9/10

Like all Mercedes-AMG models, the GLE63 S comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, which is now standard in the premium market. It also comes with five years of roadside assistance.

What's more, the GLE63 S service intervals are relatively long: every year or 20,000 km, whichever comes first.

It's also available with a five-year/100,000 km limited-price service plan, but it costs $4450 overall, or an average of $890 per visit. Yes, the GLE63 S isn't exactly cheap to maintain, but that's what you'd expect.

What is it like to drive? 8/10

Make no mistake, the GLE63 S is a big beast, but it clearly doesn't live up to its size.

First, the GLE63 S's engine is a real monster, helping it get off track and then rush towards the horizon with some serious energy.

Even though the initial torque is so great, you still get the added benefit of ISG that helps eliminate lag as the new twin-scroll turbos spin up.

The GLE 63 S drives like a big SUV but handles like a sports car. (coupe variant in the photo)

However, acceleration isn't always harsh, as electronic stability control (ESC) often cuts off power quickly at full throttle in first gear. Luckily, turning on the sport mode of the ESC system solves this problem.

This behavior is somewhat ironic, as the 4Matic+ system never seems to lack traction, it works hard to find the axle with the most traction, while Torque Vectoring and a limited slip rear differential distribute torque from wheel to wheel. wheel.

Regardless, the transmission delivers predictably smooth and mostly timely shifts, though they're definitely not fast dual-clutch gears.

The GLE63 S doesn't look like a behemoth weighing more than 2.5 tons. (wagon version in the photo)

What's even more memorable is the sports exhaust system, which keeps your neighbors relatively sane in Comfort and Sport driving modes, but drives them crazy in Sport+ mode, with a cheerful crackle and pop heard loud and clear. during acceleration.

It's worth noting that while the sports exhaust system can be turned on manually in Comfort and Sport driving modes via a switch on the center console, this only adds to the V8's hum, and the full effect is only unlocked in Sport+ mode.

There's more to the GLE63 S, of course, like the fact that it somehow drives like a big SUV but handles like a sports car.

The GLE63 S engine is a real monster. (coupe variant in the photo)

Air spring suspension and adaptive dampers provide a luxurious ride in Comfort driving mode, and the GLE63 S handles confidently. Even its large-diameter alloy wheels do not pose much of a threat to this quality on bad back roads.

Ride is still more than acceptable in Sport driving mode, although the adaptive dampers get a little too stiff in Sport+ mode and the ride becomes too jittery to bear.

Of course, the whole point of adaptive dampers getting stiffer is to help the GLE63 S handle even better, but the real reveal here are the active anti-roll bars and engine mounts, which effectively limit body roll to a level that almost imperceptibly.

The acceleration of the GLE 63 S is not always sharp (wagon version pictured).

In fact, overall body control is impressive: the GLE63 S doesn't look like the 2.5-ton behemoth it is. It doesn't really have the right to attack corners the way it does, as the coupe feels cramped than the wagon thanks to its 60mm shorter wheelbase.

For added confidence, sport brakes include 400mm discs with six-piston calipers up front. Yes, they wash away speed easily, which is exactly what you're hoping for.

Also key to handling is the speed-sensing, variable ratio electric power steering. It's really fast in the station wagon, and even more so in the coupe thanks to the more straightforward tuning.

The ride is more than acceptable in sport driving mode. (wagon version in the photo)

Either way, this setup is well-weighted in Comfort driving mode, with great feel and the right weight. However, the Sport and Sport+ modes make the car progressively heavier, but neither improves the driving experience, so stick with the default settings.

Meanwhile, noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels are pretty good, although tire roar persists at highway speeds and wind whistle is noticeable over the side mirrors when driving above 110 km/h.

Verdict

Unsurprisingly, the GLE63 S is back for the second lap after clearly scaring the Audi RS Q8 and the BMW X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition.

After all, it's a big SUV that doesn't sacrifice much practicality (especially wagon) in the pursuit of high performance.

And for that reason, we can't wait to make another trip, with or without family.

Note. CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, providing transportation and food.