2019 Mercedes-AMG GLE 3.0L 9AT (435 HP)

Vehicle Overview

When Mercedes-Benz decided to create a separate brand out of its AMG department, the result was the Mercedes-AMG, and the GLE’s first generation had received an upgrade from these magicians of performance vehicles.

First, there was the ML, later renamed GLE as the Mercedes’ mid-sized SUV, positioned below the GL (later GLS) and the GLK (later the GLC). But the German automaker already knew that customers were more attracted by the AMG versions, so right from the bat, it built the GLE with a more powerful version. Albeit this time, it wasn’t badged as Mercedes-Benz, but as Mercedes-AMG.

The car’s design was enhanced by the peeps from the Affalterbach factory, where AMG was based. Thus, the bland-looking grille of the regular GLE was replaced with one that featured the Panamericana grille with vertical slats. Furthermore, the lower bumper received a massive lower air intake flanked on the sides by scoops with two horizontal slats. The car’s profile featured side steps so occupants could get easier inside the vehicle. These steps were unsuitable for offroading sessions, but ,they did a better job within city limits. Finally, the GLE 45 4Matic+ got a quad exhaust system at the back, with two pipes on each side of the vehicle flanking a diffuser.

Inside, AMG installed a pair of high-bolstered bucket seats at the front and a bench for three in the back, although due to the transmission tunnel, it was mostly usable by just two passengers. On the dashboard, the automaker installed two screens behind a single piece of glass, creating the impression of a large horizontal display. The one fronting the driver was for the instrument panel, while the one mounted atop the center stack was for the infotainment system.

But the piece de resistance was under the hood, where a hand-crafted inline-six, biturbo engine helped by an electric auxiliary compressor produced 435 PS (429 hp) sent in all corners via a nine-speed automatic transmission.