The Mercedes-Benz GLE is a great pick for a luxury SUV. Besides the impeccable interior and solid construction that make a Mercedes special, the GLE has all of the latest and greatest innovations and upgrades. The GLE 450 is what we'd recommend for its combination of power and efficiency, but even the base GLE 350 will likely satisfy.
Still fresh off a 2020 redesign, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE is the German automaker's latest iteration of the midsize luxury SUV that helped kick off the segment more than 25 years ago, when it was called the M-Class. Like its pioneering premium sport-ute forebear, the 2022 GLE offers a blend of SUV capability, luxury car plushness and cutting-edge technology.
Today's GLE also offers plenty of performance options, with variants like the 429-horsepower AMG GLE 53 and 603-hp AMG GLE 63 S. One of the GLE's highlights is its MBUX infotainment system, which is easy to use and impressive to look at. The GLE competes with other midsize luxury SUVs including the Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Genesis GV80, and we think it's the best of the bunch. Take a look at our Expert Rating to find out why we like it so much.
Edmunds Expert Rating
edmunds TESTED
by the Edmunds Experts
Great
8.4
out of 10
We drove the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.
Performance
8/10
How does the GLE-Class drive? Even the base four-cylinder provides sufficient thrust. The GLE 350 we tested accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 7.1 seconds, which is an average time for this class of SUV. Stepping up to the 450's six-cylinder engine gives you the speed to match the quickest SUVs in the segment, needing only 5.3 seconds to get to 60 mph at our test track. Braking performance is likewise strong, and the brakes are easy to control in everyday driving.
Steering effort is light, but steering is precise. While the GLE isn't as naturally sporty as a Porsche Cayenne or Audi Q8, it's composed enough to not feel clumsy. The base engine's transmission definitely favors economical driving, and shifts can be a little harsh for a luxury vehicle. But stepping up to the GLE 450 eliminates most if not all of these issues if you are able to spring for it.
Comfort
7.5/10
How comfortable is the GLE-Class? The GLE's interior is serene and quiet, and the front seats with available massage provide terrific comfort. The rear seats don't slide or recline but remain pleasant for the long haul. Our test vehicle had the optional Acoustic package, and we found it kept exterior sounds well muted. The climate control system is likewise strong. You can just set it and forget it, and the heated and cooled cupholders and the heated armrests are bonuses.
The biggest issue we have is the optional air suspension. There's a floatiness at highway speeds that's a little disconcerting plus a lot of extraneous minor body motions. Bumps are impactful too. We encourage you to test-drive vehicles with the air and standard suspension back to back.
Interior
9/10
How’s the interior? The GLE's cabin is close to perfect, exhibiting excellent usability and build quality that is second to none. It's also quite roomy, with plenty of legroom and headroom for second-row passengers. The driving position offers a commanding view of the road and plenty of adjustability, and the controls are within easy reach. Visibility is excellent, with clear sight lines all around.
We like the GLE's intuitive touchpad controller. Functions such as track/preset skipping, home and back are right on the pad, and it has useful haptic feedback. But the steering wheel touchpads are too easy to brush inadvertently.
Technology
9.5/10
How’s the tech? Mercedes' MBUX infotainment system sets a new bar for functionality. It's easy to use and robust to the point you can alter just about every car setting through it. The optional Burmester audio system has a surround-sound option that fully envelops the driver in hi-fi lusciousness. You'll want to crank up every song for an immersive experience — too bad max volume isn't higher.
Another neat feature is the nav system's (optional) augmented reality feature that overlays street names and arrows atop a live front-view video when making turns. For safety, a number of driving aids are standard. Semi-automated driving features are available through the Driver Assistance package. We found the features easy to use, and they helped reduce fatigue in stop-and-go traffic.
Storage
8.5/10
How’s the storage? The GLE's sizable cabin is well designed. Cubbies and compartments abound for stashing drinks and items. The cargo area is large and flat with no wheelwell intrusion. Max cargo room is among the best in the midsize luxury SUV class. And the GLE's max towing capacity, even with the four-cylinder engine, is similarly strong. The back seat has four easy-to-access car seat anchors, and there's plenty of room for even the bulkiest child safety seats.
Fuel Economy
7.5/10
How’s the fuel economy? The EPA rates the GLE 350 4Matic at 22 mpg combined (19 city/26 highway), which is average for a base-level midsize luxury SUV. The GLE 450, incredibly, gets the same 22 mpg combined (20 city/26 highway) but makes an extra 107 hp thanks to its mild hybrid system. That's pretty good power to efficiency, but like any other engine, how to drive will make the most difference in your real-world economy. The 450 is the way to go if you can swing it.
Value
8/10
Is the GLE-Class a good value? You get what you pay for in the GLE, but you will pay quite a lot, with well-optioned 450 models coming in at nearly $80,000. Still, the overall impression of quality is exceptional. The four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty is average, but the same coverage for the powertrain is less than what most competitors offer.
Wildcard
8.5/10
While the GLE has decent performance chops, it's really the feeling of luxurious quality, in everything from the design to materials to technology features, that sells this SUV. It's far and away the best in class, with several features you won't find in rivals. Pair those with rich, sumptuous materials and you have a cabin second to none. Sure, it's not as sporty to drive as some top competitors, but in most other areas the GLE is setting new benchmarks.
2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class trim level differences
The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class comes in five trim levels: GLE 350, GLE 450, GLE 580, AMG GLE 53 and AMG GLE 63 S. All trim levels come standard with all-wheel drive (4Matic in Mercedes-Benz speak) with the exception of the GLE 350, which comes in your choice of rear- or all-wheel drive. All GLE models come standard with five-passenger seating but can be optioned with three rows to seat seven people, with the exception of the AMG GLE 63 S, which is five-passenger only.
Which GLE-Class trim does Edmunds recommend?
The base four-cylinder in the GLE 350 is a solid engine, but for not much more, you can get a GLE 450 with the significantly more potent turbocharged six-cylinder and standard all-wheel drive.
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
The car is beautiful. However, missing several features other cars have.
Less than 800 miles and it’s been in the service department more than in my garage.
Had a bolt missing/ broken, terrible noise of things flapping/rattling on the passenger side.
Picked up car on Wednesday, had it towed on Friday….”Reversing Not Possible. Service Required”. Over a week now waiting to get it … back…..still in a loaner.
I just purchased this vehicle, brand new from Manchester Mercedes dealership, this vehicle was shipping in and had 11 miles on it when I got it. 6 months later I'm at 10,300 mile and I brought in the vehicle for the schedule maintenance (oil change, fluid top off) the tires we're brand new as well after the inspection i was told that the rear tires have worn down to critical levels (RR … 5/32, RL4/32). I was told by the Technician that these vehicles are harder in wear on the rear tires. The tires in question are Bridgestone Alenza Sport A/S . I don't know what to do the front tires are at 7/32 but I don't understand how this happened and I would like to hear from people who may have similar issues.
The GLE 350 has a luxury interior and some cool tech, but the driving experience overall leaves me wanting more. Seats are comfy and the ventilated seats are a perk, but at high speeds (75-80mph) the whistle from the side mirrors is annoying. The windshield wiper shuddering will drive you crazy if you’re on a rainy road trip. It’s a well know. Issue for this car an MB has done nothing to … address it. Took to the dealership 3 times where they say they have a solution to fix, but nothing has helped. They replaced the housing in the side mirrors as well for the whistle but no change. For a car at this price point, windshield wipers and wind noise shouldn’t be an issue. I love the MBUX and quality of the tech, ride overall at lower speeds is nice. It’s a big car and is definitely more cush than sporty. The 4 cylinder 350 struggles to accelerate and is underpowered. MB should make the 6 cylinder standard like most luxury SUVs, especially given the gas mileage is worse than the 450. Love the looks on the outside with the AMG package and big wheels- looks aggressive. I’ve had and X5 and Range Rover Sport in the past to compare- all very different. The GLE tops them from the luxury side, RR is definitely more of a truck, X5 wins for overall driving and modern look, especially with the engine. Looking now to replace the GLE after 18 months and the X5 is top contender.
The vehicle is amazing. Almost everything is great, so I will only mention a few points. I have a GLC and a GLE. The engine noise in the GLE is much louder, even though they have identical engines. As such, if you can, I would recommend opting for the 6 cylinder over the 4 cylinder, for a quieter ride. Also the factory missed a part (a door sill) during assembly, which was a little … concerning. I also think Mercedes makes things more complicated than they have to be. Specifically, they make the cars technology so you can do the same thing from 3 different sources. This might seem cool, but it makes for too many options. Other than that, I would highly recommend.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, so we've included reviews for other years of the GLE-Class since its last redesign.
2023 Lexus RX 350 vs. 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE | Can the Redesigned RX Beat the Luxurious GLE?
The Lexus RX 350 is all-new for 2023, with sharp new styling, a revamped interior, and way more technology than the prior model. The RX has long been Lexus’ top-selling vehicle, as well as the sales champion of the highly competitive midsize luxury SUV class — but that doesn’t mean it’s always been the best overall product. For us, that’s been the Mercedes-Benz GLE. Now… several years into its current generation, the GLE still feels modern and luxurious. Edmunds’ Clint Simone put these two bread-and-butter midsize luxury SUVs head-to-head to see if Lexus has upgraded the latest RX enough to unseat the GLE. Head to the video above to see the results!
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