2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE offers soft hybrid technology and seating for seven people

Who could have predicted the ultimate success of luxury SUVs when Mercedes-Benz introduced the first M-Class two decades ago? What began as a foray into mid-sized SUVs, the M-Class – renamed GLE Class in 2015 – is now the cornerstone of premium SUVs as we know them today. For the 2020 model year, Mercedes is seeking to consolidate its position as a benchmark for mid-size luxury offers.

Check out the all-new GLE Class, which Mercedes-Benz officially unveiled this week before the public debut of the Paris Motor Show. When it goes on sale in the United States, it will be offered in models GLE350, GLE350 4Matic and GLE450 4Matic, with the following variants of AMG to follow.

The GLE350 uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 engine, good for 255 horsepower and 273 pounds of torque. Both the rear-wheel drive and AWD versions will use Mercedes 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic transmission, and should go from zero to 60 miles in 7.0 and 7.1 seconds respectively.

Switch to the GLE450 4Matic and you'll get a 3.0-liter I6 turbocharged engine with Mercedes' soft EQ Boost hybrid technology. It's basically the same engine as the one used in the new CLS450, with 362 horsepower, 369 lb-ft of torque and an extra 21 horsepower from the EQ Boost generator-starter. Extra power yields performance, with Mercedes estimating a 0 to 60 second sprint for the GLE450.

The GLE introduces a new 48-volt air suspension called E-Active Body Control, which allows individual control of spring and damping forces at each wheel. In its official press release, Mercedes claims that this technology "generates[s] Dynamic forces that cover the forces of the air suspension and actively support and cushion the vehicle during linear and lateral accelerations or when driving on rough roads. In other words, the new GLE must be a fluid and stable operator. Of course, after receiving our first sample of 2020 GLE models later this year.

In addition, the GLE is equipped with what Mercedes calls a "free driving mode", which helps in off-road driving. If the GLE gets stuck in the sand, or maybe in the snow, "the suspension level is raised and lowered quickly and automatically, which changes the tire ground pressure and improves traction. press information.

Mercedes will offer GLE a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including its latest Distronic adaptive cruise control, active brake assist, active steering assistance, blind spot monitoring, and more. The new GLE tip is Active Stop-and-Go Assist, which allows the vehicle to assume steering, acceleration and braking functions at speeds up to 37 mph, much like Nissan ProPilot Assist feature.

The technological attack continues inside, where Mercedes' new MBUX interface manages infotainment tasks, housed in two 12.3-inch screens. MBUX can be controlled via voice control as well as touch, and commands can be dictated by natural speech, simply by launching a query with "Hey Mercedes".

We have already tested MBUX several times and we find that it is a beautifully high resolution and easy to navigate interface. The "Hey Mercedes" control feature is far from perfect during our test of the Sprinter 2019 van earlier this year, but Mercedes said the problems should be resolved before MBUX is launched in the US market earlier this year.

This MBUX interface is housed in a completely redesigned booth, with an elegant dashboard surfacing and plenty of ambient lighting. The new center console has two handles on each side of the gear selector (does this remind the first-generation Porsche Cayenne?) And the new steering wheel uses the same thumb-operated controls as the other new Mercedes models, which control the group of instruments and infotainment screens.

The GLE is growing a bit in 2020, with a 3.1-inch increase in wheelbase. This translates directly to a 2.7-inch improvement in legroom at the rear and helps make room for an optional third row of seats. The second row also has a six-way power adjustment capability for both outer positions, and the center portion of the 40/20/40 bench can be folded flat while the other two sections remain straight.

Fortunately, the 2020 GLE does not seem huge, despite this increase in size. In fact, it is very beautiful, with thin taillights reminiscent of new CLS, and wheel sizes ranging from 17 to 22 inches, depending on the model and trim.

Official pricing and EPA data will only be available when the ELA is launched next year, but expect it to start in the $ 50,000 range. (A 2018 GLE350, for reference, starts at $ 52,200.) Expect to see the first series of GLE hit the US Mercedes showrooms next spring.