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First impressions, literally straight out of the box, come as a bit of a surprise. Merc’s new GLE is clearly longer in beam, built on a longer 2,995mm wheelbase, and is wider too. I notice the extra length as I reverse out of my tight parking spot, and then when I hook a left to exit the gate, I have to give parked cars a wide berth.
Once…
First impressions, literally straight out of the box, come as a bit of a surprise. Merc’s new GLE is clearly longer in beam, built on a longer 2,995mm wheelbase, and is wider too. I notice the extra length as I reverse out of my tight parking spot, and then when I hook a left to exit the gate, I have to give parked cars a wide berth.
Once on the move, the new 4,930mm-long GLE just seems to shrink around me. A lot of this has to do with how on the ball Merc’s BS6-ready OM654 diesel is, and how quick and slack-free the steering is.
The Mercedes GLE 300d 4Matic is one of those premium SUVs which has always been well-taken by the Indian audience. Now there is a new one which promises a hell of a lot more. But does it deliver? Let’s find out. The new GLE looks the part to begin with. The variant we have with us is the 300d which is essentially the entry point to the GLE world. Hence it comes with LED headlight with signature LED day time running lights. The front end has this butch appearance which gives this big SUV proper street cred, Mercedes GLE 300d 4Matic.
The three pointed star logo sits proudly atop the front grille which again is a signature item on Mercedes SUVs. The bumper is large and curvaceous in nature and the black airdam adds to the sporty appeal of the SUV. In profile the large 19in alloy wheels and tyres do a splendid job in filling up the wheel wells and then adding to it are the flared wheel arches. The unique forward facing C-pillar design too has been kept in this new generation Mercedes GLE 300d 4Matic At the back the sleek wraparound tail lights fit well with the overall design and then there are scuff plates to complete the design.
To put it in perspective, the new GLE features a rather sober design which sure is appealing. The new Mercedes GLE 300d 4Matic is 105mm longer than the erstwhile version. It has also gained 80mm in wheelbase length, a fact the company has been aggressively advertising by adding the ‘LWB’ or ‘long wheelbase’ suffix to the GLE. The large dimensions also give the GLE a more imposing look.
The Mercedes GLE 300d 4Matic is powered by a 2-litre oil burner which churns out 245bhp and 500Nm of torque. All this power and torque is sent to all four wheels via a 9G-Tronic automatic. Now if you are wondering if 245bhp is enough for this three-tonne Goliath; then think again. The GLE offers rather grunty acceleration during kick down and Mercedes claim that it can do 100kmph in 7.2 seconds. Still worried about power? Don’t be.
On start up the engine feels very refined although a bit of noise does filter into the cabin at higher revs. But in general the engine offers a smooth surge of power which comes handy both in the city and on the highway. The gearbox too offers decently quick downshifts which you might demand during quick acceleration. With a claimed top speed of over 200kmph, the Mercedes GLE 300d 4Matic is well tuned to offer more than enough performance which one might demand from an SUV in this category.
The Mercedes GLE 300d 4Matic also comes with Mercedes’ 4MATIC AWD system. Having experienced this system first hand, we can assure you that there is little chance of you getting stuck in challenging terrain.
The Mercedes GLE 300d 4Matic is no manic AMG SUV and hence the ride and handling package has been tuned accordingly. It is an SUV for everyday use and one which is ready to take on any terrain. The point of the matter is that the new GLE offers a rather comfortable ride quality. Rough roads, gravel and even that odd nasty pothole does not shake the big barge.
This means that the passengers will remain perfectly comfy inside the cabin enjoying the multizone climate control. Where things start becoming a bit shaky is when the driver gets into a sporty tone. First and foremost, Mercedes is not even offering a Sport mode in the Mercedes GLE 300d 4Matic and this should make things clear. The steering too weighs up well and is good at high speeds. In the city though it felt a wee bit heavy for our liking.