Peppy performer

November 26, 2025November 24, 2025 by Metropol No Comments

I’ve always struggled to get excited about the SUV-come-Coupe segment. This all changed lately when I sampled the brand new Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, writes Ben Selby.

Enter an elegant refresh – essentially a streamlined and sportier version of the GLE SUV – the coupe’s flowing rear section and slippery looking accents are the most obvious cues to separate it from your regular SUV. A restyled headlight and taillight cluster and Mercedes-Benz logo adorned grill all come together to make a jolly handsome car.

Inside is awash with leather and other high-quality materials. Up front, enjoy delightfully comfortable and supportive heated and ventilated seats, and centre stage sits the latest MBUX infotainment system with all fruit you would expect in a car of this type. Rear seat legroom is generous as is headroom in the rear, while boot space is a hefty 655L with the second row in place. The only trade off with that sloping rear roofline is somewhat compromised rear visibility.

That said, when you move off, it becomes obvious the GLE coupe is a rather different animal. Despite its 2235kg kerb weight, it feels sharper and more of a point and shoot kind of car. You still have an entirely sumptuous and supple ride thanks to its optional Airmatic adaptive suspension but there is a subtle edge to it which makes the handling just that little bit more dynamic.

Power comes from a 3.0L six-cylinder twin-turbocharged petrol engine aided by a 48v Mild Hybrid ISG system. Mated to a 9-spd auto transmission sending drive to all four wheels, hence the 4MATIC bit, you will have a decent 280kW and 500Nm of torque to play with.

It sports a low-down torque curve and most of those 500Nm kick in early aided by the ISG hybrid system, resulting a dignified surge of power, especially in Sport mode. Flicking through the gears via the paddles is met with a slight delay on the way up but rapid going down. However, I spent most of my time in auto mode sauntering along at a steady pace, though it can do the more spirited stuff when necessary.

While you can opt for the hot AMG variants for a considerable increase in grunt and addition of other go-faster kit, there is a bit of a price hike for the privilege. However, if all you want is an incredibly refined, well equipped and peppy performer with good looks and a touch of stately elegance, you really can’t go wrong with this one.