What Cars.com Likes About the GLE 450
The Mercedes-Benz E-Class mid-size sedan has been an icon for decades, hitting the sweet spot between not too large but very capable and luxurious. Mercedes-Benz is working to make the GLE mid-size luxury SUV just as iconic for the SUV genre. Cars.com looked at the GLE 450 and found several reasons it may achieve the same vaulted status as the E-Class, and Mercedes-Benz of Plano highlights the key points.
The GLE comes in several versions, starting with the GLE 350 available in rear-wheel-drive and 4MATIC® trims. From there, all models feature the 4MATIC® all-wheel-drive system, including the GLE 450, the GLE 450e plug-in hybrid, the more powerful GLE 580 with its twin-turbo V8 engine, and the even more high-performance AMG® GLE 53 and AMG® GLE 63 models. Cars.com targeted the middle ground with the GLE 450 4MATIC®.
This is the non-electrified model, featuring a drivetrain with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 engine that produces 375 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with a 9-speed shiftable automatic transmission, which delivers power to all four wheels through the 4MATIC® system.
375 horsepower provides enough power for the GLE 450’s 5,060-pound curb weight, and the drivetrain was the first feature the editors at Cars.com praised. They described it as “…both capable and smooth, seamlessly getting this substantial SUV up to highway speeds and delivering a quick downshift when needed for easy passing.”
Recognizing that the GLE 450 has far loftier ambitions than drag racing, they also found the GLE 450 to be serene on the highway. They described the model as quite relaxed when collecting highway miles, with a quiet cabin and light steering feel. They provided an additional paise to the available Acoustic Comfort package, which includes acoustic glass and additional sound-deadening material throughout the body.
This is a luxury SUV, and Cars.com found that the GLE provides a dash that incorporates technology without being overwhelmed by it, resulting in a look that is “both elegant and current.” They were particularly impressed with the black and beige interior of their test vehicle, which is one of two new color combinations for 2025.
While it doesn’t overshadow the GLE cabin, the technology of the GLE 450 is quite noticeable. A raised housing holds the 12.3-inch center touchscreen, which connects seamlessly to the driver’s 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. They found the center touchscreen to be “easy to operate with a logical menu structure.” While there remains a full bank of physical controls for climate and other systems, 2024’s introduction of Wireless Android Auto® and Apple CarPlay® is a welcome feature for anyone accustomed to those interfaces.
They had a few quibbles, finding the rear seats positioned a bit low for their tastes, and they didn’t recommend the optional 21-inch AMG® wheels for anyone who appreciates the GLE 450’s smooth highway ride. They weren’t big fans of the touchpad, though Mercedes provides this with several convenient fixed controls as an alternative for those who don’t want to reach for the touchscreen for every action—but the touchscreen remains available for use.
They also mentioned the vehicle’s starting MSRP of $71,350*, never suggesting that the GLE 450 4MATIC® wasn’t worth it. Visit Mercedes-Benz of Plano, home of the largest Mercedes-Benz inventory in the country, and take the GLE 450 for a test drive.
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