Inside the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Coupe (25 Photos)

First, let’s get this out of the way: The vehicle in question isn’t a coupe; it has four doors and five seats, and it’s related to the large Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV, which will soon be redesigned and renamed the GLE-Class. This new variant is actually first on the scene and presumably at dealerships, and it carries the name “GLE” “Coupe.”

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I was the first Cars.com editor to see the GLE Coupe in person. I don’t usually fixate on styling because I know you, the reader, will form your own opinion in as little as a fraction of a second, but presumably the only reason for a “four-door coupe” to exist is its styling. In my opinion, there has been exactly one four-door coupe whose styling justifies its existence and that’s the Audi A7, a car rather than an SUV. All the others can go back where they came from, which seems to be Germany.

My first look suggests the GLE Coupe doesn’t need to exist.

Neither does the BMW X6, which is its primary competitor, but at least that model’s front end looks aggressive and appealing in its own right. Step around the side or — if you dare, the rear — and the X6’s appeal is lost.

I didn’t find the GLE Coupe particularly appealing from any angle, at least not beyond what you’ll probably get once the regular M-Class SUV becomes the GLE. In fact, I think the GLE Coupe looks better in photos than it does in person, mainly because photos don’t show its scale. A shape like this can look cartoony on a smaller vehicle, but on one this big, it’s plain ridiculous.

The Mercedes logo in the grille, which typically hides a radar unit, is the size of a skillet. The upright grille doesn’t exactly lead gracefully into the vehicle’s raked windshield and roofline. And the rear end, well, apparently it’s impossible to make an SUV into a coupe with a decent-looking rear end. I checked out two versions — with and without a spoiler — and neither makes the grade.

To address the main questions for any loonies that are considering buying this thing: Even with the low roofline, it was reasonably easy to get inside the GLE. Even in the backseat, I had a few inches of headroom to spare (I’m 6 feet tall), though the seat is a little closer to the floor than I’d like. Presuming the regular SUV’s roofline is higher, it’s possible Mercedes will make the seat higher as well, but we won’t know until it’s introduced.

Due to the hatchback body style, there’s a decent amount of cargo volume, but there’s a hard cover included to block the view of the cargo area from passers-by, and it doesn’t appear to fold. It would have to be removed for anything large, and then the cover would compete for cargo space. The cargo floor is literally above waist height on me, making it refreshingly simple to load small, light items but potentially impossible for large or heavy ones, especially for smaller folks.

Sorry, but I’m not seeing a reason for this model to exist. The interior is lovely, but you’ll be able to get that in the regular SUV. Occasionally you hear the answer to the question no one asked. Sometimes that answer comes in the form of a vehicle. So why are so many automakers answering the imaginary question? Maybe someone did ask the question, and the meaning was lost in translation. In case anyone ever asks you directly, just say “nein.”

Cars.com photos by Evan Sears