As announced last year, Mercedes has consolidated all its SUVs under the G Class. There's the original G (Gelandewagen), the GL (the large 7 passenger model), and now the redesigned and renamed GLE. GLE used to be the M (and ML) Class. GL and GLE will continue to be built in Mercedes' Alabama plant. The G is built under contract in Austria by Magna Steyr.
The GLE has new sheetmetal front and rear for 2016, but you'll easily recognize the vehicle as related to the ML model it replaces. The engine options are mostly carried over from 2015. (Mercedes brand names used to reflect engine displacement, but no longer.)
300d...2.1L turbo 4 cylinder diesel, 369 ft lb at 1600 rpm
350.....3.5L gas V6
400e...3.0L twin turbo gas V6, 354 ft lb
550 AMG...5.5L twin turbo gas V8, 516 ft lb
One new option for 2016 is the 500e...3.5L gas V6 + electric motor, combined 479 ft lb of torque, run on electricity alone 18 miles, recharge in two hours from 220V AC.
The 7 speed automatic is standard across all models. They offer a 9 speed with some diesel models in Europe, but not in USA this year.
Mercedes is making the Off Road Engineering package available in 2016. This adds low range and locking central differential, beefed-up skid plates, and more ground clearance through the air suspension. The Off Road Engineering package will be available with the diesel engine.
It will be interesting to see how the GLE diesel compares with the similarly sized Jeep Grand Cherokee, powered by a 3.0L diesel V6 with 420 ft lb of torque.
The GLE has new sheetmetal front and rear for 2016, but you'll easily recognize the vehicle as related to the ML model it replaces. The engine options are mostly carried over from 2015. (Mercedes brand names used to reflect engine displacement, but no longer.)
300d...2.1L turbo 4 cylinder diesel, 369 ft lb at 1600 rpm
350.....3.5L gas V6
400e...3.0L twin turbo gas V6, 354 ft lb
550 AMG...5.5L twin turbo gas V8, 516 ft lb
One new option for 2016 is the 500e...3.5L gas V6 + electric motor, combined 479 ft lb of torque, run on electricity alone 18 miles, recharge in two hours from 220V AC.
The 7 speed automatic is standard across all models. They offer a 9 speed with some diesel models in Europe, but not in USA this year.
Mercedes is making the Off Road Engineering package available in 2016. This adds low range and locking central differential, beefed-up skid plates, and more ground clearance through the air suspension. The Off Road Engineering package will be available with the diesel engine.
It will be interesting to see how the GLE diesel compares with the similarly sized Jeep Grand Cherokee, powered by a 3.0L diesel V6 with 420 ft lb of torque.