Mercedes-Benz started with a clean sheet and an open mind for its 2020 GLE overhaul, reimagining the midsize SUV with a fresh vision. That’s because the GLE needs to stand apart among stiff competition, including the unshakable Audi Q7, the all-new BMW X5, the popular Lexus RX 350 and the lauded Volvo XC90. 

Mercedes threw everything it had (and the kitchen sink) at the GLE lineup. For the first time ever, GLE can now be ordered in a three-row configuration that offers enough room for grown adults and kids.

Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV exterior
The fourth-generation Mercedes-Benz GLE’s wheelbase is 3-inches longer than the outgoing version, which makes room for an optional third row. Mercedes-Benz

Also new is an update of the Coupe version, which only comes with the AMG treatment. The all-new Coupe is a 2021 model in the form of the AMG GLE 53 Coupe or 63 S Coupe. The 2021 GLE 53 Coupe is available now for $76,500; pricing on the 63 S Coupe is still forthcoming. There are two AMG SUV variants for the 2021 model year: the AMG GLE 53 SUV ($72,350) and 63 S SUV ($113,950).

Perhaps more crucially, the 2020/2021 GLE lineup features no fewer than six available engines, ranging from a turbocharged four-cylinder to a mild hybrid inline-six cylinder. A more aggressive, AMG-tuned versions of that powertrain also is available as is a meaner twin-turbocharged AMG V6 and two versions of AMG’s mighty twin-turbo V8. All engines link to a nine-speed transmission. 

Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 coupe
There are two GLE Coupe variants for the 2021 model year and both come only as AMG models: the AMG GLE 53 Coupe (pictured here) and 63 S Coupe. Mercedes-Benz

An air suspension system comes standard on AMG models and is available for an extra $1,710 on all other variants. The E-Active Body control package, which comes in at a steep $8,100, reveals true out-of-the-box thinking from Mercedes engineers.

Available only on the GLE 450 and GLE 580 models (because they utilize an advanced 48-volt EQ Boost electrical system), the suspension is the only system on the market to individually control spring and damping forces at each corner. By managing each wheel independently, the GLE can counteract the effect of maneuvering G-forces on acceleration, braking and cornering, keeping the 2.5-ton SUV flat during the most aggressive of maneuvers. In fact, the system is so smart it can actually lean the GLE into corners, helping counteract the stomach-tumbling effects of spirited driving. 

Mercedes engineers also focused on the system’s off-road capabilities, incorporating a feature that enables the suspension to rock the vehicle free from otherwise immobilizing mud or sand traps. While most GLE drivers are unlikely to utilize the off-road capabilities, the leaning function is a feature that is perceptible and usable during everyday driving. 

Mercedes’ E-Active Body Control suspension—which scans the road and actively adapts damping and leveling at each wheel—is available in the GLE 450. Mercedes-Benz

The experience behind the wheel is as varied as the powertrain and suspension options. While the entry level GLE 350’s four-cylinder can feel weighted down by the vehicle’s sheer bulk, especially when accelerating from a standstill, the GLE feels slightly more energized in aggressive drive modes. The GLE 450’s mild hybrid system produces more torque thanks to the assistance of its electric motor, managing to make the large SUV feel sprightlier. The AMG models further that mission, offering sports car (and in its most extreme, V8-powered cases) supercar-like performance. 

The GLE’s cabin reveals a sleek combination of Mercedes’ familiar touchpoints of leather and wood mashed up with an entirely digital interface consisting of two 12.3-inch screens arranged in a widescreen layout. The digital instrument panel ahead of the driver is customizable, and the central touchscreen works in conjunction with the new MBUX interface that is primarily navigated via a voice command and a trackpad.

The GLE 350 should satisfy most families out of the box. It comes dual 12.3-inch digital displays and the new MBUX infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility as well as navigation, five USB-C ports and heated front seats. Mercedes-Benz

The MBUX system uses machine learning to evolve its knowledge base and enhance its own problem-solving logic. The software is meant to pick up on patterns and offers suggestions based that behavior (for example if and when the user calls specific people). MBUX also uses an overhead camera to recognize hand and body movement. It can tell if the driver or passenger’s uses their hands to trigger a function such as the seat massager or the reading light. And while MBUX will read simple gestures, the system is advanced enough to recognize a body size and automatically adjust the seat to the appropriate position. 

There’s also an augmented reality-enhanced navigation system. The system is remarkable, offering a clear visual illustration of how to get from starting point to destination that includes a clear indication of the specific ending location along with neighboring house numbers superimposed over the image. Also particularly effective is the new head-up display, which projects a clear, bright image that’s nearly 18 by 6 inches across, and appears to hover 10 feet away.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE’s many engine flavors and configurations help it cast a wide net, though the limiting factor is likelier to be an appetite for spending. While some might find its technological features daunting, the new GLE makes a strong case for learning and mastering the systems intended to make a driver’s and passenger’s life more interesting and fun.