Is the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE450e a Good Plug-In Hybrid SUV? 6 Pros, 2 Cons
Posh, stylish and packed with tech, the Mercedes-Benz GLE450e is a mid-size SUV that combines an opulent and modern cabin with a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The result is an exceptionally smooth and comfortable cruiser, delivering a refined performance while handling most daily commutes on electric power alone.
Related: 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE450e Review: The Shallow End of the EV Pool
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Shop the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e near you
Like other PHEVs, the GLE450e offers buyers a way to tiptoe into the electric-vehicle life without giving up the easy long-distance travel capability of a gasoline engine. With a claimed range of 48 miles on electric power alone, this Mercedes presents an appealing alternative to competitors such as the PHEV versions of the Lexus TX, BMW X5 and Volvo XC60. For the 2025 model year, the GLE450e is mostly unchanged.
Cars.com West Coast Editor Conner Golden spent a week getting to know a new GLE450e on the twisty roads and often-clogged arteries of Southern California, and he found it to be an excellent travel companion. Tap the link above for his expert review, or for a quicker look, here are six things we like about the Mercedes-Benz GLE450e and two things we don’t.
What Do We Like About the Mercedes-Benz GLE450e?
1. Stout Powertrain
The GLE450e gets its power from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that’s good for 248 horsepower and 295 pounds-feet of torque; it is paired with a transmission-mounted electric motor. Combined output is a stout 381 hp and 479 pounds-feet, enough to smoothly and effortlessly propel this 5,754-pound SUV from 0-60 mph in a manufacturer-claimed 5.8 seconds and make highway on-ramps a breeze.
2. Smooth Operator
What’s arguably most impressive about the PHEV powertrain is how smoothly it gets the job done, seamlessly switching between gasoline and electric power regardless of speed or throttle position. Even when the accelerator is mashed to the floor from a standstill, response is immediate and swift, and the turbo four-cylinder fires right up with no hesitation.
3. Posh Cabin
Befitting its luxury pedigree, the GLE450e’s cabin is warm, welcoming, and finished with quality materials that look and feel good. The optional mocha leather upholstery with complementary wood trim in our test vehicle made for an especially appealing combination, and the available massaging front seats were a big hit. Overall, the cabin combines a traditional luxury ambiance mixed with a modern, high-tech look.
4. Usable Controls
The dashboard is dominated by two adjacent 12.3-inch screens for the instrument display and infotainment system, which flow together seamlessly beneath a single glass panel. While not as expansive as the full-width screens in some Mercedes-Benz models, the GLE450e’s digital displays feature vivid graphics and are straightforward enough to master. An assortment of physical controls help make operation easier.
5. Comfy Cruiser
While not among the sportier SUVs to drive, the GLE450e delivers an exceptionally smooth and absorbent ride. Our test vehicle’s optional air suspension cranked things up another notch, combining a pillowy ride with excellent body control and minimal lean in corners. Steering is artificially weighted with little feel, but it’s well suited to the overall demeanor of the GLE450e.
6. Stop-and-Go Champ
Mercedes-Benz’s optional Active Stop-and-Go Assist can make traffic snarls a whole lot more bearable by managing stop-and-go traffic at speeds up to 37 mph. Capable of holding the vehicle at a standstill for up to a minute, the system keeps the vehicle moving with heavy traffic and is one of the best systems of its type that we’ve used.
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What Do We Dislike About the Mercedes-Benz GLE450e?
1. Mushy Brakes
The braking feel was something of a disappointment, with a more mushy pedal than we’d like. Some of that can probably be written off to the GLE450e’s combination of conventional and regenerative braking systems, which can often create hiccups. Even so, the regenerative system in the Mercedes is not as aggressive as those of some others.
2. Watch Those Options
Like many luxury models, spending a little time with the option list can add substantially to the sticker price of a new GLE450e. As nice as some of those options are, they added around $20,000 to the price of our test vehicle, bringing the bottom line to $90,530 (including destination). Weigh your choices carefully.
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