Used Mercedes GLE Coupe 2015-2019 review

The BMW X6 has a lot to answer for. This large and luxurious SUV with coupé-inspired styling was a bit of an oddball choice that wasn't expected to sell that well. But sell well the X6 did, creating a whole new niche overnight. It was so successful that Mercedes got in on the act, essentially taking a smoothing iron to the boxy GLE to create the more sporty silhouette of the GLE Coupé.

Because the GLE Coupé is supposed to be the sporty model in the GLE range, the smallest engine it gets is a meaty 258bhp 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel in the 350d. It has bags of low-down torque and it’s fast enough for most people’s needs. If it’s not, there is always the AMG models (not to be confused with AMG Line, which is the standard-specification GLE), because you can have a 367bhp (390bhp from late 2017 onwards) 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol in the GLE 43 or the bonkers 585bhp 4.0-litre turbocharged V8 in the GLE 63.

To drive, the standard air suspension in the 350d is comfortable for most situations, even with bigger wheels. It can still be caught out by bigger bumps and potholes that cause the body to wobble slightly, but this is the case with most air suspension systems. The 350d leans a bit in corners, though, and doesn’t feel as agile as the X6.

The GLE 43 and GLE 63 models come with AMG-tuned air suspension to sharpen the handling, but this means the ride is firmer and tends to fidget a lot on rougher surfaces. Despite all the changes AMG has made, no version can match the sharper-feeling X6 M. However, the 4.0-litre V8 in the GLE 63 does sound much more purposeful.

The major downside with the GLE Coupé is that practicality is noticeably reduced over the standard GLE. The sloping roofline means that boot space suffers greatly not only in terms of overall volume but also in the usefulness of its shape. The narrow opening and intrusive rear wheel arches hamper space quite a lot and the high-set bumper makes loading heavy or awkwardly shaped items difficult. Plus, the rear seats don’t fold or split in any particularly innovative manner (you can get 40/20/40-split rear seats in the X6) and they’re awkward to move.

Head and leg room up front is excellent and there’s plenty of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel for the driver to get comfortable. Lumbar support, thankfully, is standard. Despite the steeply curved roofline, there’s still plenty of head room for even tall passengers in the rear and they get more than enough leg room to stretch out. The floor is mostly flat, too, meaning you don’t have to straddle an enormous central tunnel.

If you're interested in finding a used GLE Coupe, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Considering the Mercedes GLE Coupé was a £60,000 SUV when new, it makes used prices of around £30,000 for a 2016 350d AMG Line seem palatable. It’s certainly more affordable than a GLE 43 or GLE 63, which hover around the £50,000 to £65,000 price point. Spend between £35,000 and £45,000 on 2017 and 2018 cars, and around £50,000 to £70,000 on the last 2019 models.

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This is an expensive SUV, so don’t expect running cost to be low.

That said, fuel economy is similar to that of its closest rival, the BMW X6, which is only marginally better. The 350d is the only sensible option in the range, with a combined figure of 39.2mpg according to the old NEDC tests nd costing £250 in road tax. The GLE 43 gets 31.7mpg and costs £315 in road tax, while the top-of-the-range GLE 63 gets just 23.7mpg and road tax costs £555.

All GLE Coupés registered after 1 April 2017 will incur the £325 surcharge applied to vehicles that cost more than £40,000 when new. This, on top of the standard £150 flat rate, means that you'll have to pay £475 per year to tax the vehicle until it reaches six years of age. So, in most cases, if you want to save money, buy a GLE Coupé registered before this date. Unless you're after the GLE 63, because your tax bill will actually drop from £555.

Mercedes' main dealer servicing is expensive and doesn’t offer the sort of fix-priced deals that most rivals do when the car is over three years old. We’d suggest you look for a knowledgeable independent Mercedes specialist; they’ll be able to do the same work, using the same tools and diagnostic equipment, for a fraction of the cost a main dealer would charge.

Insurance will be expensive, too, but this is true of most premium luxury SUVs.

Really, there’s only one logical engine option to go for and it’s the 3.0-litre diesel in the 350d. It’s quiet enough, even under full acceleration, and you shouldn’t want for any more power. Fuel consumption is acceptable for a large SUV, whereas you’ll need shares in an oil company if you want to run either of the full-fat AMG versions.

AMG Line includes air suspension, climate control, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, LED headlights, a powered tailgate, sat-nav, Bluetooth, a DAB radio, heated leather seats and keyless entry. With a comprehensive kit list like that, there’s little reason to go for a higher-spec GLE Coupé unless you want the self-parking system, soft close doors and cooled seats of Designo Line.

Our favourite Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé 350d AMG Line

To be honest, there’s still only one rival to the GLE Coupé and that’s the BMW X6. Its infotainment system is much more modern-feeling, it’s more practical and it handles better than the rather ponderous GLE Coupé.

If you want your sporty SUV kicks but in a package with less challenging styling, the Range Rover Velar makes a fine alternative. It’s still quite new, so prices start slightly higher than they do for a GLE Coupé. However, the boot is bigger and you’ll be able to go much further off road in it, should you need to.

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If you're interested in finding a used GLE Coupe, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.