Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e 4Matic PHEV

The Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e 4Matic PHEV is an example of what you do for an encore. For several years, the GLE has kept pace with other SUVs, bringing a successful vehicle to market. Except for the addition of a third row, not much has changed. But did Napleton News mention a new plug-in hybrid variant? No? Well, we did now! Read on for more of it!

What moves the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e 4Matic PHEV?

Buying into the normal GLE architecture exposes your wallet to a variety of different engines. These range from a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine making 255 horsepower, to a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder with mild hybrid system delivering 375-hp. Next is a turbo 4.0-liter V8 mild hybrid making 510-hp. Then, there are the AMG cars. They include the GLE 53 with a 429-hp 3.0-liter inline-6 and the GLE 63 S with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 making 603-hp.

That’s all fine and dandy. Our GLE 450e is new for 2024 and includes a turbocharged 2.0-liter plug-in hybrid arrangement. It’s paired with a more potent electric motor that brings 381-hp and 479 lb-ft of torque.

All GLE models include MB’s 4Matic all-wheel drive system and 9-speed automatic transmissions. AMG models include an all-wheel drive system modified for the more powerful outputs of its engines.

Looks are Everything, Even for a Mercedes GLE.

Sitting right in the midsize SUV ranks, the Mercedes-Benz GLE450e PHEV is available in SUV and Coupe body styles, with conditions. Those conditions are trim dependent. The SUV is a traditional boxy SUV while the Coupe is a four-door fastback design with similar cues to that of the BMW X4 and X6. The coupes are only available as AMG GLE 53 and AMG GLE 63 models.

That is unfortunate because the Coupe is a good-looking vehicle that would be well suited to a mild hybrid powertrain.

Another unfortunate aspect of the GLE 450e is the addition of a running board on the sides of the vehicle. The GLE doesn’t ride too high, so most people step over it on their way into the cabin. When exiting, it serves no purpose either, so people stepping over it end up with nothing more than a pair of dirty pants.

GLE for Five is Fab Inside.

The GLE 450e 4Matic offers fab seating for five inside, with all the latest touches that have trickled down from models like the S-Class and the Maybach GLS. A large, curved piece of glass housing two side-by-side 12.3-inch display screens occupies most of the dashboard. Sound is provided by a spectacular Burmester 13-speaker audio system.

Seating is comfortable, with ventilation and heating included. Through a search of the cars system on the infotainment display screen, we discovered the GLE was equipped with seats that are massage-ready, but it wasn’t a purchased option on this particular vehicle. Bummer!

What it did have is the seating kinetics feature, which moves the front seats by lifting the bottom, adjusting the seat back forward and back, and other subtle moves. It’s not a massage, but it does allow your body to move around, uh, without moving around.

Behind the Wheel of the GLE 450e

First things first: With a household charger, this PHEV is going to take a while to top up the battery. Having said that, we found on a DC fast charger, it does go much faster, and gives up to 66 miles of range on strictly electric power. Once that battery is depleted, the engine reverts to standard hybrid operation. The electric motor is built inline with the 9-speed transmission that is part of every GLE. Under electric power, we managed around 63 miles total before the battery was finished.

At that point, the Hybrid system takes over, which features a certain coarseness that is probably attributable to the regenerating function of the system to send electricity back to the battery as it would with a traditional hybrid powertrain. That’s where the coarseness seemed to come from, especially when you needed to step on the accelerator. Overall, we were surprised by the roughness we encountered.

A Subtle Handler

Once we were underway, The GLE 450e provided very agile handling throughout our week with it. It managed to take us quickly through traffic that seems heavier than normal these days. That’s because our northern visitors are all over the place, bringing their northern driving habits with them.

Braking did take some time to get used to. We felt a certain softness on the brake pedal in bringing our chariot to a halt. That is apparently the balance required in setting up regenerative braking. After a while, we found ourselves quickly getting used to it.

The thing that amazed us most about the 450e is the power it delivers from a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine. Combine that with the electric hybrid system, that at 381 horsepower, rivals many internal combustion engines, and you really are getting a taste of the best or nothing.

Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e 4Matic PHEV Specifications

	2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE450e PHEV Specifications
Engine Type	2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine
Horsepower	381 hp
Torque	479 lb-ft
Transmission	9-speed automatic transmission
Fuel Economy (Combined/City/Hwy)	N/A
Suspension F/R	Double Wishbone/Multi-link
Turning Circle	39.4
Also Available	Other trim levels/AMG Models
Specs
Warranty	4 years/50,000 miles
Powertrain Warranty	4 years/50,000 miles
NHTSA Safety Rating	Not Rated
Max Seating Capacity	5
Wheelbase	117.9inches
Overall Length	194.3 inches
Width	76.7 inches
Height	70.7 inches
Cargo Room (Behind 1st and 2nd row)	74.9 / 31.5 cubic feet
Headroom, Front	40.5 inches
Headroom, 2nd	36.9 inches
Legroom, 1st	40.3 inches
Legroom, 2nd	40.9 inches
Shoulder room, 1st row	59.3 inches
Shoulder room, 2nd row	58.3 inches