For anyone who might have been confused that Mercedes-Benz->ke187 decided to build a GLE 450 AMG Coupe but skipped over the regular GLE,->ke4971 here is the answer to your question. The third in the line of 450-badged AMG products, the GLE 450 AMG offers an alternative to those who want an AMG-ified GLE, but aren't sold on the beast that is the 63-badged version of the GLE. This makes a good deal of business sense, as there is a fairly massive gap in prices between even more well-appointed trims of the mainstream GLE version and the lower 63 AMG trim.

The new vehicle isn't quite as extreme as its 63-badged brother, both in terms of horsepower and looks. But it does fill a hole in the lineup in that way that German automakers love to do. And since it is so closely related to the GLE 450 AMG Coupe, there is a lot less mystery about how it drives than there would be if it were an entirely new model. It's not a sluggish car by any means, but it is less about speed than it is about having a more stylish vehicle than the standard GLE. Those who want speed have the GLE 63 AMG.

Continue reading to learn more about the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 AMG 4MATIC.

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Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: mercedes-benz-gle-450-amg-4matic
Pros
Cons

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 AMG 4MATIC

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 AMG 4MATIC
  • Engine/Motor: V6
  • Horsepower: 367 @ 5500
  • Torque: 383 @ 2000
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior

The exterior changes to the car are relatively subtle for an AMG, but the telltale sign that you're looking at something other than the standard is the usual dual twin-tipped exhaust pipes. There is a set of special 20-inch black wheels that come standard, and there is also an optional set of 21-inch wheels. The cars air suspension will automatically raise or lower, depending on a variety of conditions, such as speed and driving mode.

Putting the car into Sport or Sport Plus, for example, will automatically lower the ride height by 15 millimeters. And for those who want to change it on their own, the suspension can be adjusted manually as well. The 450-badged version of the car isn't going to announce to the world that you have an AMG in quite the same way other AMGs will, but the aesthetic changes are the short that most people who wish to spruce up the GLE would want to do anyway.

Exterior Dimensions

Length

4,816 MM (189.60 Inches)

Width

1,926 MM (75.82 Inches)

Height

1,762 MM (69.37 Inches)

Wheelbase

2,915 MM (114.76 Inches)

Track width front/rear

1,654/1,673 MM (65.11/65.86 Inches)


Interior

The interior of the GLE gets a going over as well, complete with a new steering wheel. This is a flat bottom type of wheel, but it's not so aggressive that it'll be off-putting to anyone not used to them. There are new gauges too, with a sportier look to them. There is a lot of new trim, in brushed aluminum, carbon fiber and piano black lacquer. The only other new touch is the pedals, which are now brushed stainless steel with rubber studs. Things like the upholstery remain unchanged, but that was already quite good.

Drivetrain

The GLE 450 AMG is powered by the same engine as the other 450-badged AMG products, a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6. This makes 367 horsepower and will get the crossover up to 62mph in 5.7 seconds. Power is sent through a 9-speed automatic transmission and out to all four wheels. The all-wheel-drive system is rear biased, with a 40:60 front to rear torque split. The driver has a number of different driving modes to choose from, including Comfort, Slippery, Sport and Sport Plus, all of which are pretty self explanatory. There is a fifth mode as well, called Individual, which can be used by the owner to save custom settings.

Drivetrain Specifications

Engine

V6 petrol engine, direct injection, biturbocharging

Displacement

2,996 cc

Output

367 HP @ 5,500-6,000 RPM

Peak torque

383 LB-FT @ 2,000-4,200 RPM

Transmission

9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission

Drive system

4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive

Torque distribution FA/RA

40:60

Acceleration 0-100 km/h

5.7 s

Top speed

250 km/h (155 mph)

Fuel consumption, NEDC combined

8.6 l/100 km

CO2 emissions

199 g/km


Safety

Mercedes-Benz has been a pioneer in the field of semi-autonomous safety systems, and there is no shortage of them on the GLE. This includes Adaptive Braking, Attention Assist, Collision Prevention Assist Plus, Crosswind Assist and a Curve Dynamic Assist for the all-wheel-drive system. A further Night Package and Driving Assistance Package Plus are available as options. But even if after all of that you still manage to get into an accident, the GLE has a 5-star crash test rating from the NHTSA.

Prices

Mercedes didn't release a price for the GLE 450 AMG, but since the Coupe version of the crossover already has a price, we know that it will be in the neighborhood of $65,000. Since the Coupe tends to go for a couple of thousand more than the regular GLE in the various forms that already exist, it's entirely possible that this one will start somewhere closer to $63,000, but that's just speculation. This pricing is much closer to the $52,00 starting price of the regular GLE than it is to the $101,000 starting price of the GLE 63 AMG, but then, the 450's performance is much closer to the regular GLE than it is to the 63.

Competition

Porsche Cayenne S

The Cayenne comes in even more different performance levels than the GLE, but the nearest competitor to the 450 is the Cayenne S. It costs a little bit more than the Mercedes, but it's also faster, with a twin-turbo V-6 that puts out 420 horsepower. The Porsche can also boast a better-sorted chassis and some of the best handling of any crossover ever made. It's the vehicle that secured the future of Porsche, and it's easy to see why.

Read more about the Porsche Cayenne S here.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport

If looking stylish is the primary aim of vehicles in this niche, then the Range Rover Sport is the clear winner. The V-6 here is supercharged instead of turbocharged, and it makes a bit less power (340 horsepower) than the 450, but it also looks a whole lot better while doing it. It'll really make you wonder whether those extra 27 horses are worth it.

Read more about the Land Rover Range Rover Sport here.

Conclusion

The GLE 450 AMG and the new 450-badged car in general represent a push to expand the AMG brand by adding a mid-range line of products. There's nothing wrong with that, and quite a lot of such products exist already. But the problem that Mercedes might well face is that it's not entirely clear that this is a mid-range product. Audi differentiates mid-range performance products from the top-end machines by using the S badge for the former and the RS for the latter. Porche has the Turbo badge for the really high horsepower models, and even Land Rover now differentiates by using Sport and SVR. But up until very recently, AMG meant only one thing, and Mercedes is going to work very hard to convince people that the AMG name isn't simply being diluted by adding these not-so-insane performance machines. The GLE 450 AMG is a fine vehicle, but those with high expectations for the AMG brand might be disappointed.