OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Figured I'd roll this into a single review, we drove two, both GLE's, but one was a coupe (we have determined we don't like the coupe, despite how sharp they look).
The GLE has a freshened interior with a massive pair of touchscreens, tactile controls (think old Blackberry cursor) on the wheel, as well as numerous wheel controls.
The GLE53 isn't a "real" AMG, so you don't have the huge price hit. It's basically just a warmed-over GLE 450 with more power and some more premium options standard.
Another shameless pilfering of the dealer's website, this is the one that caught our eye but we didn't drive, as it was in the showroom. We testdrove its coupe twin.
We took out this GLE 450:
And, despite almost a 100HP deficit between it and its AMG 53 sibling, found very little difference between them performance-wise
The AMG has nicer seats and a bit more leather everywhere. It also has the active exhaust, but we quickly determined that unlike on the 63, on the 53, the active exhaust didn't promote the same enthusiasm for its use. The I6 just doesn't sound great.
The powertrain in both is VERY similar to the FCA e-torque setup where you get a small hybrid assist that adds a considerable torque boost when needed. It uses regen braking and the display shows you if it is boosting or charging. There's no plug-in component, the battery is VERY small.
Both have the same turbo 3.0L I6, but the AMG is 450HP, while the 450 is 362HP.
Pros:
- Great ride, solid handling
- Beautiful displays
- They've re-introduced analog climate controls that make things MUCH easier to quickly adjust
- Controls on the wheel are excellent and super convenient, this is a huge improvement
- Infotainment feels fresh and modern, not 15 years old
- Seats in the AMG were expectedly fantastic, very good in the 450.
- Sufficient power, smooth delivery
- Cavernous trunk/rear cargo area
- Backup camera is phenomenal
- Wireless phone charging
- Fantastic HUD
- Fantastic stereo
Would make an utterly superb touring vehicle.
Cons:
- The active exhaust on the AMG does NOT sound great with the I6
- No wireless CarPlay??!!
- The AMG doesn't have a heated wheel?!?! though apparently you can option it so it does, but none of the ones they have are optioned in that manner.
- The ARTICO/DINAMICA seat material in the 450 doesn't feel as nice/upscale as the leather in the AMG
The cons list is expectedly short, it's a VERY nice vehicle, trimmed either way. Sticker on the 450 is 94K, the AMG53 is $110K in Canadian pesos.
The GLE has a freshened interior with a massive pair of touchscreens, tactile controls (think old Blackberry cursor) on the wheel, as well as numerous wheel controls.
The GLE53 isn't a "real" AMG, so you don't have the huge price hit. It's basically just a warmed-over GLE 450 with more power and some more premium options standard.
Another shameless pilfering of the dealer's website, this is the one that caught our eye but we didn't drive, as it was in the showroom. We testdrove its coupe twin.
We took out this GLE 450:
And, despite almost a 100HP deficit between it and its AMG 53 sibling, found very little difference between them performance-wise
The AMG has nicer seats and a bit more leather everywhere. It also has the active exhaust, but we quickly determined that unlike on the 63, on the 53, the active exhaust didn't promote the same enthusiasm for its use. The I6 just doesn't sound great.
The powertrain in both is VERY similar to the FCA e-torque setup where you get a small hybrid assist that adds a considerable torque boost when needed. It uses regen braking and the display shows you if it is boosting or charging. There's no plug-in component, the battery is VERY small.
Both have the same turbo 3.0L I6, but the AMG is 450HP, while the 450 is 362HP.
Pros:
- Great ride, solid handling
- Beautiful displays
- They've re-introduced analog climate controls that make things MUCH easier to quickly adjust
- Controls on the wheel are excellent and super convenient, this is a huge improvement
- Infotainment feels fresh and modern, not 15 years old
- Seats in the AMG were expectedly fantastic, very good in the 450.
- Sufficient power, smooth delivery
- Cavernous trunk/rear cargo area
- Backup camera is phenomenal
- Wireless phone charging
- Fantastic HUD
- Fantastic stereo
Would make an utterly superb touring vehicle.
Cons:
- The active exhaust on the AMG does NOT sound great with the I6
- No wireless CarPlay??!!
- The AMG doesn't have a heated wheel?!?! though apparently you can option it so it does, but none of the ones they have are optioned in that manner.
- The ARTICO/DINAMICA seat material in the 450 doesn't feel as nice/upscale as the leather in the AMG
The cons list is expectedly short, it's a VERY nice vehicle, trimmed either way. Sticker on the 450 is 94K, the AMG53 is $110K in Canadian pesos.
