SUVOTY I Contenders
Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV Engine/Transmission 350 4Matic 2.0L turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4/9-speed automatic
450 4Matic 3.0L turbo DOHC 24-valve I-6/9-speed automatic Curb Weight (F/R Dist) 350 4Matic 4,792 lb (53/47%) 450 4Matic 5,178 lb (54/46%)
Wheelbase 117.9 in Length x Width x Height GLE 350 194.3 x 76.7 x 70.7 in GLE 450 194.3 x 76.7 x 69.8-73.2 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy 350 4Matic
177/130 kW-hr/100 miles 450 4Matic 177/140 kW-hr/100 miles CO2 Emissions, Comb 350 4Matic 0.90 lb/mile 450 4Matic 0.93 lb/mileSPECS 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 4Matic 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4Matic
Base Price/As Tested $57,195/$72,685 $62,145/$84,640
Power (SAE net) 255 hp @ 5,800 rpm 362 hp @ 5,500 rpm + 21 hp (elec); 362 hp comb
Torque (SAE net) 273 lb-ft @ 1,800 rpm 3 69 lb-ft @ 1,600 rpm + 184 lb-ft (elec); 369 lb-ft comb
Accel, 0-60 mph 7.6 sec 5.6 sec
Quarter Mile 15.8 sec @ 87.5 mph 14.2 sec @ 97.4 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 130 ft 115 ft
Lateral Acceleration 0.78 g (avg) 0.83 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 28.2 sec @ 0.62 g (avg) 27.0 sec @ 0.69 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 19/26/22 mpg 19/24/21 mpgS
elf-own” hasn’t made its
way to the pages of most
dictionaries just yet, but
when it does, the Mercedes-Benz
GLE-Class may well serve as an
example reference. “The GLE
350’s blundering performance,
especially in light of the GLE
450’s standout revue, was the
automotive self-own of 2019,” the
description might read.
Judges praised the pricier,
air-suspended GLE 450 for its
smooth I-6, sharp handling, and
quiet, comfortable interior. Wedelighted in its performance on
the handling circuit, and although
we disagreed on whether the
new engine was quick or merely
adequate, we all had praise for its
refined performance.
The praise got stronger as
the road got rougher. Zach Gale
found it didn’t need any of its
special off-road modes to make
short work of our deep sand and
frame-twisting off-road tests.
The lovefest ended when
judges stepped into the GLE 350.
Likened to “a live axle pickup withone flat-spotted tire,” multiple
judges called the suspension’s
behavior “nearly uncontrollable,”
“potentially dangerous,” and by
far the worst of the entire field—
regardless of price or size.
Judges also clobbered the
GLE 350 for its middling engine
and ungraceful nine-speed
automatic, the latter a curiosity,
as it worked fine in the GLE 450.Regardless of engine or
suspension, the judges also had
unkind words for Mercedes’ new
MBUX infotainment system and
its touchpads on the steering
wheel and center console.
Some judges were willing to
forgive MBUX, but even the best
user experience couldn’t have
saved the GLE 450 from the
GLE 350. Scott EvansPRO The GLE 450 • Off-road chops • Bank vault interior
CON The GLE 350 • Infuriating MBUX System • Hit-or-miss transmissionMercedes-Benz GLE-Class
Vehicle Layout Front-engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV Engine/Transmission 2.0T AWD 2.0L turbo DOHC 16-valve I-4/8-speed automatic 2.7T
AWD 2.8L twin-turbo DOHC 24-valve V-6/8-speed automatic Curb Weight (F/R Dist) 2.0T AWD 4,511 lb (57/43%) 2.7T AWD 4,782 lb (59/41%)
Wheelbase 112.2 in Length x Width x Height 190.0 x 78.7 x 66.2 in Energy Consumption, City/Hwy 2.0T AWD 169/135 kW-hr/100 miles 2.7T AWD 177/130
kW-hr/100 miles CO2 Emissions, Comb 2.0T AWD 0.88 lb/mile 2.7T AWD 0.90 lb/mileSPECS 2019 Lincoln Nautilus 2.0T AWD 2019 Lincoln Nautilus 2.7T AWD
Base Price/As Tested $43,830/$61,700 $48,035/$69,380
Power (SAE net) 250 hp @ 5,500 rpm 335 hp @ 5,500 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 280 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm 380 lb-ft @ 3,250 rpm
Accel, 0-60 mph 7.3 sec 5.8 sec
Quarter Mile 15.6 sec @ 88.8 mph 14.4 sec @ 95.8 mph
Braking, 60-0 mph 117 ft 117 ft
Lateral Acceleration 0.83 g (avg) 0.81 g (avg)
MT Figure Eight 27.6 sec @ 0.65 g (avg) 27.1 sec @ 0.68 g (avg)
EPA City/Hwy/Comb 20/25/22 mpg 19/26/21 mpgAlthough the Corsair and
Aviator wear more fetching
examples of Lincoln’s latest
design language, it’s inside that
the Nautilus’ age becomes most
apparent. There are touches of
luxury, but the cabin simply can’t
match the alluring style or more
functional layout of the newer
Lincoln SUVs.
Lincoln recognizes that luxury
crossovers meant more for
cruising than canyon-carving
don’t need insanely powerful
base engines. In the Nautilus, aA
s a rolling preview of things
to come, the 2019 Lincoln
Nautilus tantalizes. Will the
next-gen Nautilus be as good as
the new Corsair and Aviator? We
can only hope.
For now, the current Nautilus
cruises through SUV of the Year
evaluations as a tastefully
updated, if dated, midsize luxury
crossover. The Lincoln Nautilus
attempts to quietly out-luxuriate
the Lexus RX in a soft, premium,
and unapologetically non-
sporty package.250-hp turbo-four helps keep the
entry price well under that of the
Lexus RX. And, actually, the little
engine mostly gets the job done.
No matter the engine,
however, the Nautilus’ well-con-
trolled suspension keeps road
imperfections from bothering
passengers. Still, there’s no
avoiding the fact that the
Nautilus lacks the special sauce
that makes the newer Corsair,
Aviator, and Navigator so tasty.
You get to be picky when you’re
paying up to $70,000 for aluxury crossover, and a Ford (or
a Corsair) would have basically
gotten the job done for less.
Now that we’ve experienced
every updated or redesigned
Lincoln SUV—from the Corsair and
Nautilus to the three-row Aviator
and Navigator—we appreciate
how far the brand has come.
The Nautilus nameplate has
potential, but the luxury cross-
over currently wearing the name
doesn’t advance its segment
enough—and won’t until a truly
new version arrives. Zach GalePRO Comfortable suspension • Cool name • Surprising turbo-four
CON Dated interior • $70K is a lot to ask • Lacks off-road modesLincoln Nautilus
“
GLE 3502.7T AWD (Black Label)