Unless Mercedes were able to defy physics and create a few new laws, the Mercedes GLE Diesel Coupe was always going to be a big, bulky, heavy machine. It’s not exactly responsive or agile, but it is at least super fast in a straight line.
In terms of the engines, we like the 3.0-litre diesel that powers the 350d. It delivers up to 254bhp, and draws a massive amount of its power from lower revs. It doesn’t feel strained at all, but at times even feels relaxing. It’s eager too, and can get you from a rest to 62mph in 7.0 seconds.
The BMW X6 is more efficient than the 350d, though, which is stuck averaging fuel economy returns of around 39.2mpg. Road tax, meanwhile, will cost you £270 a year. As a package, that isn’t too bad for a car of this size, but the X6 can return 45mpg on a good day.
The GLE’s interior is largely taken from the regular GLE, and will even look familiar to anyone who has stepped inside the old ML. The standards are high as ever, with the car benefiting from a few revisions.
The dash is clear and neatly designed, although it’s not as slick as other Mercedes models. While we can’t complain about the quality of the materials used, the design is a tad conservative and even old-fashioned in comparison to other models.
Its practicality levels are up and down. The Coupe roofline slopes and cuts into rear headroom, while the big wheel aches are flawed. And despite Mercedes adding the side running boards, they really haven’t made accessing the car any easier. If anything, they’re another obstacle for you to overcome.
On the plus side, the boot measures 650-litres, which makes it substantially bigger than the one in the X6. The folding rear seats lie almost totally flat, and the boot is a usable, square shape.
Price:
BMW – £56,300 – £93,100
Mercedes – £42,000 – £100,500