First ride: Mercedes-Benz GLE 500e

Kitzbühel - First test

With the facelift of the Mercedes ML series, not only has the face shifted towards the current C and S-Class, the name has also been changed. In the future, the SUV models from Mercedes-Benz will always carry the corresponding sedan series in their names. Of the GLA belongs to the A-Class, GLC (next week in the driving report!) to the C-series and the GLE to the genus of the E-class. The GL in front of it, well, it stands for “terrain”. Although such an off-road tour is probably even less common for the noble Swabian than for other SUV owners. After all, you have a “real” G-SUV in Stuttgart.

The beautiful calculator

First test drive in the new Mercedes-Benz GLE 500e

Driving test first test 37 Mercedes GLE 500e

Plug-in hybrid in the new GLE

At the start of the facelift, Mercedes is launching the GLE with two diesel variants, the 204 hp four-cylinder and the 258 hp V6 diesel. For the first time, the “small” 250d is also available as a pure rear-wheel drive variant. The two diesels are joined by the “four hundred” and “five hundred” petrol engines. In the GLE 400, a V6 with a three-liter displacement, turbocharging and stratified combustion process is throbbing, in which, with a higher fuel pressure, the direct fuel injection reaches the spark plug area, which leads to more efficient combustion. The engine changes from stratified charge to homogeneous operation depending on the load. In the medium load range, this design leads to a reduction in consumption.

The “five hundred” is still a 4.6 liter V8 bi-turbo with 435 hp and 700 Nm of power. Only the AMG models rank above this. Or the new GLE 500e.

The small e stands for NEDC- economy model

Driving test first test 28 Mercedes GLE 500e

Of the "i am so eco”Plug-in hybrid from Mercedes-Benz

At Mercedes-Benz, the small e now stands for drives with electrical components. It doesn't matter whether it's an e-mobile or a plug-in hybrid. Mercedes-Benz wants to name the pure hybrid models with a small “h”, although it is doubtful how many “h variants” are really still to come. Because the plug-in hybrid is the “smarter”, the “more efficient” drive.

In the case of the GLE 500e, Mercedes-Benz combines the new stratified loader V6 with 333 PS and an 85 kW electric motor. It found its place instead of the torque converter between the seven-speed automatic transmission and the V6 petrol engine. There he does his job noticeably inconspicuously. A brief note on the side: The two diesel engines of the GLE (also with rear-wheel drive alone) were immediately given the new 9 automatic gearbox. The petrol engines use the well-known 7-gear automats.

The GLE 500e is charged by “plug-in” on the rear bumper via a neatly integrated charging socket at the home socket or a Type II wallbox within 2 hours. An 8.7 kWh battery is available for the ion power. According to Mercedes-Benz, the 116 hp electric motor should be supplied with electricity for up to 30 km.

The arithmetic artist

Driving test first test 40 Mercedes GLE 500e

Why do you do that? How does it go?

30 km? Why only 30 km as an electric range? That's no coincidence. The consumption of electric hybrid vehicles will increase after ECE standard R101 specified, included - a nice calculation formula for plug-in hybrids. However, this standard arbitrarily used a distance of 25 km as the basis for electric operation. That means: If you want to calculate your fleet consumption nicely, you should reach at least this 25 km. But that also means: if you can do more, you only invest in expensive battery technology, because all of this can be “calculated nicely” from as little as 25 km.

22 km real value - most polite assessment

On a wet Tuesday morning, the test route leads along a route that is as relaxed as possible between Kitzbühel and Saalfelden. Almost 50 km, with full batteries from the starting point. The GLE does what you expect. He ships you like a sedan across the country road. The driving experience with the facelift has definitely won. Everything feels valuable, direct and sublime. Exactly the feeling you want from a premium SUV.

The accelerator pedal is only stroked, the 333 PS V6 is said to be silent. The consumption display with the black zero shines. Country roads in Austria can be driven at speed 100, in the GLE 500e the speedometer needle oscillates between 80 and 90. You want to enjoy the quietness of plug-in hybrid gliding for a long time. The first construction site truck is crowding at the rear, which probably has no plug-in consumption figures to top this morning.

After 22 km there is no more “quiet” gliding. The GLE 500e switches on the V6, from now on the average consumption increases rapidly.

Electric range vs. Engine off

And how long was the engine off?  A question that can be easily answered with the help of the on-board computer and its eco program. But “engine off” is not to be equated with the electric driving distance from the start. And this is where there is a problem with the GLE 500 e.

The GLE 500e is not stupid!

The bad thing is: You cannot criticize the 500e correctly for what it does. It drives off battery-electrically, it energizes until its battery is empty and then the V6 balances its pounds into the transmission. Thanks to the clever energy management and the coupling with the navigation system, the electron brain of the GLE 500e is considering the most efficient operating strategy for the programmed route. If it goes downhill, the battery should be empty so that the kinetic energy is available again on the next mountain thanks to recuperation. Or the idea of ​​reaching cities with a charged battery, if possible, in order to rush through stop-and-go traffic with maximum efficiency. All good. And yet too little.

In addition, the GLE 500e uses its adaptive cruise control to recognize vehicles and, instead of braking, convert the power to electric energy (dynamo principle), which it stores in its lithium-ion pack.

But expensive!

A clear conscience costs at least € 62.100 - a GLE 250d 4matic, which has a total of 500 Nm instead of the 480 Nm of the gasoline engine in the GLE 500e or the 650 Nm system output (both drives) costs € 47.650 in the base. Sure, the GLE 500e can “boost” and every now and then calm your conscience, but the plug-in hybrid doesn't really make sense! We do not need to compare the “nicely calculated” CO2 values, as the production of electricity is not included in the calculation for the ECE-R101.

Conclusion

Nicely calculated! Failed in everyday life.

The GLE 500e can do what you expect: It drives with confidence. He slides quietly. Its “theoretical system performance” of 422 hp may impress - especially in connection with the “standard consumption of 3.3-3.7 liters. And yet the thought always resonates in the back of the mind: “It's not the best” yet. Because the arbitrarily set mark of 30 km “theoretical” battery range limits the “sense” of the GLE 500e, the sense of plug-in hybrids, to the maximum.

And whoever sets out on the long haul without e-power will feel the thirst of a turbo gasoline engine. No, this first ride in the GLE 500e was not convincing. Too big the compromises on the battery side, too obvious the motivation to get an “ECE R101 fig leaf” to “calculate nicely” the fleet consumption.

The target group for the GLE 500e is incredibly well defined. In principle, you should only be traveling more than 20 km between two sockets in exceptional cases and always - really always - constantly, permanently, plugging the plug-in hybrid into the CO²-neutral power supply. Then whether you need a 333 PS V6 on the other side? The meaning, it may not be understandable to me.

And then there was China. In order to get there in a similar pleasure as here with the ECE R101, you do not have to reach 30 km, but 50 km. And in two years 80 km. It seems like you have been in Stuttgart this “Plug-in” strategy offset.

The wish for the future can only be: Do what you want: “The best or nothing” - and 30 km is “nothing”. And the facelift of the GLE didn't really deserve that either.

Mercedes-Benz 

GLE 500e

design type Plug-in hybrid, V6-Turbo and 85 kW electric motor
Capacity 2.996 cc
Performance 333 hp / 5.250 - 6.000 rpm (petrol)
kraft 480 Nm / 1.600 - 4.000 rpm
Transmission 7-speed automatic
drive axle Four-wheel drive, variable
Length Width Height 4.819, 2.141 mm
wheelbase 2.915 mm
Empty weight 2.465 kg.
 turning circle 11.8m
top speed 245 km/h
Acceleration 0-100 km / h 5.3 sec
standard consumption 3,7 - 3,3 l / 100 km
base Price € 62.100
Test car price -
Insurance -
Motor vehicle tax  -
-
Use Chance ja
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The photos are from Mercedes-Benz. Disclosure: Mercedes-Benz invited me to the driving presentation and paid the travel expenses.

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