2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class has a wide range of powerful engines plus an upscale cabin. The seven-speed automatic transmission comes standards on every model, and the vehicle gets 18/24 mpg city/highway. Unfortunately, some reviewers are disappointed by the poor start and stop feature for the engine. Additionally, some drivers have complained about poor visibility.
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class has a powerful V6 engine. Also available are a turbodiesel engine; high-performance, twin-turbocharged V8 engine; and the hybrid model with a V6 engine that’s paired with an electric motor. Regardless of the engine you opt for; drivers say that the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class has plenty of power.
2. Upscale Cabin
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class has a new, upscale cabin made with premium materials, like aluminum trim and high-gloss wood. Leather is also available.
3. Start/Stop Feature
The engine has a start/stop feature that helps to conserve fuel. This makes it easy to take the GLE on long road trips without spending a bundle on gas.
4. Nimble Handling
Drivers love that the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class has nimble handling. This is great for SUV lovers who don’t always feel like their vehicle of choice is able to expertly handle turns and winding roads. If you want sportier handling, consider one of the coupe models.
5. Comfortable Seating
The seats in the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class are particularly comfortable, something that both drivers and passengers appreciate. It’s no wonder why the GLE is comfort-oriented - the company wanted to appeal to families and luxury vehicle lovers instead of drivers who prioritize sportiness. For even more comfort, select the optional air suspension.
6. Quiet Operation
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class boasts a quiet ride from the inside, which is something that Mercedes owners have loved all along. It’s able to do this while still feeling sturdy, safe and solid, something that drivers expect in a quality SUV.
7. Big Cargo Capacity
The GLE has 80.3 cubic feet of storage space, which is among the class’ biggest cargo capacities. There’s plenty of room to fit everything a family needs to travel with, from sports gear and groceries to luggage and camping equipment.
8. Crisp Display Screen
Drivers love how crisp the seven-inch display for the infotainment system is. The large screen is placed at the top of the center stack, between vents, making it easy to see and use.
9. Easy-to-Use Knob for Infotainment System
The user-friendly COMAND controller knob is located in the center console. Drivers and passengers alike find it highly usable, making it easy to click through the infotainment center’s several screens. Thanks to this year’s interior upgrade, the COMAND control dial is now underneath a touch pad.
10. Smart Safety Features
The GLE comes with unique safety features, including a collision prevention warning system and an alert system for driver drowsiness. It also has a pre-safe system that will close the windows and adjust both head rests and seat belts if it suspects an accident is coming.
While the engine’s stop/start feature is meant to save fuel, some drivers say that it doesn’t work as well as it should. Users find the feature to be unrefined and clunky, particularly when shutting down the car. For a moment, when your foot is on the brake, the steering wheel locks, which can be panic-inducing for some drivers.
2. Low Visibility
Some drivers have complained about poor visibility, specifically in the coupe model, which has a sloped roofline. This causes low visibility in the rear, which isn’t helped by the high tail. While there’s a rear camera, drivers don’t like having to rely only on this when backing up. The rear view mirror isn’t very helpful when it comes to changing lanes and monitoring traffic behind the car. Additionally, some find front visibility to also be low because of the A-pillars.
3. Outdated Climate Controls
Some drivers feel that the climate controls are outdated, likely because there the same controls that have been there since 2012 and even before. The GLE comes standard with dual-zone climate control and you can opt to upgrade to tri-zone climate control.
4. Limited Space in Hybrid Models
While the standard GLE has a lot of cargo space, there’s limited trunk room in the hybrid version, because part of the space is taken up by the battery. Overall, the battery takes up eight cubic feet of trunk space, which reduces the cargo capacity by one-third. If you don’t tote around a lot of items on a regular basis, this may not be an issue.
How It Stacks Up to the Competition
The Mercedes-Benz GLE is often compared to the BMW X5 as well as the 2015 Lexus RX 350. Like the GLE, the BMW X5 also has a powerful engine lineup and nimble handling. Additional similarities include an upscale cabin and a useful infotainment system. Where the BMW comes out in front is in fuel economy. The 2015 Lexus RX 350 has a premium cabin, just like the GLE, and it also boasts a comfortable ride, roomy rear seats and a lot of cargo space for its class.
Overall, drivers love the new Mercedes-Benz GLE because it’s comfortable and spacious enough to be a family car while stilling maintaining the brand’s luxury. It stands up to the competition in its class, making it a great option for luxury car lovers. To make sure you can see well enough, it's a good idea to take it for a test drive.
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class – The Pros
1. Powerful EnginesThe 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class has a powerful V6 engine. Also available are a turbodiesel engine; high-performance, twin-turbocharged V8 engine; and the hybrid model with a V6 engine that’s paired with an electric motor. Regardless of the engine you opt for; drivers say that the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class has plenty of power.
2. Upscale Cabin
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class has a new, upscale cabin made with premium materials, like aluminum trim and high-gloss wood. Leather is also available.
3. Start/Stop Feature
The engine has a start/stop feature that helps to conserve fuel. This makes it easy to take the GLE on long road trips without spending a bundle on gas.
4. Nimble Handling
Drivers love that the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class has nimble handling. This is great for SUV lovers who don’t always feel like their vehicle of choice is able to expertly handle turns and winding roads. If you want sportier handling, consider one of the coupe models.
5. Comfortable Seating
The seats in the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class are particularly comfortable, something that both drivers and passengers appreciate. It’s no wonder why the GLE is comfort-oriented - the company wanted to appeal to families and luxury vehicle lovers instead of drivers who prioritize sportiness. For even more comfort, select the optional air suspension.
6. Quiet Operation
The 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class boasts a quiet ride from the inside, which is something that Mercedes owners have loved all along. It’s able to do this while still feeling sturdy, safe and solid, something that drivers expect in a quality SUV.
7. Big Cargo Capacity
The GLE has 80.3 cubic feet of storage space, which is among the class’ biggest cargo capacities. There’s plenty of room to fit everything a family needs to travel with, from sports gear and groceries to luggage and camping equipment.
8. Crisp Display Screen
Drivers love how crisp the seven-inch display for the infotainment system is. The large screen is placed at the top of the center stack, between vents, making it easy to see and use.
9. Easy-to-Use Knob for Infotainment System
The user-friendly COMAND controller knob is located in the center console. Drivers and passengers alike find it highly usable, making it easy to click through the infotainment center’s several screens. Thanks to this year’s interior upgrade, the COMAND control dial is now underneath a touch pad.
10. Smart Safety Features
The GLE comes with unique safety features, including a collision prevention warning system and an alert system for driver drowsiness. It also has a pre-safe system that will close the windows and adjust both head rests and seat belts if it suspects an accident is coming.
Reasons Not to Buy a 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class – The Cons
1. Poor Engine Start/Stop FeatureWhile the engine’s stop/start feature is meant to save fuel, some drivers say that it doesn’t work as well as it should. Users find the feature to be unrefined and clunky, particularly when shutting down the car. For a moment, when your foot is on the brake, the steering wheel locks, which can be panic-inducing for some drivers.
2. Low Visibility
Some drivers have complained about poor visibility, specifically in the coupe model, which has a sloped roofline. This causes low visibility in the rear, which isn’t helped by the high tail. While there’s a rear camera, drivers don’t like having to rely only on this when backing up. The rear view mirror isn’t very helpful when it comes to changing lanes and monitoring traffic behind the car. Additionally, some find front visibility to also be low because of the A-pillars.
3. Outdated Climate Controls
Some drivers feel that the climate controls are outdated, likely because there the same controls that have been there since 2012 and even before. The GLE comes standard with dual-zone climate control and you can opt to upgrade to tri-zone climate control.
4. Limited Space in Hybrid Models
While the standard GLE has a lot of cargo space, there’s limited trunk room in the hybrid version, because part of the space is taken up by the battery. Overall, the battery takes up eight cubic feet of trunk space, which reduces the cargo capacity by one-third. If you don’t tote around a lot of items on a regular basis, this may not be an issue.
How It Stacks Up to the Competition
The Mercedes-Benz GLE is often compared to the BMW X5 as well as the 2015 Lexus RX 350. Like the GLE, the BMW X5 also has a powerful engine lineup and nimble handling. Additional similarities include an upscale cabin and a useful infotainment system. Where the BMW comes out in front is in fuel economy. The 2015 Lexus RX 350 has a premium cabin, just like the GLE, and it also boasts a comfortable ride, roomy rear seats and a lot of cargo space for its class.
Overall, drivers love the new Mercedes-Benz GLE because it’s comfortable and spacious enough to be a family car while stilling maintaining the brand’s luxury. It stands up to the competition in its class, making it a great option for luxury car lovers. To make sure you can see well enough, it's a good idea to take it for a test drive.
