The Mercedes-Benz GLE 2020 offers a soft hybrid technology and seven seats

Who could have predicted the unprecedented success of luxury SUVs when Mercedes-Benz introduced the first M-Class two decades ago? The M-Class, renamed GLE in 2015, which began as an incursion into mid-size SUVs, has now been the cornerstone of high-end 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 offerings.

Get acquainted with the all-new GLE Class, officially unveiled this week by Mercedes-Benz, before the public launch of the SUV at the Paris Auto Show. When it will go on sale in the United States, it will be offered in models GLE350, GLE350 4Matic and GLE450 4Matic – with subsequent variants of AMG, natch.

The GLE350 uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 engine, propitious to 255 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque. The rear-wheel drive and AWD versions will use the Mercedes 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic transmission and should go from standstill to 60 mph at 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' Hybrid Hybrid EQ Boost technology. It's basically the same engine that's used in the new CLS450, with 362 horsepower, 369 pounds of torque and an additional 21 horsepower assistance from the EQ Boost starter generator. This additional power has a positive impact on performance, Mercedes estimating a sprint of 5 to 5 seconds between 0 and 60 seconds for the GLE450.

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

In addition, the GLE is equipped with what Mercedes calls a "free driving mode", which facilitates off-road driving. If the GLE gets stuck in the sand, or maybe in the snow, "the suspension level is automatically raised and lowered several times, which changes the ground pressure of the tires and therefore improves the traction – the GLE is released then of itself, "automaker says in his press information.

Mercedes will offer GLE a complete line of state-of-the-art driver assistance systems including its latest Distronic adaptive cruise control, Active Brake Assist, Active Steering Assist, Blind Spot Monitoring and more. . The new GLE tip is Active Stop-and-Go Assist, which allows the vehicle to perform its steering, acceleration and braking tasks at a top speed of 37 km / h – much like Nissan ProPilot Assist feature.

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

We've already tested MBUX a few times and we find it's a great, high-resolution, easy-to-navigate interface. The "Hey Mercedes" control feature is less than perfect during our test of the van 2019 Sprinter earlier this year, but Mercedes said the problems should be resolved before MBUX reaches US prime time later this year.

This MBUX interface is housed in a completely redesigned cab, with an elegant dashboard surface and plenty of ambient light. The new center console is equipped with a pair of handles located on each side of the gear selector (reminiscent of the first generation of Porsche Cayenne?) That control the gauge and infotainment.

The GLE increases a bit in 2020, with a 3.1-inch wheelbase increase. This translates directly to a 2.7-inch improvement in legroom at the back and frees up space for an optional third-row seat. The second row also offers optional six-way power adjustment for the two outer positions, and the center portion of the 40/20/40 bench can be folded flat, with the other two sections remaining upright.

Fortunately, the 2020 GLE does not seem huge, despite this increase in size. In fact, it is pretty handsome with its thin tail lights reminiscent of the new CLS and its wheels ranging from 17 to 22 inches, depending on the model and the versions.

Official prices and EPA data will not be available until the launch of GLE next year, but expect the price to start between $ 50,000 and $ 50,000. (A 2018 GLE350, for reference, starts at $ 52,200.) Expect to see the first series of GLE reach the Mercedes showrooms next spring.