2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 Review - The Artist formerly known as ML

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 Review - The Artist formerly known as ML - 2016 Mercedes - Benz GLE350 RWD 3.5-liter V6 direct i...

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE350 Review - The Artist formerly known as ML -

2016 Mercedes - Benz GLE350 RWD

3.5-liter V6 direct injection (302 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 273 lb-ft torque @ 3500-5250 rpm, premium fuel) September automatic 18 city / 24 highway / 20 combined (EPA rating, MPG) 20.9 over 5,500 miles, 75% highway (observed MPG) base (GLE350): 52.025 $ price test: $ 56,875 prices include $ 925 for destination / delivery charge.

Those of you who railed against glowing review of Bark 2016 Ford Mustang convertible by claiming his " Ford bias "tainted his view could also think that my son on this vehicle is spun in a similar vein. After all, I worked for Mercedes-Benz Financial Services for 17 years, and here I am reviewing my own Mercedes- Benz subsidized retiree rental vehicle. How can I be objective, you ask?

Before we find out, keep in mind that I drove a total of more than 60,000 miles in ten separate copies the last generation ML350 and its variants, so I know the predecessor of this SUV inside and outside.

most changes to the GLE are positive, but there are some glaring exceptions .

2016, Mercedes-Benz freshened the venerable ML350 SUV and changed its name to the GLE350, abandoning 17 years of strong name recognition model . The average size of the Alabama Sport-ute built joined all other Benz SUV to have a name that starts with the letter "G." The GLE / ML will not be the best-selling Benz SUV this year, the hot, new GLC and beautiful, over-the-top interior will take that crown. GLC is the most effective future Mercedes SUVs, but there are still plenty of life left in the old, gray ghost GLE

Most sold in America GLE have the same engine as our example -. A smooth, 302 horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 with direct injection. Mercedes also offers a turbo V6, a 2.1-liter four-cylinder diesel, a plug-in hybrid variants and two V8 AMG high horse. The days of V8s in GLE general public and those with the torquey six-cylinder diesel BlueTec, is long gone. The GLE is also available as / hatchback / coupe model eyesore designed to compete with the BMW X6.

Our rear-wheel drive tester came with the Premium Package, which includes new infotainment system Mercedes Comand, navigation, voice control, reversing camera, satellite radio and keyless entry. It also features Lane Tracking package with Blind Spot and Lane Keeping assist help. The GLE comes standard with every advanced security geegaw known to man, including prevention capitalized-de-la-factory COLLISION ASSIST WITH MORE ATTENTION ASSIST.

The new GLE is updated with a new grille, headlights and LED taillights. The changes are so subtle that you will need to park a GLE next to a ML to notice the difference.

Infotainment

Let's talk about eight inches elephant in the room. Around a zillion Internet commentators have criticized the look and placement of the new Comand screen that rises vertically out of the dashboard. It may sound great in pictures, but it is a huge leap forward. The screen is now closer to eye level and Benz has upgraded its high resolution graphics to boot. From the perspective of a driver, it is far superior to its predecessor in the ML

That being said, there is a manual due to operator Comand system is 203 pages :. MB added a ton of features with the introduction of GLE. I say, they have added redundancy and complexity. (A nice touch is that the highlights of this manual, and 453 regular manual page can now be viewed in the Comand system.)

Mercedes has added a touch pad on top of the familiar rotary dial for 2016. It performs the same functions as the dial, but you can now control the media and navigation with a finger slip instead of pulling or twisting the dial. You can control the functions four in different ways: using the buttons on the dashboard, voice control, rotary dial or touch pad. Try to mix and match which ones to use can be confusing. If this was my first Mercedes-Benz vehicle, I would be totally confused.

The touchpad has a handwriting recognition application functions such as taking phone contacts. Simply draw the letters with your finger and the system searches. My scribbles often came on the screen that looks like those made by a drunken John Madden while stressing Packer played on a telestrator. I disabled this function after a few days.

My biggest complaint about the Comand system is that you can not store the favorite destinations in their own place, and you are now forced to merge with your phone address book. This problem is actually silent through the GLE being one of the first Mercedes model to have the amazing Apple carplay as standard equipment. Simply connect your Apple device and you have most of the Mercedes navigation capabilities in Apple Maps, but without the nice graphics. Now I know why my dealer stocks research has given cars loaded to the gills without navigation :. If you have an iPhone, you do need

I'm probably the only person who cares that Mercedes has dropped the altimeter function in the Comand module in the GLE. When you live in a mountain state, an altimeter is more than just a fun toy. Yes, I know, there is an app for that.

According to Mercedes-Benz heritage Becker and Blaupunkt radios crappy, basic sound system in our GLE is not worthy of a luxury vehicle. You'd better opt for the $ 850 Harmon / Kardon LOGIC7 stereo or $ 5.800 Bang and Olufsen BeoSound banger, the latter are not available for people who live near major earthquake faults.

Driving

Start the engine, drop the gear lever mounted on the smooth column in drive or reverse, hit the gas and ... wait a second for the new-for-2016 automatic electronic parking brake to release, causing you to swerve before. The system automatically engages when you place the transmission in Park. If you open the driver's door during the maneuver, as I did recently in a dark, cramped parking, the system engages and the screams GLE to a stop too. I'm trying to get used to release the brake before I leave.

Jack Baruth mentioned the same brake in comments on his CLA250 hire test, calling it "baffling" and I tend to agree.

the power of the V6 is more than enough and the GLE is significantly faster than its claimed 7.5 seconds 0-60 mph time. Automatic transmissions seven-moves seamlessly. Mercedes has improved the control Select dynamic handling system for GLE, with a choice of "Comfort", "Sport" and "sliding mode". The direction substantially tightens now when selecting "Sport", but there is still a little play on the center. Handling is good for a 4,00-pound sport-ute, but Mercedes-Benz knows their customers value and comfort turn on the cornering ability. I drove the German competition of the GLE and two things are obvious :. They are more fun in the twisties, but are not nearly as tight and well screwed like Mercedes

The GLE also adopted the "Tucson test" by bouncing gently through the worst potholes found in all cities in the West

retains the GLE my favorite feature of the ML :. its extremely quiet cabin. Combined with its chassis compound and comfortable seating, the GLE is a sensational highway cruiser, almost on par with the S-Class sedan. A recent 2,0 mile sprint round trip from our house in Tucson Fort Worth NASCAR race, and then to South Texas to see the bluebonnets in bloom was a breeze. Roll through desolate and windy West Texas to 0 mph, the GLE hunted like a freight train. The same trip in previous years in a GLK and GTI left my wife and me tired and cranky.

If you want a luxury SUV to transport five people in the safety and comfort of the GLE is a good choice. I had exactly zero warranty issues, and no squeaks or rattles in all my ML350 car now, although I was driving any of them beyond 10,000 miles. Your mileage may vary.

Mercedes-Benz has a corporate mission to delight customers by exceeding expectations. I leave you with one example, a feature not mentioned in any marketing materials or website of Mercedes-Benz. Unlock GLE at night and projector lights under each side mirror aired a foot high image of the 1920 Mercedes-Benz logo on the floor. Some may sneer that this is similar to drivers that bear the license plate, "Ma Benz" or "I have a Mercedes" message such. Benz as an old man, I can not be objective: I love this feature

Disclosure: .. This is GLE350 current Mercedes-Benz vehicle rental retired the author, which is subsidized Mercedes-Benz USA

[Images: © 2016 Steve Lynch/The Truth About Cars]