The refreshed GLE looks similar to the previous version from a distance.Jason Tchir/JOBFlocks
Launched in 2019, the current Mercedes-Benz GLE would normally be due for a brand-new version soon – but Mercedes is in no rush to replace it.
“It’s the most successful generation we’ve ever had,” said Yannick Buchheit, GLE product manager at Mercedes-Benz. “We want to be careful that we don’t change the character of the car completely because it’s so successful. [But] we want to make sure that it stays a success.”
With 6,239 sold in Canada last year, the GLE was Mercedes’s second-biggest seller – behind the smaller GLC SUV (8,747 sold).
So, for 2027, the GLE gets a facelift – it’s the second one for this fourth generation – tweaked engines and tech upgrades that the German automaker hopes will keep buyers interested until at least 2030, Buchheit said.
While Mercedes says the 2027 GLE has about 40 per cent new parts, over all, it’s a pretty subtle refresh. Mainly, it gets a sharper face, reworked engines (still the turbocharged two-litre four-cylinder, three-litre six-cylinder and four-litre V8) to meet upcoming tougher European emissions standards, a sportier, firmer suspension and a cabin with three screens instead of two. The sleeker GLE Coupe and the bigger, three-row GLS get similar updates.
But the GLE 500e plug-in hybrid gets the biggest upgrade – it now uses the GLE’s six-cylinder engine instead of the previous version’s four-cylinder. That makes it quicker and more powerful (429 horsepower, up from 381), with about the same electric range – official Canadian numbers haven’t been released, but it’s expected to be around 80 kilometres. But it also costs $6,200 more, at $99,600. When I drove the 2027 GLE 500e about 300 kilometres on winding canyon roads in western Colorado last week, it was quick and responsive enough for a bigger SUV – it didn’t really look or feel like a nearly seven-year-old design.
The three 12.3-inch screens are the most noticeable change and the passenger touchscreen is now standard in every trim.Jason Tchir/JOBFlocks
The taillights are also shaped like three-pointed Mercedes stars.Jason Tchir/JOBFlocks
All prices up
Prices are up 3 to 4 per cent on most other models, with the GLE now ranging from $88,800 to $124,200, up from $85,400 to $119,400 last year, before freight and pre-delivery inspection.
That price hike is because of “significant” equipment upgrades, Mercedes said.
Built in Tuscaloosa, Ala., the 2027 GLE is available to order now, with vehicles expected at Canadian dealerships within two months.
The high-performance AMG models range from $132,200 to $177,600 – up from $119,400 to $172,400. In the U.S. and Canada, the base AMG GLE 53 will only be offered as a PHEV. While that’s partly because the PHEV gets more power, the decision was made before the U.S. revoked incentives and Biden-era greenhouse gas emissions standards. “It was a different geopolitical situation with more focus on electrified models,” said Cristina Solaro, GLE product manager at Mercedes-AMG.
A 2003 Mercedes-Benz ML 500 (left) alongside the facelifted 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE 500e.Jason Tchir/JOBFlocks
Power move?
The GLE’s staying power is also a sign of how much Mercedes’s plans have changed.
In 2021, the company said it aimed to sell only electric cars by 2030 – but in 2024, after slower-than-expected electric sales, it said it would keep offering gas models into the 2030s, depending on what customers want.
For the GLE, that means sticking to gas models – the engines are still mild hybrids, which use a small electric motor to compensate for turbo lag and recover energy when slowing but can’t run on electric power alone – and the PHEV, but no announced plans for a full-hybrid or battery-electric version.
“We have seen some customer interest in additional electrified powertrain options, but by far the greatest demand in Canada remains the traditional gasoline powertrain,” said Ryan Lee, spokesman for Mercedes-Benz Canada.
Lee wouldn’t say how many GLE buyers choose the plug-in, but said Mercedes sold 2,945 PHEVs across all its models in Canada last year.
Mercedes will wait for an all-new platform before replacing the GLE – but it’s not clear whether it will be built for both electric and gas-hybrid versions.
“It’s quite volatile and hard to plan at the moment,” Buchheit said. “The more variants you add, the more investment you need.”
The GLE’s main German rivals, the BMW X5 and the Audi Q7, are both all-new for 2027, with BMW planning to offer gas, plug-in hybrid and fully electric versions. So should Mercedes be worried about the GLE getting stale?
“We are confident that we can handle the upcoming years with this car,” Buchheit said, adding that the U.S. accounts for more than half of GLE sales. “It fits the needs of our main markets the best.”
The Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 PHEVJason Tchir/JOBFlocks
Tech specs
2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE 500e 4MATIC
- Base price: $99,600 plus freight, pre-delivery inspection, fees and taxes
- Powertrain: Three-litre turbocharged inline-six plug-in hybrid
- Battery: 25.72-kilowatt-hour with 11-kilowatt onboard charger and 60-kilowatt DC fast charging
- Horsepower/torque (lb-ft): 429 / 502
- Transmission/drive: Nine-speed automatic / all-wheel drive
- Fuel consumption: To be announced
- Curb weight: 2,775 kilograms
- Electric range (claimed): 106 km (WLTP), NRCan figures not yet available
- Alternatives: BMW X5 50e xDrive (2027 model expected next year), Volvo XC90 T8, Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid
Looks
It still looks like the GLE – but just freshened up. There’s a bigger grille splashed with Mercedes stars, an optional light-up front loga and daytime running lights and taillights shaped like three-pointed Mercedes stars. That’s all part of Mercedes’s latest design language – just so nobody forgets what kind of car you’re driving.
There’s a bigger grille splashed with Mercedes stars and the daytime running lights are shaped like three-pointed Mercedes stars.Jason Tchir/JOBFlocks
Performance
The GLE didn’t handle like a sports car, but it had no trouble tackling steep climbs, winding roads and rough gravel – especially considering its size. It had plenty of power and the optional air suspension made for a comfortable ride – although it was slightly cushy when not in Sport mode. It drove pretty much the same on electric power alone. The regenerative braking can be set for nearly one-pedal driving, although you can’t come to a complete stop without hitting the brakes.
Interior
The three 12.3-inch screens are the most noticeable change – but the vents have been updated and look less awkward than before. The passenger touchscreen is now standard in every trim. Mercedes said about half of GLE buyers, who are mostly in their late 30s or older, want it, although the screen is in higher demand in China. There are physical controls for the infotainment system and climate. And the touch-sensitive pads on the steering wheel have been replaced with physical controls after requests from customers.
The rear seats in the GLE 500e.Jason Tchir/JOBFlocks
Technology
Mercedes has souped up the computer and operating system. There were no noticeable glitches with the voice assistant, as long as the GLE had a cellular signal. It controlled most vehicle functions and was able to find the nearest top-rated Mexican restaurant. It gets four more cameras – 10 instead of six – for more advanced driver-assistance features in the future – but Mercedes said there’s no timeline yet for Canada.
Cargo
The 500e has 485 litres behind the second row and 1,915 with it folded, less than the gas-powered GLE’s 630 and 2,060 litres. That difference is because the PHEV has no underfloor storage.
The PHEV version has 485 litres behind the second row and 1,915 with it folded.Jason Tchir/JOBFlocks
The verdict
With the popular GLE, Mercedes decided that if it ain’t broke, tweak it a little. The price is up, but it keeps its appeal.
The writer was a guest of the automaker. Content was not subject to approval.
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