Used Mercedes GLE 2015-2019 review

If you like your SUVs large, plush and imposing, the Mercedes GLE should be right up your street. From the bluff, chrome-laden nose to the tall, vertical tail end, it’s every bit as you’d imagine a luxury Mercedes SUV to be, and that’s made it a popular choice with buyers.

The GLE was not a new car when it arrived on the scene in 2015. In fact, it was a revised version of the third-generation Mercedes M-Class, with tweaks to the styling and the interior, a new nine-speed automatic gearbox and a new plug-in hybrid option. It was replaced by an all-new version in 2019.

That plug-in hybrid, the GLE 500e, is powered by a combination of a 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 and an electric motor, giving a combined maximum of 328bhp. However, the rest of the engine range remains largely the same as the M-Class’s, with only minor tweaks to elicit small improvements in fuel economy and emissions. That means the entry-level model is a 2.1-litre, 204bhp four-cylinder diesel badged GLE 250d. Then there’s the GLE 350d, with its 254bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel, and right at the top of the range sit the thunderous AMG models: the 385bhp GLE 43 and the 577bhp GLE 63.

The model range is relatively simple but very well equipped. It kicks off with the Sport version (only available with the 250d engine), which gets sat-nav, heated front seats and climate control as standard. AMG Line models, which are more widely available, add air suspension, as well as sportier styling touches and larger wheels, while Night Edition models add gloss black accents.

We’ve only ever driven GLEs fitted with air suspension, so we can’t comment on the steel-sprung models. On the air springs, the GLE feels comfortable enough, if a touch clumsy, floating over larger undulations in a slightly disconcerting way, but also shimmying over smaller bumps and occasionally dropping into kerbside drain covers. True, you can flick the switch to Sport mode, but that takes things to the opposite extreme, firming up the suspension too much.

As you might expect, then, handling isn’t its strong suit, either; the GLE always feels heavy, ploughing its nose ahead and leaning over in corners, even in that stiffer suspension mode. The steering is quick enough, but it feels light and somewhat artificial. In short, the GLE is not a car you’ll want to hustle along a back road.

Inside, you sit high up, giving you a commanding view, and on first inspection the interior looks smart. However, a couple of shoddy bits of fit and finish spoil the effect, while the labyrinthine infotainment system takes some getting used to.

And while there’s plenty of space for four passengers, five will be a squeeze, thanks to a hefty hump in the floor and a narrow middle seat. You also don’t get the option of a third row of seats, ruling the GLE out as a seven-seater – a significant disadvantage compared with the Audi Q7, Land Rover Discovery and Volvo XC90, which all come with seven seats as standard. The one pay-off for this is that the boot is vast – one of the biggest around, in fact.

If you're interested in buying a used Mercedes GLE, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, check out our used car classifieds section here.

A good, early GLE with average mileage should set you back between £20,000 and £25,000, while you should expect to pay between £25,000 and £27,000 for a good 2016 or 2017 model, depending on trim. Expect to spend between £27,000 and £30,000 on one of the last 2019 models.

To find out whether a GLE you’re looking to buy is worth the price, try our free valuations tool at What Car? Valuations.

MPG

The GLE’s fuel consumption figures aren’t the worst among its rivals, but they’re also a long way off being the best. And while the hybrid version’s high official figures might sound tempting, keep in mind that it’s a plug-in, meaning you’ll need to charge it up frequently in order to have a chance of attaining them.

Road Tax

You’ll also fork out quite a bit to tax your GLE. Every model cost more than £40,000 when new, which means every GLE registered after 1 April 2017 will set you back £165 a year in VED tax (£155 a year for the hybrid) and an extra £355 a year in the luxury car tax. Best to go for one registered before that date, then, when the tax rates were CO2-based, because neither diesel version comes close to that annual cost under the old system. Both will still cost a little more than the GLE’s most efficient rivals, though.

Mercedes servicing doesn’t come cheap, and you’ll find the GLE particularly expensive to service once it’s out of warranty, because Mercedes doesn’t offer a cut-price service regime for cars that are more than three years old. That being the case, you might be better off taking your car to a knowledgeable independent specialist.

Trim

The AMG Line version is by far the most popular among GLEs, and that makes it much easier to find on the used market than any other. It barely costs any more to buy than the more basic Sport, too, so it’s the one we’d go for. True, you don’t get a heap of extra equipment, but the air suspension and sportier styling are nice to have.

Engine

While we wouldn’t dissuade anyone from choosing the gutsy GLE 350d if their budget can stretch to it, the 250d has more than enough oomph for most people.

Our favourite used Mercedes GLE: 250d AMG Line

The Audi Q7 is more practical than the GLE and, if you choose the second-generation model launched in 2016, more efficient too. The Q7's interior is a little smarter, and it doesn’t cost any more to buy. In short, it’s a better all-rounder than the GLE – although you’ll have to pay extra for air suspension.

The Land Rover Discovery is an old favourite and in its latest iteration, launched in 2017, it’s terrifically comfortable, with air suspension as standard. It’s also better off road than the GLE and comes with that valuable extra pair of seats.

Another seven-seat rival is the Volvo XC90, which places safety and comfort at the top of its priority list. It looks smart, too, and comes with a gorgeous interior. Problem is, it’s also quite expensive to buy and doesn’t drive as smoothly or as tightly as you’d hope for.

If you're interested in buying a used Mercedes GLE, or any of the other SUVs mentioned here, check out our used car classifieds section here.

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