Mercedes today took the wraps off the facelifted, 2024 GLE, which features new technology to make it more capable off-road, a more intelligent MBUX system, and a new GLE 400e 4Matic plug-in hybrid trim level.
The new plug-in hybrid GLE 400e features a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine and a permanently excited electric motor that together make 381 hp (284 kW/386 PS) and 479 lb-ft (649 Nm) of torque in the U.S. All-electric range from the 23.3 kWh battery has yet to be announced, but an optional 60 kW DC charger will be offered by Mercedes to make charging as fast as possible.
In Europe, meanwhile, the GLE 400e will make 248 hp (185 kW/252 hp), while the GLE 350 de 4MATIC will be powered by a 2.0-liter diesel engine that, together with its electric motor, provides the driver with 194 hp (145 kW/197 PS). All of the GLE’s powertrains will get a small amount of electrification, thanks to the automaker’s 48-volt mild hybrid system, which in Europe will be added to the 2.0-liter and a 3.0-liter diesel engines. These, the GLE 300 d 4MATIC and the GLE 450 d 4MATIC, will make 266 hp (198 kW/269 PS) and 362 hp (270 kW/367 PS), respectively.
In the U.S., the 255 hp (190 kW/259 PS) 2.0-liter four-cylinder that powers the GLE 350, the 375 hp (280 kW/380 PS) 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that powers the GLE 450, and the 510 hp (380 kW/517 PS) 4.0-liter V8 that powers the GLE 580, will all also get Mercedes’ mild-hybrid tech.
Read: EU-Spec Mercedes-AMG GLE “Edition 55” Comes In Six Flavors
The last model, the GLE 580 4MATIC, will also be offered with an “Off-Road Engineering Package.” It adds under body protection that, in combination with the available air suspension, adds another 1.2-inches of ground clearance to the SUV.
It will also add an off-road mode in the infotainment system, that provides the driver with information about their roll angle, the gradient they’re on, and their cardinal direction. The system also works with the 360-degree cameras to provide a “transparent hood” view, that gives the driver a better look at the terrain surrounding them.
In addition, Mercedes has also added a new Trailer Route Planner to the GLE. It determines routes suitable for driving with a previously defined trailer based on information about its weight, height, width, and more. To help park your trailer once you get to your location, Trailer Maneuvering Assist now works with a camera-based system and automatically regulates the steering of the GLE up to a speed of 3 mph (4.5 km/h).
The system that runs these apps, MBUX, is now more intelligent than ever and is now in its second-generation. Although the screens inside the GLE remain the same size (12.3-inches), more vehicle and comfort setting can be controlled via the touchscreen. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are also now available, while Mercedes’ voice assistant is more effective than ever, and will remain so thanks to over-the-air updates.
And proving that the GLE isn’t all about being rugged, Mercedes says that a number of interior features that were borrowed from Maybach GLS and S-Class. These include a new steering wheel with sensor surfaces that operate the driver and central displays.
A chrome finish on the center and side air vents that was previously only available on the Maybach GLS now becomes available on the GLE as is the MANUFAKTUR Piano Black Flowing Lines trim material, which was previously exclusive to the standard GLS. Catalana Beige/Black and Bahia Brown/Black interior color options have been added to the SUV.
Outside, meanwhile, the design has been massaged. For example, Mercedes says that the front bumper has been updated, and the grille features two horizontal louvers with chrome accents.
Mercedes’ taillights have also been updated to feature two horizontal blocks, while the ambient lighting now comes with the option to project the Mercedes-Benz pattern. Buyers will also now be able to choose Twilight Blue and Alpine Grey paint for their GLE, which is also offered with new sets of 19- and 20-inch wheels.
Mercedes says that the new, 2024 GLE will start arriving in U.S. showrooms this year.
