2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class Review, Ratings, Specs, Prices, and Photos

What kind of vehicle is the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class? What does it compare to?

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is a luxurious SUV with seating for five or even seven in a pinch. Shop it against the BMW X5, Volvo XC90, and Audi Q7. 

Is the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class a good SUV?

Fantastic in 4-cylinder SUV form and commensurately better with 6- and 8-cylinder power, the Mercedes-Benz GLE lineup offers a composed feel, an upscale cabin, and tons of tech for the money. It’s a 7.2 out of 10 on the TCC scale. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

What’s new for the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class?

The GLE lineup carries into 2023 with no notable changes.

Review continues below

Available in traditional SUV and sloping roof GLE Coupe bodies, these mid-size Mercedes-Benz SUVs wear voluptuous lines inside and out. AMG versions largely stay the course, aside from bigger wheels and unique front and rear bumper treatments. 

Rectangular climate vents lend a retro feel inside, but the big digital instrument cluster and central infotainment display are decidedly 2023—even though this basic design has been around for a few years now.

The lineup starts with 255 hp directed rearward or to all four wheels in GLE 350 guise. 450s swap in a boosted inline-6 that’s just divine with 362 electrically-assisted hp on tap. The GLE 580 seems extravagant, at least until you tap into its 483 hp. From Mercedes-AMG come the 53 and 63 S, each with special suspension and drivetrain tuning good for up to 603 hp and a 60-mph sprint as quick as 3.7 seconds. 

Rapid they may be, but GLEs are not particularly thrifty. Look for 22 mpg combined at best, with anything above the GLE 350 sneaking below 20 mpg combined. 

Standard GLE models are most spacious inside. Terrific space awaits front- and middle-row occupants, and cargo is similarly spoiled. GLE Coupes suffer a bit in rear-seat headroom and luggage space, though. Sure, there’s a third-row option, but you’d be better off spending for a GLS if that’s a selling point. 

Better yet is safety thanks to top scores from the NHTSA and the IIHS, though Mercedes charges extra for some of its best crash-avoidance tech. 

How much does the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class cost?

There’s a GLE for every budget—assuming you have at least $58,850. Add a couple grand for all-wheel drive, and then keep going with metallic paint, leather seats, and active safety tech, and Mercedes will want upward of $65,000. 

The range easily nudges into six figures at the top of the lineup. 

Where is the 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class made?

In Tuscaloosa, Alabama.