Mercedes Benz New M-Class

The new Mercedes-Benz M-Class is characterized by a restyled look that evolves the design of the past model adopting a number of styling cues from the current model line-up.

One of the main features of the new model is the increased efficiency, which results in an average 25% increase compared to the previous model.

This is also the result of the “downsizing” process. The ML 250 Bluetec model is powered by a 2.1 liter twin-turbo unit that deliver 204 hp while achieving fuel efficiency of 17 km/l, which allows for a range of up to 1,500 km.

Let’s have a quick rundown of the new Mercedes GLE range.

Bottom rung is the 201bhp four-cylinder diesel GLE 250d. It’s available with two or four-wheel drive, and buyers who go for the former will be rewarded with commendable figures for a bulky off-roader: 52.3mpg and 140g/km CO2.

Want more muscle? Next level up is the V6 diesel GLE 350d 4MATIC with 255bhp, 457lb ft and four-wheel drive. It’s an engine already familiar from the outgoing ML, but with a host of updates to the ECU, turbo, EGR valve and oil pump, helping it curb its fuel consumption by 9% to 44.1mpg.

All diesel models get a new nine-speed automatic transmission, with a differential lock and reduction gear available as options for the (probably quite small) number of customers who plan on attempting heavy off-road work.

Is there an AMG version?

There is: the snappily named Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S 4MATIC. If you like your family SUV with an unnecessary side order of speed, this has plenty of it. Eight cylinders, two turbos, 5.5 litres and 577bhp, adding up to 0-62mph in 4.2 seconds and the usual 155mph electronic lid on the top speed. Tick the ‘AMG Driver’s package’ box on the options list and that’ll rise to 174mph.

Mercedes says throttle response and gearshift times have both been sharpened up compared with the outgoing ML-class AMG, and the chassis likewise. Ordinary GLEs split their torque 50:50 front to rear but the AMG goes 40:60 biased towards the back.

Did you mention a hybrid model?

Yes indeed, Mercedes’ first go at a plug-in hybrid SUV in fact. It’s called the GLE 500e 4MATIC and pairs a 329bhp twin-turbo V6 petrol engine with a 114bhp electric motor integrated with the seven-speed automatic transmission. Altogether there’s an enormous 480lb ft of torque on tap.

Because the European Union allows plug-in hybrids’ fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures to be calculated in a rather generous way, it’s rated at 85.6mpg combined and 78g/km CO2. Optimum electric-only range measures up at 18.5 miles, with speeds of up to 80mph possible under the electric motor’s power alone.

To make the most of that range you’ll need to pre-charge the 8.8kWh lithium-ion battery through the mains, or with a wallbox charger. With the latter, Mercedes says it takes around two hours to reach full charge.

Remind me why Mercedes-Benz has renamed the ML series as GLE?

It’s all part of a range-wide shake-up of its naming system, with the aim of making the company’s model line-up easier to understand. That’s the theory, anyway.