2020 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 43 Coupe

The GLE 43's AMG-tuned motor and styling will cost you a fortune, 12 grand to be exact. However, the 30 horsepower bump added with the sporty DNA is worth the money. While Mercedes offers a lot of quirks and features, other brands are not far behind. The market is brimming with other performance SUVs like BMW X5, Land Rover Range Rover, and Porsche Cayenne. With prices set above the $70k mark, let's move ahead and find out if the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 43 AMG poses any threat to the rivals in the segment.

The performance version of the GLE is either offered as a GLE 43 or GLE 63. The GLE 63 is powered by a 3L V6 engine paired to a 9-Speed automatic. Despite the engine difference, both cars can tow a similar amount of weight. The GLE 63 is equipped with a 360-degree parking camera, sports steering, tire upgrade, collision warning and more.

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Away from its crazy cousins, the AMG GLE 43 offers a smooth ride but in a way that doesn't hamper the AMG vibe. We recommend you to buy the GLE 43 as it is offered, but give a thorough look at the Premium optional packages, you will find a multitude of appealing features you may want to add in your GLE.

The 3.0 L V6 engine might not share the similar beastly sound like the GLC, but on a long road it's vibrant blare isn't inferior to any other. The 7-speed automatic transmission channel a smoother ride while engine muscles up a 385 hp of power and 384-pound-feet of torque.

Marked with the highest price the GLE 43 also features the highest power. The Range Rover Sport SE ties with the Porsche Cayenne on 340 horsepower. However, the BMW X5 is the lager with the lowest price and power output.

Acceleration

The AMG GLE 43 SUV might seem like a car you would drop your children to school or get groceries from the supermarket in, but the power says otherwise. This SUV can pin you back with its monstrous 5.6-second acceleration, which is a phenomenal number for a car of carrying that much weight. It reaches a quarter of a mile in roughly 14 seconds, which gives soccer moms some new ambitions.

The competition is filled with decent performance SUV's but none of them matches up to the GLE 43's acceleration. The Porsche Cayenne is the nearest delivered a 5.9-second performance. On the other hand, the Range Rover sport being the heaviest took 6.8 seconds to propel from 0 to 60 second.

Ride and Handling

The AMG GLE 43's handling could be summed up in two words "Impeccable Stability" though that comes during the middle of the drive. Behind the wheel, the first impression you encounter is the well-adjusted steering wheel. You won't feel the dramatic downsides of body roll, a phobia of any SUV under the same category. Also, there is a good amount of road communication you can, literally feel the road and what the car is doing below all the time.

The drive modes are a real bliss, the car instantly changes character going from Sport to Sport plus. But one thing remains the same, you can really sense the car's weight at high speeds, at last, it's an SUV.

Braking

Despite the humongous weight, the AMG GLE 43 comes on a grinding halt from 70 mph in 172 feet. The wider footnote adds the extra grip and the brakes have a decent bite. The pedal feels confident and shares a sense of predictability too.

The Mercedes Benz AMG GLE 43 braking fits right into the buyer's demands. All performance crossovers in this lot perform well in the braking territory. However, in a dead competition, the BMW took some extra distance to stop.

Maximum Towing capacity

The fine size and power are not for show, the AMG GLE 43 puts up a show with its 7200 pounds of towing capacity. The SUV can trailer 15 fully grown grizzly bears with that much power. The All-Wheel-Drive helps the SUV torque it's way through the tarmac and exceeds the normal norms of practicality.

In power play the GLE 63 stands right next to the competition. However, the Range Rover Sport and Porsche Cayenne offer more power than the GLE 43. The X6 was the lager with 5952 pounds of towing capacity.

Well with more horses comes stronger thirst, the V6 on the GLE 43 underperforms on the ground of efficiency. The car delivers a 17 mpg city and 22 mpg of highway mileage. So, be prepared for occasional stops at the gas station.

The AMG GLE 43 gives out 19 mpg of combined mileage parallel to the Range Rover Sport. The BMW X5 gives a tad more on both highway and city, overall delivering a 20 mpg of combined mileage. Well, if you demand a lighting quick car and expect it to haul your entire family, you need to compromise on the economy a little.

Seating and Comfort

The AMG GLE 43's interior largely resembles a typical GLE class setting. A similar luxury quotient followed by a flat bottom steering wheel and touches of carbon fiber finish. The design is synonymous to the Coupe version with the only major difference being the coupe roofline which is cramped up the rear headroom coupe variant.

The front seats get the bulk of the openness with 38.9 inches of headroom and 40.3 inches of legroom space. The rear seat passengers may need to compromise with the headroom space in the coupe but this one does not have that problem.

The Range Rover Sport might be a little shorter in length but delivers more legroom and headroom. Other than that all SUV in this competitive lot is enough spacious to deliver maximum comfort.

Infotainment

The 8-inch infotainment mounts over the central console. Though it isn't a touchscreen the functions are controlled through a rotary nob and trackpad. The Mercedes Benz COMAND infotainment system is responsive and easy to use. Other than that, the car is packed with essential phone integration like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other features include

• 14-Speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system
• Satellite Radio
• Navigation
• Voice command
• Bluetooth Connectivity
• 2 USB ports
• Remote start

Cargo volume

Alongside the rear headroom space, another thing where the suv design eats up the practicality is the cargo capacity. Although the GLE comes with a wide opening it fails to deliver a practical perspective. The 23.0 cubic feet of cargo volume isn't that compelling for the class introduced for practicality.

The GLE's 23 cubic feet of cargo space is the lowest in the lot, however, the car matches Cayenne's 60 cubic feet cargo volume with the 2^nd-row seats down.

The boxy SUV roofline exudes a masculine feel which the coupe fails to capture. One could study this look and get mesmerized with every breakthrough. Frankly, it looks like a turtle hunchback just with a tad more in style. The car stretches long 192.6 inches long and 67.7 inches in width, overall the 67.7 inches of height gives it an intimidating personality.

All SUV's in the lot share the same gigantic numbers, no point of competition in this territory.

The AMG GLE 43 is yet to be crash tested by the NHTSA and IIHS, but the car is equipped with many active safety features like Blind sport monitoring, Lane Departure warning, collision assist and more.

Safety Features

• Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags
• SmartKey
• Antitheft alarm with remote panic feature
• Locator lighting
• Universal LATCH system
• Integrated 3-button garage door control
• Pre-Collision Safety System
• Tire Pressure Monitoring
• Blind Spot And Lane Departure Warnings Accident Avoidance System

BMW X5xDrive 35i

The squabbling between the X5 and AMG GLE 43 is widely associated with a type of features it sells. Where one car is up on power the other offers practicality. Saying that the X5 offers more cargo capacity and interior features, on the other hand, the GLE 43 wins in the power and performance territory.

Choosing the ideal car largely falls on 3 things Performance, Price, and Practicality. The GLE 43 got the performance but is also offered at a higher price and low practicality than the X5.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport SE

The Land Rover is recorded on the lower half of the midsize luxury SUVs. Though the Range Rover comes with many strong points it also has some downsides too. Fortunately, AMG GLE 43 excel in the exact same areas where Range Rover is lagging in. It's backed with more power, uber interior, and more cargo volume, on the other hand, the Range Rover has a better trailering capacity.

As the Range Rover is offered on a lesser price, it is an all-out package deal for the buyer.

Porsche Cayenne

The Porsche Cayenne is the most fun to drive performance SUV in this lot. Its upmarket interior, decent trailering capacity, and practicality will win the buyers hearts. However, you get more power with the AMG GLE 43 but its also priced higher than the Cayenne. In terms of practicality, you get more boot space and a spacious and lavish cabin, which arguably is better than the Merc.

The Porsche Cayenne might be a better option from an overall standpoint but if you seek more power then the Mercedes Benz AMG GLE 43 is the right option for you.

The 2020 Mercedes Benz AMG GLE 43 SUV share a beastly performance with a tasteful interior. The handling is fair but not it's best virtue, while the competitors offer a more sporty ride. Price and practicality are again its biggest downsides, you can easily find more utility at a better price. Overall, Merc has put together a decent SUV and its worth your attention, but to be honest it's not the best.