The Star: October 03, 2019

Big Mercedes tempts
with its versatility
WHEN I’M picking
up an evaluation car
at dealership, the first
question I usually ask the
sales team is: “What is
selling in the company’s
line-up?’’
In the case of Mercedes-
Benz, I was told the GLE
sport utility vehicle is the
shaker and mover, which
is the car in this evaluation,
however, supply is
problematic, such is its
popularity waiting lists are
looming.
The GLE is all-new and
lands here in two standard
variants, effectively four
and six-cylinder, both diesel.
Interestingly, the
3-litre six is an in-line
unit, a departure from the
vee-series engines that
Mercedes-Benz has utilised
for the last 10 years or so.
I’ve covered that transition
in recent Mercedes-
Benz evaluations, and it has
little relevance to the 300d
this evaluation focuses on,
its 2-litre engine is a traditional
in-line four which
sits longitudinally under
the bonnet.
The GLE is a large five
or seven-seat, five-door
wagon, it is almost 5m and
weighs in at over 2.2-tonne,
consequently, there’s a lot
of vehicle and it offers all of
the credentials you would
expect from something
sizeable. It is a true luxury
car and it comes with a
high level of specification
that justifies its $128,200
sticker price.
It also gets a huge
safety profile and that’s no
surprise, you don’t buy
Mercedes-Benz without
investing in safety. There
are way too many features
to mention but to say any
potential buyer won’t be
disappointed, especially if
you take into account the
very extensive option lists.
The test car was heavily
optioned, adding over $20k
to the price.
One standard feature I do
very much like is the wide
digital display panel which
extends across the facia,
picture it as two i-Pads
joined together, it’s a touchtype
system, or you can use
a mouse-like device on the
centre console to manipulate
most of the settings
within the vehicle.
The GLE is also built
around versatility, apart
from being a high comfort
family wagon, it will also
take the belongings we
tend to travel with. The rear
door exposes a 630-litre
load space, extending to a
massive 2055-litres with the
rear rows folded.
At the other end, Mercedes-Benz
claims power
seven seats.
outputs of 180kW with
500Nm for the turbocharged
diesel. While these
figures are impressive in
themselves, take into account
the areas where they
are developed – 4200rpm
for power and 1600-
2400rpm for torque. Even
though there is a fair hunk
of metal to push, the engine
is not burdened, it works
freely and is energetic when
asked to perform.
• Price – Mercedes-
Benz GLE 300d,
$128,200
• Dimensions –
Length, 4924mm;
width, 2157mm;
height, 1772mm
• Configuration
– Four-cylinder,
four-wheel-drive,
1950cc, 180kW,
500Nm, ninespeed
automatic.
• Performance –
0-100km/h, 7.2sec
• Fuel usage –
6.4l/100km
Drive is channelled
through a nine-speed
automatic gearbox through
to all four wheels, both
versions of the GLE get
what Mercedes-Benz label
4Matic.
Four-wheel-drive adds
that element of surety and
control on the road, and in
the GLE 300d that can be
felt constantly, especially
when the corners arrive. I
pushed the test car quickly
into the tricky turns out of
the Waimakariri Gorge, yet
it has steering feel and ability
way beyond its role as a
big luxury car.
Grip in the first instance
is supplied by huge sport
specification Pirelli PZero
tyres. On 22in wheels they
direct positive feedback to
the driver, and along with
the optional air suspension
package the GLE guarantees
absorption. One feature I
found very interesting is the
camera-based technology
Motoring
Ross Kiddie
MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 300D: Choice of five or
35
which reads the road ahead
and preloads the suspension
if uneven surfaces are detected,
returning a balanced
ride.
The GLE 300d also has
a good turn of speed, it
will scamper to 100km/h
in 7.2sec, and will make a
highway overtake in 4.6sec
(80-120km/h), using the
paddle shifters to hasten
engine urgency. It also provides
the performance edge
without compromising fuel
usage.
There is a 6.4-litre per
100km (44mpg) combined
cycle manufacturer
claim, that along with a
5.7l/100km (49mpg)
instantaneous figure on
the highway (engine speed
1400rpm at 100km/h)
means relatively economical
motoring.
The mechanical structure
of the GLE 300 is all quality,
the combination of power
and transmission is fluid
and constantly appropriate,
it’s always in the right ratio
delivering decisive throttle
response. The fact that
it distributes that power
evenly through to the rear
as well is just a bonus, the
GLE is very much mechanically
refined.
When it came time to
take the evaluation car out
on the highway the weather
was against me, it was wet
and freezing. On my usual
inland route snow was
down to low levels. However,
these were perfect
conditions for the GLE, its
driveline and safety systems
put you at ease and, of
course, had I ventured to
high ground, it would be
the ideal vehicle to tackle
the ski-field access road.
While the GLE is the
car for the moment at
Mercedes-Benz, it must
be kept in mind that it is
just one model in a very
comprehensive SUV lineup
from this high-profile
German manufacturer. It’s
good to have such choice.
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