2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class SUV

The new 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE will soon be upon us. Previously offered only with two rows, the GLE boasts an optional third-row seat, which is possible thanks to a wheelbase that has grown by 3.1 inches. From bumper to bumper, the new GLE is 5.2 inches longer, and it's wider, too. These dimensional updates mean that all GLE buyers will enjoy more space inside, whether they opt for the two-row or the three-row layout.What Powers the GLE?Under the hood, the GLE gets two new engines, both paired with the same nine-speed automatic transmission. For the base GLE 350 and GLE 350 4Matic (all-wheel-drive) models, there's a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 255 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The GLE 450 4Matic steps up to a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six (362 hp, 369 lb-ft) that's paired with a 48-volt mild hybrid system called EQ Boost. This system augments the output by up to 21 additional horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, and it's also used to power the starter and the available adaptive suspension, which individually controls spring and damping forces at each wheel. How Does It Ride?Right, so about that trick suspension. It's called E-Active Body Control, and it's best described as an adaptive hydropneumatic suspension combined with an air suspension. When you're on the move, it adjusts compliance at all four corners in real time to ensure optimal ride comfort. For loading items into the cargo area (or if you've got a big car seat to load in the back seat), the ride height can be lowered by as much as 1.6 inches. And, while we're listing "oh man, that's pretty cool" features, this suspension can also get you unstuck from a sand dune by quickly raising and lowering the vehicle to alter the ground pressure and work the tires free. By the way, if you feel like adjusting the level of each wheel via the touchscreen to "improve the vehicle's attitude on rough terrain," in Mercedes' words, yeah — you can do that, too.What's Inside?The GLE's interior has been redesigned to accommodate a new center console and the latest Mercedes infotainment system. Front and center on the dashboard is the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system, which replaces the previously standard COMAND system. Two side-by-side 12.3-inch screens handle the display duties, dominating the dashboard with all the subtlety of the Titanic docking in a seaside village. In other Mercedes products we've driven, the side-by-side screens were fantastically crisp and clear, so we look forward to sampling them in the GLE. An optional extra for this particular version of MBUX is the MBUX interior assistant. The interior assistant recognizes hand movements and readies the center screen accordingly, highlighting certain functions. The system can even distinguish between the driver and the front passenger when providing seating controls. Massaging seats are available, which can be paired with lighting and music patterns designed to relax occupants on long journeys.What About Safety and Tech?As we've come to expect from Mercedes-Benz, there are long lists of both standard and optional safety and technology features for the GLE. It really does come across like an SUV from the future. Standard features include blind-spot monitoring, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Mercedes Pre-Safe Sound (which purports to prepare the ear for the loud sound of a collision by playing "pink noise") and five USB ports. Available safety features on the 2020 GLE include forward collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. Evasive Steering Assist, which has also been added to the long list of available active safety features, provides additional steering input to help the driver avoid an obstacle at speed, boosting the steering response during an evasive maneuver. These will definitely be welcome technologies for safety-minded families.How Much Does It Cost?We expect the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE's pricing to go up a bit relative to the previous model, with a projected starting price around $55,000. Both the GLE 350 4Matic and GLE 450 4Matic models are expected to go on sale in spring 2019, while the standard rear-wheel-drive GLE 350 will arrive in summer 2019. Stay tuned for the full Edmunds review once the GLE hits the market.

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class SUV

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