2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 Coupe Review

Intro

Since BMW first introduced its X6 in 2008, coupe SUV which, adapt the sloping roofline of a coupe to the otherwise boxy SUV design, have gradually been offered by luxury car brands as premium models to their non-coupe siblings. 

While they generally offer less cargo space and reduced rear passenger headroom, coupe SUVs tend to be bought for their sleek look. 

The GLE Coupe is Mercedes-Benz’s answer to the likes of BMW X6, Audi Q8, and Porsche Cayenne Coupe. Given the conventional GLE is such a great vehicle, I am curious to see how the Coupe version differs.

Thanks to Mercedes-Benz Canada, I was given the chance to find out. I was loaned the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 Coupe for one week. Below is my unbiased review.

Exterior

The exterior of the GLE 450 Coupe is one you either love or hate. My feeling is of the former and evidently many agree. The car received plenty of compliments during my one week test drive. Most of them emphasize on the stylish exterior. 

The GLE 450 Coupe’s bold front facia features diamond-point accents and a beefy chrome crossbar with the three-pointed star emblem sitting in its middle. From the side, the car has that distinctive coupe profile that also incorporates a small duck tail spoiler to the sweeping roofline. This standard wheel size for the GLE 450 Coupe is 20”, and it is just large enough to keep the side profile looking proportional. A larger set of wheels will give the coupe a more dynamic look. 

The rear profile of the GLE 450 Coupe is perhaps my least favorite view of the car. While the slender LED taillamps and the chrome bar that ties the two rectangular exhaust tips together look stylish, the overall design feels ponderous. The comically thick black plastic cladding at the lower bumper could be a major contributing factor. 

Interior

The interior of the GLE 450 Coupe is clean, upscale, and feature rich. It is identical to that of the standard GLE SUV, and features the same standard dual 12.3” screens, rectangular air vents, physical climate controls, and steering wheel design. After experiencing the newer AMG steering wheel that uses finicky touch buttons for everything, I really wish Mercedes would stick to the current steering wheel design. 

Even without any add-on, you’re getting luxury features such as heated front seats, heated steering wheel, panoramic sunroof, power liftgate, leather upholstery, heated & chilled front cupholders, and Apple CarPlay & Android Auto. With the $3400 Premium Package, you also get keyless go, the premium Burmester surround sound system, foot activated tailgate, heated front armrests, heated 2nd row seats, and 360 camera. 

The front seats are plush and very comfortable, just like its conventional sibling. With the comfort package, you also get pneumatically adjustable lumbar, side and shoulder support, a variety of massage programs, and ventilated front seats. 

The coupe does offer reduced rear headroom due to the sloping roofline and reduced rear legroom due to the shorter wheelbase. The rear legroom is still very good, but taller passengers may find the rear headroom limiting. There is an indentation in the roof to maximize available headroom. For people who suffer from claustrophobia, the panoramic sunroof certainly helps to brighten the cabin, albeit is smaller than that of the conventional GLE 450. 

Infotainment

The Mercedes-Ben’s MBUX infotainment system in the GLE 450 Coupe is still one of the best in the market. It may have a slight learning curve, but there are just so many different ways you can complete the same task. 

First, there are the twin 12.3” touchscreen displays that are positioned right next to each other to appear as one giant widescreen. The left screen sits right in front of the steering wheel and displays important vehicle information like the speed, fuel economy, and the trip information. The right screen, which is also a touchscreen, sits right on top of the center console. It is multi-functional, and can be configured to show pretty much anything the user desires. 

The second part of the MBUX system are the touch buttons on the steering wheel. I prefer the older blackberry style touchpads much more than the newer touch buttons. The left touch button controls the left screen, and vise versa. Other dedicated physical buttons on the steering wheels give you great tactile feedback to control infotainment and driver assist functions. 

There is another way you can control the many functions of the car without taking your hands off the wheel. That is via the LINGUATRONIC voice assist. It is a natural language smart assistant that functions like the Apple Siri or Google Assist. Simply say "Hey, Mercedes", or press the voice command button, and you can ask the car to make a phone call, plot a new navigation route, close the roller sunshade, or change the interior light color. The voice assistant can control basically anything that is not safety related. It is smart enough to understand commands like "I am cold" or "I am hungry" to raise cabin temperature, or to find the closest restaurant.

The final part of the MBUX system is the touchpad that is located in the center console. It has a nicely padded wrist pad to let you rest your hand comfortably. 

Safety and Driver Assistance

The 2022 GLE 450 Coupe comes with a long list of standard safety features:

• Active Brake Assist
• ATTENTION ASSIST
• LED High Performance Lighting System
• Crosswind Assist
• Blind Spot Assist
• Vehicle Exit Warning
• Traffic Sign Assist
• Active Parking Assist
• Rearview camera
• PRE-SAFE
• PRE-SAFE Sound
• Adaptive braking technology
• Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR)
• Antilock Braking System (ABS)
• Brake Assist (BAS)
• Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
• Tire Pressure Loss Warning System
• SmartKey with KEYLESS-START
• MAGIC VISION CONTROL wiper blades
• Auto-dimming rearview and driver-side mirrors

 Optional safety features include:

• Dashcam
• Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC
• Active Steering Assist
• Evasive Steering Assist
• Active MULTIBEAM LED Lighting System
• Adaptive Highbeam Assist
• Active Blind Spot Assist
• Active Lane Keeping Assist
• Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function
• Active Emergency Stop Assist
• Active Lane Change Assist
• Active Stop-and-Go Assist
• Enhanced Stop-and-Go
• Route-based Speed Adaptation
• 360 camera
• PRE-SAFE PLUS
• PRE-SAFE Impulse Side
• Electrically heated windshield

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class receives a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS.

Driving

The Mercedes GLE 450 Coupe is powered by the same powertrain as its conventional SUV sibling. It is a 3.0L inline-6 turbo engine with mild hybrid drive. The engine alone produces 362 hp of power and 369 lb-ft of torque. An Integrated Starter-Generator can supply up to 21 hp of additional power and 184 lb-ft of additional torque starting at low rpms. It also allows fuel-free coasting and can regenerative braking.

Coupled with a smooth 9-speed automatic transmission and a rear biased 4MATIC all-wheel drive system, the drivetrain is capable of propelling the 2,310 kg GLE 450 Coupe from 0-100km/h in just 5.7 seconds. 

Even though it is a quick car, the coupe prioritizes comfort. The smooth, gentle drive is accompanied by a well insulated cabin. The steering is calm and easy, but lacks meaningful feedback at the center. The standard selective damping suspension does a great job of soaking up road disturbances, but body roll is apparent in corners. The optional AIRMATIC air suspension and E-Active body control system would further improve ride quality. 

Fuel economy is surprisingly decent for the performance you get. It is rated at 11.7 L/100 km city and 9.2 L/100 km highway. My one week spirited test drive returns a fuel rating of 12.4 L/100km. 

Cargo Space & Storage

The GLE Coupe has a decent 655L trunk space behind the second row seats. In fact, it is slightly larger than the conventional GLE 450. However, with the rear seats folded, the cargo volume of the coupe is significantly smaller at just 1790L compared to the 2055L of the conventional GLE 450. Under the trunk floor is a spare tire and all tools required for an emergency tire change. Oddly, there are no rear seat latch releases in the trunk. You have to release the latches from the rear cabin. 

In cabin storage options are plenty. Both the glove compartment and the center armrest storage bin are decently sized, so are the front side door pockets. The rear side door pockets are slightly smaller, but additional cup holders can be found in the center folding armrest. 

Verdict 

For people who appreciate the styling of a coupe SUV and are willing to pay extra for it, the 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 Coupe is a fantastic vehicle. It offers luxury, performance, and the latest technologies without sacrificing too much practicality. The exclusivity alone is guaranteed to turn heads. But for those of you who crave for a better handling vehicle that is even more rare on the road, the E 450 wagon is worth a look. Wagons are cool!

Test Vehicle

2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 Coupe

MSRP

$86,600 CAD Base, $96,700 CAD as tested

Color

Cavansite Blue