First Drive: 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe

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INNSBRUCK, Austria – The amount of snow near Innsbruck in late November was astounding. Along some mountain roads, it was piled three metres high, proving a nearly ideal setting to test the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe — especially since lower elevations provided more temperate conditions, enabling an all-season test in a day.

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The new GLE Coupe has received a significant update, and has grown in the process. Wheelbase and overall length are 20 and 70 millimetres longer, respectively, than the current model, though wheelbase is still shorter than the GLE SUV , at 2,935 mm. Rear passengers get 35 mm more legroom, and there’s more cargo space.

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Storage capacity in the cargo area is 655 litres, which expands to 1,790 litres with the rear seats folded; the latter is an increase of 70 litres compared to the outgoing GLE Coupe. This compares to 630/2,055 litres for the GLE SUV, so the sloping roofline does extract a cost in total luggage capacity. It also limits headroom for rear passengers; a six-footer like me just barely clears the headliner. The loading deck is 60 mm lower, and to further ease cargo loading the GLE can be lowered another 50 with the press of a button.

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The GLE Coupe gets a new 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six that produces 429 horsepower and 384 lb.-ft. of torque. This is an increase of 44 horsepower over the current GLE 43, though the torque figure is the same. The GLE 53 gets an additional boost in power through a 48-volt electric starter-generator mounted between the engine and transmission, which briefly adds 21 horsepower and 184 lb.-ft. of torque under hard acceleration. Combined electric and gas power push the GLE 53 from zero to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds, almost a half-second quicker than the GLE 43. A nine-speed torque-converter automatic drives all four wheels via a variable all-wheel drive system .

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The engine combines a conventional exhaust-driven turbocharger with a 48-volt electric turbine to boost intake pressure. The latter spools up instantly when the gas pedal is depressed, and as the engine picks up revs the conventional turbocharger takes over, providing seamless power deliver free of turbo lag.

Two off-road drive modes (Trail and Sand) have been added to the existing Slippery, Comfort, Sport, Sport Plus, and Individual modes. The two Sport modes lower suspension by 15 millimetres, and when in Comfort mode, it lowers only when travelling above 120 km/h to reduce drag. Suspension can also be raised 30 mm from standard for additional clearance when driving off road or in snow.

The interior is well appointed, roomy and comfortable, and made even more airy by the standard panoramic sunroof. Rear visibility is hampered by the small rear windows, especially noticeable when looking at the rear-view mirror. On the dashboard, you’ll find a wide, seamless pane of glass behind which is a pair of Mercedes’ now-familiar 12.3-inch displays. The forward display features the configurable instrument panel, and the display above the air vents is a touchscreen, which forms part of the GLE’s MBUX infotainment system that also uses steering wheel controls, a touchpad on the centre console, and voice commands to initiate various functions.

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The centre screen shows entertainment, navigation, and vehicle setting info. Augmented reality navigation is standard, and it overlays navigational instructions on a real-time forward view. It works fine, but is distracting when trying to navigate complex intersections; I find regular simulated navigational prompts are easier to follow, as long as they’re timely, which with Mercedes’ system, is the case.

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Most manufacturers are moving to smaller Type-C USB ports, and there are five of these ports in the cabin. A wireless phone charger in located just ahead of the cooled and heated cup holders in the centre console. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included.

Due to record early season snowfall in the Alps, a scheduled snow drive had to be reduced to just a few kilometres, though it was along an icy road flanked by a steep drop. While the GLE 53 handled the slippery, icy surface with ease while in Slippery mode — even when prompted by two-way radio to hammer the throttle — the drive was just too short to really assess its winter driving capabilities. They are no doubt exemplary, especially when equipped with Pirelli Scorpion winter tires, as was my tester.

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At lower elevations on dry pavement, the GLE performed admirably, returning a taut ride. The GLE 53 has Active Ride Control Plus to control body roll; it uses split anti-roll bars that incorporate electrically controlled servos to actively lean the vehicle into turns, like a motorcycle. The ride control is adjustable to three levels and you can feel it leaning in the most aggressive level.

The GLE, however, feels rather hefty. This was especially noticeable when accelerating to make a pass, where it felt like maybe 50 horses weren’t contributing their share. Weight figures have not yet been divulged, but the GLE 43 weighs 2,250 kilograms, so it’s expected the GLE 53 will outweigh that considerably due to its 48-volt electrical system.

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Now it’s time for a little bit of a rant: It’s time that Transport Canada steps up and updates its ruling on Mercedes’ intelligent multi-beam LED headlights , so we can get the good stuff here, too. We are often told about the availability in Europe of this cutting-edge headlight technology, but this is often followed by a disclaimer that it is not yet homologated for North American models.

My test vehicle was equipped with intelligent multi-beam LED headlights, and we had a chance to drive after dark, where they displayed their superiority over any other headlights I’ve seen. Each headlight contains a multitude of individually computer-controlled LEDs. Sensors pick up either the headlights of approaching vehicles or the taillights of vehicles ahead, and individual diodes are then turned off, masking said vehicles from their glare. From the driver’s seat all you see is a large, white swath of bright light, with a square of darkness surrounding vehicles ahead, and keeping them masked even through turns. It’s very effective.

If you prefer that the vehicle takes some of the driving tasks off your hands, a slew of advanced driver assists (blind-spot monitoring, stop-and-go cruise control, lane-change assist, etc.) are available in the optional Intelligent Drive package.

Pricing has not yet been announced, and the 2021 Mercedes-GLE 53 Coupe is expected in dealers in the spring of 2020. Currently, the GLE 43 Coupe starts at $82,500.