While the luxury division of Malaysia is dominated by sedans, luxury SUV's are slowly but surely taking over with their commanding driving position and even more supple ride. With no less than eight different SUV's on offer Mercedes-Benz Malaysia are set to capitalise on this market, more so now with the introduction of the locally-assembled GLE 450 4MATIC with AMG Line.
As the name suggests, the seven-seater GLE 450 is based on the E-Class platform with a jacked-up ride height and an SUV body. Underneath the hood, this 2.2-tonne behemoth is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six with 367hp and 500Nm of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels via a 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic transmission, pushing the beast to 100kph from a standstill in just 5.7 seconds and onward to a limited top speed of 250kph.
Being a luxury SUV, a dynamic air suspension system is pretty much standard fare. Mercedes-Benz has given the GLE 450 their state-of-the-art AIRMATIC air suspension with an adaptive damping system. The system automatically adjusts to the vehicle's road conditions, speed, and load to give occupants the most comfortable ride possible.
In this AMG Line trim, the GLE 450 has some subtle yet very tasteful sportier styling upgrades over the standard GLE. Right upfront, you have the diamond radiator grille, sporty aprons around the vehicle and more oversized air intakes. Additionally, the GLE 450 comes equipped with MULTIBEAM LED headlamps with adaptive high beam assist, illuminated running boards with surround logo projections as well as 21-inch AMG multi-spoke light-alloy wheels.
Stepping into the interior of the GLE 450, you can see your hard-earned money being well-spent. The interior blends old-world luxury with ultra-modern character. Wrapped in acres of leather and trimmed with Anthracite open-pore oak wood, the interior is a classy and comfortable place to be in. Front seats are electronically adjustable with memory functions, with rear seats also being electronically adjustable. The third row of seats, while not adjustable, are still wrapped with supple Nappa leather.
The GLE 450 comes with additional convenience features befitting a luxury SUV of its calibre, such as Auto-dimming interior mirror and driver exterior mirror, 64-colour Ambient lighting, THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control, Temperature-controlled cup holder and electrically-operated sun-blinds for the rear passenger compartment.
The GLE 450 is a modern SUV, and with it comes a whole suite of technology and safety features. The stand-out piece of kit on the interior are the two 12.3-inch widescreen displays, forming the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) NTG 6 infotainment system interface.
The driver manages all vehicle functions — from aids to ambient lighting — via touchscreen, touchpad controller or multi-functional steering wheel. Complementing the MBUX system is the Burmester Surround Sound system offering concert-hall levels of acoustics. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also come as standard.
On the safety front, the GLE 450 is equipped with best-in-class safety and driving assistance systems, including Active Distance DISTRONIC, Active Lane Keeping Assist, Blind Spot Assist and Active Parking Assist with a 360-degree camera for all-round visibility. Keyless Go, tyre pressure monitoring system and knee and side airbags are also part of the GLE 450's safety net.
The recommended retail price of the Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4MATIC AMG LINE starts from RM475,501, on-the-road without insurance. Without the current sales tax exemption, the GLE's price would be RM499,888. For more attainable ownership, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is offering the Step Up Agility Financing Plan for the GLE 450 4MATIC AMG Line starting from RM3,888 a month (based on a five years tenure and a 10% downpayment).