2018 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 43 Coupe

The 2018 AMG GLE 43 SUV comes tuned with the marquee' s performance division, with the class slotted between GLC class and the flagship GLS class. Based on its younger sibling, the GLE 350, the AMG offers better performance, an updated design, and a hefty price tag of $67,750.

There' s always a competition in sight and with the GLE 43, it goes against the likes of the BMW X5 xDrive 35i, Range Rover Sport SE, and the Porsche Cayenne. When heavy duties clash, it promises to be a fun one. Read on to find out who fares better.

The Mercedes GLE 43 is succeeded by the Herculean (and pricey) GLE 63 and its more-athletic elder brother 63 S. Costing a whopping $102,550 and $109,700 respectively, the 63S come with standard AMG handcrafted powertrain, including a 5.5L V8 engine mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission. Certainly being the car for the enthusiasts out there, this midsized top-end SUV offers a whole lot of luxury features and top-notch quality materials.

Trim	Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 43 SUV
MSRP	$67,750
Key   Features	ECO Start/Stop system AMG Performance 4MATIC all-wheel drive AMG Sport Exhaust System Nappa leather multifunction steering wheel Sport steering wheel AMG Body Styling 8-inch high-resolution color screen COMAND navigation KEYLESS-GO

We recommend

There is one trim, just one really good trim, so go for it.

The grin-inducing, AMG-tuned GLE models are sports cars masquerading as luxury crossovers. -Caranddriver

Engine and Transmission

You can rightly think Mercedes' sports-tuned AMG GLE is sure to blow your mind off with what it offers - a 3.0L V6 Biturbo engine driven with a 9-speed automatic transmission, powering the car at 385 hp and 384 lb.-ft of torque. Driving this 4MATIC all-wheel drive has the bells and whistles of AMG, making it fun and spirited in driving. The SUV excels more on the highway or a steep tarmac than in a commuting in a city.

Feel like a racer? Switch to Sport and Sport+ modes for more engine grunt, crackling exhaust, assertive quick shifts and a robust ride. Gearing the SUV with a 9-speed automatic, the transmission smoothly glides, whether it is going up the revs or sobering down.

Models	Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 43 SUV	BMW X5 xDrive 35i	Land Rover Range Rover Sport SE	2019 Porsche Cayenne
MSRP	$67,750	$60,495	$66,750	$65,700
Engine	3.0L V6 Biturbo	3.0L TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder	3.0L V6 Supercharged	3.6L V6 w/Direct Fuel Injection
Transmission	9-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic	8-Speed Automatic
Horsepower	385 hp	300 hp	340 hp	340 hp
Torque	384 lb-ft	300 lb-ft	332 lb-ft	331 lb-ft

Emerging the most powerful amongst its German and English rivals, the GLE 43 has its closest competitors tied amongst the Range Rover and the Cayenne. On paper, the Beemer has absolutely no ground to stand on against its rivals, and pumps the least powerful powertrain, yet surprises in acceleration.

Acceleration

Propelling the wheels from a standstill, the throaty V6 under the hood roars the 43 from 0-60 mph in 5.6s while zipping the quarter mile in 14.1s, leaving the rest of the field in dust. Crank up the driving modes to Sport and Sport+ will hasten the power delivery to the drivetrain, delivering faster acceleration in each configuration.

Models	Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 43 SUV	BMW X5 xDrive 35i	Land Rover Range Rover Sport SE	2019 Porsche Cayenne
0-60 MPH	5.6 sec	6.0 sec	6.8 sec	5.9 sec
Quarter mile	14.1 sec	14.6 sec	15.5 sec	14.4 sec
Engine	3.0L	3.0L	3.0L	3.0L
Emission   (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	9.3	8.4	9.2	N/A

The closest competition the GLE sees is in its German neighbor, the Cayenne which smokes 0-60 mph in 5.9s while racing the quarter mile in 14.4s. Surprisingly, despite being fitted by a measly powertrain, the Beemer is quicker than the Range Rover, by quite a margin.

Ride and Handling

Handling the ride on the road is AMG-specific air suspension, which rather promises vehicular balance and stability, but take it for a spin and it just doesn' t seem to be able to live up to its name. The GLE 43' s stiff suspension does not appreciate bumpy roads and heavy driving; in fact it will only return the favour by rocking the cabin, tossing your head and body around. Guiding the car electro-mechanically, the sport steering wheel has a solid, responsive and weighted feel to it, with good amount of feedback.

Braking

You just picked up your groceries from the stores and sit comfortably driving back home, stopping at each red -lit traffic lamp, the SUV getting you through all this with no hassle.. But then you decide to drive a bit faster and this is where skepticism begins because of the long pedal travel. Get sporty and the soft pedal gets you thinking twice about your style of driving.

Model	Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 43 SUV	BMW X5 xDrive 35i	Land Rover Range Rover Sport SE	2019 Porsche Cayenne
Brake Front (in.)	14.8	13.7	15.0	13.7
Brake Rear (in.)	13.6	12.6	14.4	12.9
Curb Weight (lbs.)	4987	4791	4839	4377
70-0 MPH (ft.)	172	178	NA	N/A

However, the braking performance itself on the 4-doored SUV is good, owing its complements to the AMG-fitted system. In panic brake test, it takes an extensive 172 feet to stop to a standstill from 70-0 mph, not something to boast about.

Towing Capacity

The Range Rover Sport SE allows the highest towing capacity of 7716 lbs, followed closely by Cayenne at 7700 lbs. Towing up to 6000lbs, the Beemer falls short on heavy lifting compared to its rivals.

Model	Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 43 SUV	BMW x5 xDrive 35i	Land Rover Range Rover Sport SE	2019 Porsche Cayenne
Weight (lbs)	7200	5952	7716	7700
Drive Train	AWD	AWD	AWD	AWD
Engine	3.0L	3.0L	3.0L	3.0L

The power hungry 3.0L powertrain on the AMG 43 SUV is also gasoline-thirsty. According to EPA estimates, driving around city will return you figures of 17 mpg, while 23 mpg on the highway and a combined mpg of 19.

Model	Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 43 SUV	BMW X5 xDrive 35i	Land Rover Range Rover Sport SE	2019 Porsche Cayenne
MPG (city)	17	18	17	N/A
MPG (highway)	23	24	23	N/A
MPG (combined)	19	20	19	N/A

The Merc outclasses the other by posting great performance along with similar mileage numbers. As for the ones with lesser performance efficient X5 returns a better efficiency by 1 mile, whereas the Range Rover stands with the Mercedes, not on that pedestal however.

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE has an extremely well-built interior. The cabin looks stylish, and every surface features high-quality materials like leather, wood, or carbon fiber. Both rows of seats are comfortable and roomy enough to accommodate adults. -cars.usnews

Seating and Comfort

Being an SUV, the GLE inherits huge amounts of space on the inside. Coupled with the fact that only five people are to be seated in the cabin, there is plenty room to wiggle around. Being a Mercedes, the GLE inherits the premium interiors usually asociated with cars that sport a three point star on their hood.

Model	Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 43 SUV	BMW X5 xDrive 35i	Land Rover Range Rover Sport SE	2019 Porsche Cayenne
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.9/58.5/40.3	39.3/60.5/40.3	39.5/60.7/42.2	39.6/58.9/40.2
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.5/58.4/38.4	37.2/57.9/35.6	39.1/59.5/37.0	37.3/56.2/35.7

 

Interior features

The GLE has a wide range of extensive features in its cabin, which include -

• Heated front seats
• 60-40 folding forward and rear seats
• Cruise Control
• High quality seating stitched with MB- Tex Leatherette

Infotainment System

Mercedes' COMAND system comes with a high resolution 8 inch display, controlled through a touchpad married to a console-mounted rotary knob. Easement of usage is the last thing you' d feel when using this system. The system is very intuitive with feature-rich conveniences like-

• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• COMAND Navigation with free updates for 3 years
• Harmon/Kardon Sound system
• SiriusXM Radio with 6 month trial
• DVD/CD player with SD card reader

Albeit not being as distracting as a touchscreen, the COMAND system requires proper attention for navigating through the glossy knobs.

Cargo Volume

The boxy SUV offers a massive 38.2 cube feet behind the 2^nd row and a plentiful 80.3 cube feet behind the 1^st row, the GLE 43 leads the rest of the field.

Model	Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 43 SUV	BMW X5 xDrive 35i	Land Rover Range Rover Sport SE	2019 Porsche Cayenne
Behind 2nd Row (ft.cube)	38.2	35.0	24.8	27.1
Behind 1s Row (ft.cube))	80.3	77.0	56.8	60.3

Only the BMW takes it to a fight, but loses by around 3 cube feet. The Range Rover and the Cayenne fall behind and by quite a margin.

Evolved from the Mercedes-Benz GLE, the AMG incarnations add an aggressive body kit and standard gloss-black exterior trim. The GLE43' s squared-off styling will satisfy traditionalists, but the fastback GLE43 coupe' s styling is a bit more inspired, as are many of its competitors. - caranddriver

Dimensions and Weight

The Mercedes-AMG GLE 43 SUV has retained its form factor and design elements since its previous iteration. An elementary aesthetic combining a boxy roof with an aggressive AMG styling, the GLE 43 has a subtle elegance to it yet nothing screams out anything fancy in particular. Take for instance its Coupe sibling, which is charming to look at, but Mercedes clearly thought otherwise when it comes to its older child.

Model	Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE 43 SUV	BMW X5 xDrive 35i	Land Rover Range Rover Sport SE	2019 Porsche Cayenne
Curb weight (lbs.)	4987	4791	4839	4377
Length(in)	189.6	193.8	192.0	193.7
Width(in)	78.7	78.3	78.1	78.1
Height(in)	70.7	67.0	71.0	66.8
Ground clearance (in)	7.2	7.8	8.4	8.2
Wheelbase (in)	114.8	115.5	115.0	114.0
Track width (in) F/R	65.1/65.9	64.7/67.2	66.6/66.6	66.2/65.9

The English and German rivals in the field measure almost similar in every aspects; though the Mercedes has the lowest ground clearance at 7.2 inch and weighs heaviest amongst them all. Heave a sigh of relief off-roaders, this does not mean it will pose as a problem for your terrain.

Exterior Features

The exterior features include -

• AMG 5-spoke wheels with black accents
• Gloss black exterior accents
• Chrome grille
• Power liftgate rear cargo access

Safety and Reliability

The luxury marquee has included a range of safety features, which are:

• 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

As of writing this review, the 2018 Mercedes-AMG GLE 43 SUV is yet to be rated by the IIHS and NHSTA.

Mercedes-AMG GLE 43 vs BMW X5 xDrive 35i

And the icons clash. Priced cheaper at $60,495, the Beemer undercuts the Mercedes in most aspects. Granted, the X5 may not be as good as the one from Stuttgart, the point here is, for $7000 cheap, you get something which carries itself right behind its competitor.

\tNoteworthy mentions include better fuel economy, plush and comfortable interior, excellent cargo volume, and a simple and intuitive gesture-controlled infotainment system. The BMW is a great alternative to the GLE 43, that is only if the extra bucks for the GLE 43 are a concern.

Mercedes-AMG GLE 43 vs Land Rover Range Rover Sport SE

This impeccable off-roader costs a grand cheaper than the 3-pointed star, but does not manage to level it in any aspect. The Land Rovershares its flaws with the GLE 43 in fuel efficiency and infotainment system, the Range Rover is still an excellent alternative for the car is an excellent off-roader, while trying hard to imitate its German rival. But does that justify spending your buck on the Rover? Well, do you want an off-roader? If not, then go the German way.

Mercedes-AMG GLE 43 vs Porsche Cayenne

Starting at $65,700, the 2019 Porsche cayenne stands close to its German rival in its performance on road, while the car handles and drives extremely well. Beaten on boot space and fuel efficiency, the Porsche still poses as a worthy competitor to the AMG 43.

Having said that, Porsche is infamously famous for pricing more than what they offer. Some features on the Cayenne are offered as standard on the Mercedes. Is it a good alternative? Yes, it is an excellent alternative, one you should give a thought about.

The AMG GLE 43 SUV delivers a roomy cabin and plush seating, great performance, and laudable boot space. But are those what makes an SUV? You buy these heavy duties for what it's meant; to drive it ruggedly, resting your faith on its springs to take care not to toss you around in the cabin. Having said that, the car does feel like a great package wound in a luxurious and elegant interior.

The GLE has a stiff competition in other models, and it' d be worth considering a test drive with all of them to finalise your decision.