2017 Mercedes-AMG GLE43 4Matic

If the V-8–powered Mercedes-AMG GLE63 is Coca-Cola Classic, then consider the V-6 Mercedes-AMG GLE43 to be Coke Zero. Not quite the same as the premier version, the GLE43 mid-size luxury crossover SUV attempts to bottle the essential ingredients of its six-figure AMG stablemate into a less potent but sweeter-priced, $68,145 package.

As with Mercedes-AMG’s other 43-badged products, this GLE-class variant is motivated by a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine. Armed with 362 horsepower and 384 lb-ft of torque, the AMG-tuned six boasts an additional 33 horses and 30 lb-ft of torque over the similarly sized and configured V-6 that powered the discontinued Mercedes-Benz GLE400.

The engine isn’t the GLE43’s only powertrain component that the Mercedes performance team breathed on, though, as AMG also tweaked the nine-speed automatic transmission and the all-wheel-drive system—the latter defaulting to a 40/60 percent front-to-rear torque distribution.

Unfortunately, the GLE43’s mechanical upgrades provide few real-world performance gains compared with the GLE400 it essentially replaces. While the GLE43 scoots from zero to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, or 0.1 second quicker than a 2016 GLE400 with a seven-speed automatic transmission, the AMG’s 5-to-60-, 30-to-50-, and 50-to-70-mph times of 6.5, 3.4, and 4.4 seconds were slower than those of the older, less powerful model by 0.3 second across the board. In fairness to our Selenite Grey ($720) AMG test vehicle, it was saddled with an extra 244 pounds versus the GLE400.

The GLE43 does benefit from the fitment of 14.8-inch front and 13.6-inch rear brake rotors in place of the GLE400’s 13.8- and 13.0-inch units, as well as a standard air-spring suspension in place of the GLE400’s steel coil springs. Equipped with a set of optional 21-inch wheels wrapped in Continental CrossContact summer performance tires (a $1000 package), this GLE43 came to a halt from 70 mph in 172 feet and circled our 300-foot skidpad at 0.77 g. However, consider that our long-term Audi Q7, also on summer tires, managed to stop from 70 mph in just 155 feet and post 0.90 g on the skidpad.

Taking It to the Streets

Despite the GLE43’s middling performance at the track, the mid-size Mercedes crossover’s torque-rich and almost lag-free twin-turbo six-cylinder is a hoot in day-to-day driving. Twist the AMG Dynamic Select dial to the most raucous Sport+ setting (there are also Comfort, Sport, Slippery, and Individual modes), and the V-6 engine’s exhaust note becomes downright maniacal, popping and crackling with every gear change.

Sadly, the GLE43 is far less fun on twisty back roads, where its body leans excessively through turns and dives inordinately during braking. The high seating position—we measured the H-point at 30.5 inches, 1.2 inches taller than a Q7’s—further exacerbates perceptions of the AMG’s body motions. Still, that commanding perch gives the driver and front passenger an excellent view of the road ahead. Other merits include a reasonable 38 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and a 7200-pound towing capacity.

Fuel economy for the GLE43 is EPA-rated at 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway, the latter of which we matched in our 75-mph real-world highway fuel-economy test. Over the GLE43’s stay with us we averaged 18 mpg, or 2 mpg short of the EPA’s combined estimate.

Dollar Dollar Bills, Y’all

Adding to our test car’s overall comfort were a pair of heated front bucket seats that included optional massage ($1100) and ventilation ($570) functions. A three-across rear bench with plush cushions and 38.4 inches of legroom—1.8 more than in a BMW X5—included optional outboard rear-seat heaters ($620), a third climate-control zone ($790) in addition to the dual-zone system up front, and pre-wiring for a rear-seat entertainment system ($170).

However, not even our test car’s $4900 worth of Designo Espresso Brown leather and $160 in Anthracite Poplar wood trim could hide the GLE43’s dated and button-heavy dashboard design, its awkwardly placed COMAND infotainment controller that sits too far back on the center console to comfortably grasp, or its inconvenient 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat that requires the seat bottoms to be folded separately of the seatbacks in order to utilize the crossover’s 80-cubic-foot cargo capacity.

The GLE43 isn’t devoid of modernity, however, and it’s available with a host of contemporary safety features. The $5010 Premium 3 package adds adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, an automated emergency braking system, and blind-spot monitoring, as well as the contents of the $2120 Premium 2 package (sunshades for the rear passenger windows, heated and cooled front cupholders, adaptive LED headlights with automatic high-beams, and more). This GLE43 also featured the brand’s Magic Vision Control ($350) that replaces traditional hood-mounted washer-fluid spray nozzles with wiper arms that feature multiple holes to spread the fluid across the windshield; a panoramic sunroof tacked on an additional $1090 and a trailer hitch was another $575.

Tallied up, our GLE43 test car’s myriad options added $17,800 to the sticker and netted an as-tested price of $85,945—$10K more than our similarly equipped long-term Audi Q7 that’s more enjoyable to drive and provides seating for up to seven passengers.

Not as refined or versatile as some of its competition and without the extra-extroverted personality of the costlier, 550-hp GLE63, the Mercedes-AMG GLE43 suffers from being based on one of Mercedes’s oldest vehicles. But the 43 formula has proven a winner in newer models like the GLC43 and E43, so perhaps the next GLE43 will prove to be more satisfying.

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback

PRICE AS TESTED: $85,875 (base price: $68,075)

ENGINE TYPE: twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 183 cu in, 2996 cc
Power: 362 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque: 384 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 9-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 114.8 in
Length: 189.6 in
Width: 78.7 in Height: 69.3 in
Passenger volume: 103 cu ft
Cargo volume: 38 cu ft
Curb weight: 5089 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 5.4 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 14.7 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 29.7 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 6.5 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.4 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 4.4 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 14.1 sec @ 98 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 130 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 172 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.77 g

*stability-control-inhibited

C/D FUEL ECONOMY:
Observed: 18 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 23 mpg
Highway range: 560 mi

EPA FUEL ECONOMY:
Combined/city/highway: 20/17/23 mpg