Mercedes-Benz Boosts Mid-Size SUV Lineup With AMG GLE 53
Mercedes-Benz redesigned its mid-size SUV for 2020, but something was missing from the GLE lineup: a performance-oriented AMG version. Not anymore; the new Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 will make its debut at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, and with performance goodies galore — starting with a quick boost system that adds extra horsepower at launch.
Related: Here’s Our Full Preview of the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
Power for the GLE 53 comes from a 429-horsepower, 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder and nine-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive is standard. Like other new Mercedes vehicles, the GLE 53 uses a 48-volt light-hybrid system that can recuperate energy and give some electric boost to help acceleration. Thanks to the model’s electric auxiliary compressor, the 48-volt electrical system and EQ Boost starter-generator, Mercedes says the model benefits from an extra 21 hp and 184 pounds-feet of torque on demand, which is enough to launch it from zero-to-60 mph in 5.2 seconds.
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Shop the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 near you
The GLE 53 offers five different driving modes thanks to the AMG Active Ride Control system, which works with the Airmatic adaptive suspension system. Three pre-selected modes — Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus allow the driver to fine tune, and Trail and Sand modes can be dialed in to modify the all-wheel-drive system’s off-road response.
The new model joins the GLE 350 and GLE 450; the 350 comes in either rear-wheel-drive or 4Matic all-wheel-drive configurations and gets power from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 255 hp and 273 pounds-feet of torque. The 450 comes standard with AWD and is powered by a turbocharged inline-six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system, good for 362 hp and 369 pounds-feet of torque.
Outside, the 53 wears styling cues befitting its performance purpose: an AMG-specific radiator grille with 15 vertical strips, 20-inch light alloy wheels and a silver chrome-plated front splitter.
Inside, the model is decked out in black and trimmed in red, featuring black sport seats with contrast stitching and red seatbelts; brushed aluminum grain and carbon trim round out the sporty cabin. It also smells sporty (whatever that means), according to Mercedes, thanks to a model-exclusive fragrance available in the Air-Balance Package.
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Like the 350 and 450, the AMG 53 model gets the upgrades from the 2020 redesign, including the new MBUX control system, which is a touchscreen instead of the previous system’s console controller. It also uses voice recognition, activated by saying “Hey, Mercedes,” and also features an available gesture recognition system that uses a camera embedded in the overhead console.
The new Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 will go on sale in the U.S. in late 2020.
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