The W166 GLE's 500 e was the first plug-in hybrid of the range, a 333 hp V6 plus a 116 hp motor; the first 19 US units were delivered in June 2016.
Lead trim: GLE350 · 7-spd auto · 3.5L · up to 436 hp
Mercedes-Benz GLE-ClassW166 · 2016–2019
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FactThe W166 GLE's 500 e was the first plug-in hybrid of the range, a 333 hp V6 plus a 116 hp motor; the first 19 US units were delivered in June 2016.
The facelifted third-generation M-Class, renamed GLE at the April 2015 New York show and sold under that name through 2019 beside the new five-door GLE Coupé. The GLE 500 e was the range’s first plug-in hybrid.
Trims & Figures
7 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLE300 d 4matic | 2016–2016 | 2.1 L 4-cyl | 201 hp | 369 lb-ft | — | 4WD | Automatic 7-spd | — |
| GLE350 4matic · 7-spd auto · 3.5L · 4WD | 2016–2018 | 3.5 L V6 | 302 hp | 273 lb-ft | — | 4WD | Automatic 7-spd | — |
| GLE350 d 4matic | 2016–2016 | 3.0 L V6 | 254 hp | 457 lb-ft | — | 4WD | Automatic 9-spd | — |
| GLE350 · 7-spd auto · 3.5L | 2016–2018 | 3.5 L V6 | 302 hp | 273 lb-ft | — | RWD | Automatic 7-spd | — |
| GLE400 4matic · 7-spd auto | 2016–2016 | 3.0 L V6 | 328 hp | 354 lb-ft | — | 4WD | Automatic 7-spd | — |
| GLE400 4matic · 9-spd auto | 2017–2019 | 3.0 L V6 | 328 hp | 354 lb-ft | — | 4WD | Automatic 9-spd | — |
| GLE550e 4matic | 2016–2018 | 3.0 L 6-cyl | 436 hp | — | — | 4WD | Automatic 7-spd | — |
Owning one
An estimate, for the GLE350 · 7-spd auto · 3.5L trim: fuel on its EPA figure and a dated national price, upkeep on a per-mile average for the kind of car it is.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
The GLE 53's turbo inline-six gets a 48-volt boost: an electric assist called EQ Boost adds an extra burst of power and torque on demand.
The GLE 63 S uses a 48-volt active anti-roll system that can brace itself before a curve using road data from the navigation.
The GLE put a Mercedes SUV seat seven for the first time, built not in Germany but Alabama.
The GLE's name is a literal acronym: "G" for Geländewagen (the G-Wagen's off-road heritage), linked by "L" to "E" for E-Class. The GLE43 AMG was among the first to wear it after Mercedes renamed the M-Class in 2015.
When the current GLE launched, it marked the first time the "GLE" nameplate had ever offered a seven-seat option.
Under the biggest Mercedes SUV's hood sat a 585-bhp twin-turbo V8 — enough to make the GLE 63 S one of the quickest vehicles in its entire segment.
The W166 GLE's 500 e was the first plug-in hybrid of the range, a 333 hp V6 plus a 116 hp motor; the first 19 US units were delivered in June 2016.
This GLE used to be called the M-Class — Mercedes renamed the whole line in 2015/2016 to fit its new alphabet-soup naming scheme.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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