Just look at that loading area 🤯 £22,000 for this premium badged luxury SUV
We’ve only ever driven GLEs fitted with air suspension, so we can’t comment on the steel-sprung models. On the air springs, the GLE feels comfortable enough, if a touch clumsy, floating over larger undulations in a slightly disconcerting way, but also shimmying over smaller bumps and occasionally dropping into kerbside drain covers. True, you can flick the switch to Sport mode, but that takes things to the opposite extreme, firming up the suspension too much.
As you might expect, then, handling isn’t its strong suit, either; the GLE always feels heavy, ploughing its nose ahead and leaning over in corners, even in that stiffer suspension mode. The steering is quick enough, but it feels light and somewhat artificial. In short, the GLE is not a car you’ll want to hustle along a back road.
Inside, you sit high up, giving you a commanding view, and on first inspection the interior looks smart. However, a couple of shoddy bits of fit and finish spoil the effect, while the labyrinthine infotainment system takes some getting used to. And while there’s plenty of space for four passengers, five will be a squeeze, thanks to a hefty hump in the floor and a narrow middle seat. You also don’t get the option of a third row of seats, ruling the GLE out as a seven-seater – a significant disadvantage compared with the