2027 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53: International first drive

2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE 53

Once upon a time, high-performance cars were anything but efficient. And the miserly operators were invariably boring.

Throw an element of luxury on top? No chance of ticking all three of those boxes at the same time. 

These days, things are different. And it boils down to the improvement and development of the modern-day plug-in hybrid.

Seems like a no-brainer, right? Having your cake and eating it, too? Mercedes-Benz Australia isn’t so sure yet.

Is the GLE53 AMG Hybrid coming to Australia?

Yes, and no. This is a story about the Mercedes-Benz GLE53 AMG Hybrid+, a car that is not yet locked in for the Australian market. Instead, the official word from local representatives is that it is ‘under assessment’.

What we are getting though, is plenty of other power choices in the broader Mercedes-Benz GLE range. Turbocharged petrol and diesel six-cylinder offerings will make up the bulk of the range in Australia, while performance enthusiasts will likely be focussing hard on the AMG GLE63 with the new flat-plane twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8.

The confusing part here is that there are two GLE53 models, both of which are hybrid six-cylinder vehicles.

The Mercedes-Benz GLE53 4Matic+ is coming to Australia. It’s priced from $187,900 plus on-road costs for either the Coupé or SUV, and has a 48-volt mild hybrid system that adds 17kW and 205Nm to the bottom line of performance, along with reducing emissions and smoothing out the stop-start system.

The 330kW output is mighty impressive for a 3.0-litre inline six, and 600Nm can grow to 640Nm for a ten-second overboost.

Earlier iterations of this technology were more crude add-ons, using the existing belt system at the front of the engine to provide energy recuperation (regenerative braking) and acceleration assistance.

Nowadays, the technology runs as a thin electric motor that is wedged in between the engine and transmission, gaining a broader ability to pull in and expel power.

In the GLE53 SUV, acceleration from 0-100km/h can be achieved in 4.9 seconds, fuel consumption is kept at 11 litres per hundred kilometres, and the whole thing is Euro 7 emissions compliant.

What about the plug-in hybrid GLE?

That all sounds good, but it’s the plug-in hybrid variant in the GLE range – the one that’s not yet locked for Australia – that really starts to do some interesting things.

At this point in the story, it helps if I explain how things happen behind the curtain. International launches of a new model bring together motoring journalists, influencers, and other commentators from around the world into one place.

Each market is going to be getting its own range of models, depending on its needs. Australia won’t get the four-cylinder diesel GLE anymore, nor the non-AMG V8 model. But we are getting the six-cylinder diesel, which is not offered in a lot of markets. 

If there are ten journos milling about, there might be only five cars at best. Sometimes there are less, and you negotiate some kind of round robin to see who drives what first. 

But here is the interesting part: when there are a wide range of powertrains and trim levels available, you might not always be driving something that is destined for your market.

And when another Aussie journo and I were facing a 2.5-hour drive back to the airport through rural Colorado, we were thrown the keys to the Mercedes-AMG GLE53 Hybrid 4Matic+.

An absolute mouthful to say in one go, but this is the plug-in hybrid that we might not get in Australia. But I’ve spent some quality time in it. 

What engine does the 2027 GLE53 Hybrid have?

Using the same M256 Evo six-cylinder engine as we have detailed above, the ‘hybrid’ model (confusing, I know) ups the ante with a proper 400V plug-in hybrid system. Additional electrical input grows here to 135kW and 480Nm, more torque than an Isuzu D-Max, giving combined total outputs of 430kW and 750Nm.

That’s enough to propel this big chunk of American-built barge to 100km/h in a sprightly 4.5 seconds. And because of the trick suspension under the skin, the car behaves in a way that you wouldn’t expect from a 2.7-tonne vehicle. It’s smooth and cosseting, even feeling a little light on its feet at times on the open road. 

Fully variable torque distribution through the four wheels allows the car to rotate through corners and respond actively to driver inputs, resisting that lean-and-push you often feel in high-performance high-riding SUVs.

This AMG-branded Benz doesn’t feel too stiff and uncomfortable, either. Bump absorption is always good, and the car proved to be enjoyable through the twisty corners of a mountain pass and at a cruise on the open road.

Interplay between electric and petrol power is smooth and muted, with a relatively tame (but still augmented) soundtrack coming into play when you go into a sportier driving mode.

But in this day and age of high and volatile fuel prices, it’s the flexibility of this hybrid powertrain that also holds appeal.

Along with all of that straight-line performance and long-legged composure, this car affords around 90 kilometres of electric-only driving range, at speeds of up to 140km/h. 

Fuel economy will of course vary depending on how much charge the battery has, and how heavy your right foot is. But the prospect of doing a lot of your daily driving without using fuel would be appealing.

The level of refinement and poise here is excellent, and the interior is as sumptuous as you would expect. The updated GLE range gets a new layout inside, with a three-screen dashboard (each being 12.3 inches in size) and no shortage of excellent materials. 

Buyers can look at the SUV or the Coupé, which have slightly different lengths and wheelbases, along with the change to the roofline. If you are more interested in the ‘coupe’ aesthetics, then you’re going to lean in that direction. But the SUV is the more practical choice, with more second-row headroom and extra boot space.

While the 400V plug-in hybrid powertrain is still only a ‘maybe’ for Australia, such an offering could find some cut-through in the premium SUV segment.

Australians are mad for V8s, and will no doubt be happy that the full-fat GLE63 AMG will continue to have the latest V8 from Affalterbach under the bonnet.

But for those who want something still fast, smooth and luxurious, the GLE53 (even though we can only get the mild hybrid for now) could be a good option.

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