2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé: prices, space, engines, tech, rivals and on-sale date
Big, sleek, high tech... diesel
ALREADY available as a conventional SUV, the Mercedes-Benz GLE will be offered with a sleak coupé bodystyle next year.
What is the 2020 Mercedes GLE Coupé?
As its name suggests, the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé is a coupé version of the regular GLE SUV, and follows on from the original car that arrived on the scene in 2014.
Despite the reduced practicality that comes with having a swoopier roofline, Mercedes claims the GLE Coupé is still a practical premium 4×4 (there isn’t a two-wheel drive option), roomy enough to offer a “comfortable amount of space” for the driver and four passengers.
What engines will the 2020 Mercedes GLE Coupé have?
Diesel may no longer be the flavour of the month with car buyers but it seems the engineers who worked on the new GLE Coupé didn’t get that memo. From launch, the regular versions of the stylish SUV will only be powered by diesel engines: a 268bhp turbocharged 2.9-litre six-cylinder in the “GLE Coupé 350d” model, and a 326bhp of the same engine in the GLE Coupé 400d.
Despite the different power outputs, Mercedes says the two diesel engines are identical when it comes to fuel economy, saying they can both return between 35.3mpg and 37.6mpg.
There is one way buyers will be able to specify petrol power, though: go for the Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupé 53 model. As an AMG version, this flavour of GLE Coupé is quite a bit more potent than the diesels: Mercedes says the 3-litre turbocharged six-cylinder mild hybrid powertrain develops 429bhp, or up to 450bhp for short periods with “EQ Boost” electric motor assistance.
Regardless of which engine is under the bonnet, all Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupés will be exclusively available with all-wheel drive, and only offered with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
How spacious is the 2020 Mercedes GLE Coupé?
Despite its sloping roofline and being 60mm shorter than the regular GLE, the GLE Coupé is claimed by Mercedes to be one of the most practical vehicles in this class. With the rear seats in place, the Coupé actually has a bigger boot than the standard car (650 litres versus 630 litres).
While the GLE Coupé can’t match the regular GLE’s huge 2,055 litre load area when the rear seats are folded down, it does offer a not-exactly-shabby 1,790 litres of space in this configuration.
However, as with other coupés, we’d expect the price to pay for the aesthetically-pleasing sloping roofline will be reduced headroom for rear passengers.
What tech will the 2020 Mercedes GLE Coupé have?
Mercedes has confirmed some of the gadgets that will grace the GLE Coupé’s spec sheet. All cars will come with sports seats, two dashboard-mounted 12.3in displays, Amazon Music streaming integration and safety aids including an active braking assist as standard. While the diesels come with steel suspension as standard, they can come with an air suspension setup. This is standard on the AMG model.
Being the sportiest model in the range, the Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupé 53 comes with some extra features that are claimed to make the car more enjoyable to drive. The air suspension is complemented with “active ride control” that’s designed to reduce body lean when cornering, and drivers can toggle through various driving modes to help tailor the car for slippery conditions and for driving off-road.
When will the 2020 Mercedes GLE Coupé go on sale?
The new Mercedes GLE Coupé is likely to go on sale in spring 2020 with deliveries towards the middle of the year.
How much will the 2020 Mercedes GLE Coupé cost?
Prices for the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé will be revealed closer to launch. As the previous GLE Coupé is around £5,000 more expensive like-for-like than the equivalent version of the regular car, expect the new GLE Coupé to start at around £66,000. A price in the low-to-mid £70,000 mark should be in order for the mild hybrid AMG car.
What are the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé’s rivals?
The Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé’s closest competitors include cars like the Audi Q8, BMW X6 and Porsche Cayenne Coupé. Though not strictly a coupé SUV, the distinctively-designed Range Rover Velar is an equally-stylish alternative to the Mercedes.
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The Grand Tour’s Richard Porter reviews the 2017 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S coupé
