“Whoa! I like this car,” is what my two-year-old yelled from his car seat when I opened the panoramic roof screen to reveal the giant glass opening fit for a Jurassic Park tour. Mercedes-Benz has included a laundry list of impressive elements in their 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4Matic that could have wowed him. The 362 hp 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder engine with a brilliant mild hybrid assist, the 21" wheels, or the "Hey, Mercedes" voice assistant would have all been great choices. But for him, it was all about the view, and I agree.

In true Mercedes-Benz fashion, the 2022 GLE 450 brings to the table optional features and abilities that sound more like Tony Stark's Malibu home than a car. You can have a voice activated virtual assistant, 24.6" of customizable digital displays, wireless charging, adaptive damping suspension, surround-view cameras, and a cabin fragrance system for starters. But when you strip away all the accoutrements, does the GLE 450 have the guts and glory to be able to stand out in the competitive luxury SUV field? We took the GLE over highways, dirt trails, and the twisty roads of the Smokey Mountains to find out.

2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450

8.50 / 10
Key Features
  • 3.0 Liter In-Line Turbo With Hybrid Assist
  • Two 12.3" Digital Displays
  • Plenty Of Rear Legroom For Adults Or Car Seats
  • AIRMATIC Suspension
Specifications
  • Model: GLE 450
  • Engine/Motor: 3.0-Liter
  • Horsepower: 362 hp
  • Torque: 369 lb-ft
  • Drivetrain: AWD
  • Transmission: 9-Speed Automatic
Pros
  • Plenty Of Cargo Capacity And Leg Room
  • Powerful And Efficient Mild Hybrid Powertrain
  • Fantastic Balance Of Power And Luxury
Cons
  • Pricier Than Some Rivals
  • No Full Hybrid or EV Option
  • 3rd Row Option Is Very Cramped

The Mercedes-Benz GLE Offers A Plethora Of Power Options

When it comes to performance, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE offers a plethora of power options. The base model GLE 350 ($56,150) has a 2.0-liter in-line four-cylinder engine making 255 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque. It can be had in rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The next step (the smarter one) is the 450 ($63,950) which is a 3.0-liter in-line six-cylinder turbo making 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque in a standard all-wheel drive setup. Of course, the track happy enthusiast will opt for the GLE 53 AMG ($74,150). Yes, the same minds that brought the Mercedes AMG One to life is in this GLE. Sure it isn't the gnarly 4-cylinder 416 hp AMG engine but instead, Mercedes-Benz used the same 3.0-liter in-line six but tuned to 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. If you still require more German get up and price is no option, the 4.0-liter twin turbo GLE 580 ($80,900) with 483 ponies and 516 lb-ft of torque should do the trick.

Though we all love bigger, faster, stronger, (like a Hellcat taking on GLE AMG 63 S) the GLE 450 has more than enough power to pass on the freeway, climb a mountain, and give your spouse a fright, all without breaking the bank. What's unique about the 450 is the EQ BOOST, a mild hybrid assist. Mild? Why not go full hybrid in this age of electrification? It sounded like marketing muck instead of helpful tech, but it surprised us. After about 500-miles of mixed driving the small electric motor and rear-mounted battery helped this 6,600 lb SUV return almost 24 mpg. The biggest difference it makes is in Eco mode where it allows the engine to shut down while driving. They call this engine-free coasting "sailing." Like the auto start/stop feature so many modern cars have, the engine transitions from on to off and back again in the blink of an eye. Another boost (eh?!) from the integrated electric motor is access to an extra 21 hp. This little extra push helps smooth out turbo lag and flatten the torque curve. Power and fuel efficiency. It's a win-win.

Mercedes outfitted our Lunar Blue Metallic GLE 450 with the optional AIRMATIC suspension and fancy E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL. The latter is the only system on the market that can adjust spring and damping forces at each wheel. There is also an available AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL with Adaptive Damping System. This technology uses a camera to scan the road as the car is driving and adjusts the suspension to prepare it for, say, a pothole or broken pavement. It allows the ride to remain smooth over rough roads, highways, and twisty back roads. It can also "lean" into the curve to keep the vehicle flat and planted. The AIRMATIC also allows for manual ride height to adjust the vehicle to accommodate harsher terrain--or to help with parking off the edge of a single lane road near the trailhead so you can still go hiking when the lot is full (just saying).

The Exterior Left Us Wanting More

The stance of the GLE is wide and tall. There are strong lines on the hood and grill that bring a nice aggressive appeal and the standard roof rails are set and ready to handle even more cargo, should the adventure call for it. The broad rear shoulders add to the athletic ability and sense of power that this 6,600 lb family hauler brings to the road. Combined with our 21" 5-spoke wheels with plenty of wide sticky rubber, this sleeper took on twisty roads without any issue.

Our biggest knock on the GLE is that the exterior styling is underwhelming. That is a big knock on a vehicle that has to compete with the BMW X5 and the Audi Q7, both of which are more attractive. This fourth generation is only a few years old, but with the recent reveal of their 2023 GLC and future vehicles like the EQS SUV, we have to think the GLE will get a facelift soon. The best move in the mean time would be the AMG appearance package for $3,250. It brings sharper elements like unique wheels, a sporty exhaust and a different grill. Or you could be one of the lucky few to pick up the recently-announced Mercedes AMG "Edition 55" GLE with all kinds of tasty upgrades.

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The GLE Interior Is An Airy Sanctuary

Whenever we get a car to test out, we chat for a few minutes with the men and women who drop them off. They provide cars to journalists, movie stars, and anyone the various brands deem worthy, thus they get to drive hundreds of cars each year. "The tech and the interior are what makes this car fantastic," was the response they gave to our question of what stands out. And they were spot on.

As B+ is the styling is on the outside, it's straight A's for the clean and modern interior. The GLE has one of the most spacious and comfortable cabins we've tested in a long time. The heated and ventilated perforated Macchiato Beige leather seats were firm but easy on long drives. The steering wheel has paddle-shifters and is thick with just enough buttons to be useful and not cumbersome. Mercedes has their MBUX infotainment system which still utilizes a console touchpad when navigating the system, but we found the touchscreen easier to use. We appreciated Mercedes ingenious cup holders that open wide to accommodate larger water bottles (our 32 oz Hyrdoflasks) and then with a push of a button can collapse down to hold a more traditional Starbucks venti latte.

The rear seats offer plenty of space, USB-C charging ports (you will need an adapter if you have the traditional USB plug) and an optional giant panoramic sunroof overhead (as pointed out by my 2-year old). Having two car seats in the second row or having two adults in the back seats, everyone in the GLE had plenty of room without the driver or front passenger having to sacrifice precious knee room. The GLE needs to compete against family-hauling SUVs at a much lower price point, so the spacious legroom and cargo capacity makes this very appealing.

An SUV is about legroom and cargo capacity, and the GLE has both. The 33.3 cubic-feet of trunk space swallowed up our duffel bags and camera equipment for the run to the Smokies. There is an option for a third row which would decrease the storage capacity and increase the headaches of practically anyone in the tiny rear seats. We think it's best to keep it two rows.

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The GLE Packs More Tech Than A Best Buy Store

The first thing we noticed when getting into the GLE were the gorgeous half-dash display. The 12.3" digital dash along with the 12.3" infotainment screen creates 24.6-inches of horizontal digital beauty in front of the driver. The dash is fully-customizable with two virtual dials able to display everything from route guidance to fuel economy to the current ride height position.

The surround view camera system is next level providing full overhead, side, front wide and rear wide views accessible with push of a button. That comes in handy no only when parking but when we spotted a young Bobcat in the woods approaching the vehicle, we were able to use the cameras to look around the car to make sure mom wasn't too close and then slowly move back to the cabin.

The GLE infotainment screen displays Apple CarPlay or Android Auto integration and is where the driver can interact with the virtual assistant, "Hey, Mercedes." This prompt, much like Siri or Alexa makes a huge difference when accessing what can often be a complicated user system. Have you ever spent 20-minutes looking for the menu to change the bass level? It recognizes natural language and expressions very well such as, "Hey, Mercedes. Change the cabin lighting to red." Suddenly the interior lighting details around the doors, dash, and center console turned red. Amazing. Also worth mentioning, the optional Burmester sound system complete with ornate metal work on the speaker covers is gorgeous. It turned our GLE into a rolling concert hall.

We think the GLE might be the most underrated Benz in the lineup. As a luxury mid-size SUV, it has more pressure than Chris Pratt at Comic Con. It has to do a lot, be comfortable yet engaging, luxurious yet rugged, and tech-savvy but not overkill. The GLE nails it. Normally, when you consider the stars of the show at Benz, everyone talks about the S-Class or G-Wagen. But this 6,600 lb high-tech machine that can get around 24 mpg in mixed driving, while everyone is comfortable and happy all for around $65,000 makes the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 (dare we say) a practical purchase.