Autocar UK – 14 August 2019

14 AUGUST 2019 AUTOCAR.CO.UK 27

FIRST DRIVES

Six-pot diesel tops oil-burning side of fourth-gen SUV’s range

MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 400D

PORSCHE 911 CARRERA 4 S

CABRIOLET

TESTED 1.8.19, OXFORDSHIRE ON SALE NOW

@ m t i s s h a w

T

his 400d example of the GLE,

a new SUV that is longer, wider

and lower than the car before

it and with the option of seven

seats for the first time, gets the most

potent 325bhp, 516lb ft version of

Merc’s 2.9-litre straight-six diesel.

A r e a l l y lov e l y t h i n g it i s t o o, w it h

a c t u a l au r a l c h a r a c t e r. T h at ’s s o

lacking in most petrol cars these

days, let alone diesels that were never

known for their bark. Yet the growl

from under the bonnet as you explore

the wide band of torque, which is

delivered with some considerable

shov e , w i l l r a i s e a sm i le. It ’s a n

engine willing to be revved, and also

one with acceleration that feels better

than the official 0-62mph time of

7.6 s e c s u gge s t s.

The engine is ideally suited

for towing, too, this GLE coming

equipped with the £1150 Towing

package that boosts capacity to a

mighty 3500kg. Real-world economy

hovered around 30mpg on our

mixed-roads test route, so decent

if not outstanding for a big, heavy

c a r, y e t t he 85 -l it r e f ue l t a n k at le a s t

means infrequent fill-ups thanks to

a range of close to 600 miles.

A great engine, then, but not a

great car overall. While the primary

ride is about as comfortable as they

come, the secondary ride really lets

y ou r ba c k side k now y ou’ v e b e e n

over a bump or a scar in the road

surface. It’s the main thing that lets

t he GL E 4 0 0 d’s m a sk sl ip f r om b e i n g

a complete, well-rounded, luxurious

and comfortable SUV.

The main thing, but not the only

t h i n g: it a l s o e x h i bit s t o o muc h r ol l

a r ou nd c or ne r s , w it h s t e e r i n g t o o

r e mot e t o fe e l y ou’r e h a n g i n g on.

The impression is of a car taking

you around a corner rather than you

guiding it yourself if you exercise

e v e n t he sm a l le s t h i nt of e nt hu si a sm.

Something that might cure this

i s a n op t ion a l s u s p e n sion s y s t e m ,

called E-Active, which mates the air

springs to a 48V electrical system

and a stereo camera to scan the road

ahead to prime the car accordingly

while also improving body control.

But it’s not yet offered in the UK.

So as it stands, the GLE 400d is

a good car rather than a great one.

The cabin is up there with the very

best, as is the engine. It’s a shame the

dynamic appeal isn’t quite there to

challenge for class honours in what is

a very competitive segment.

MARK TISSHAW

INCREASING THE WEIGHT and

reducing the rigidity of a compact

sports car prized for its nimble

handling seems an odd way to

go. And yet, for the latest 911, an

additional 70kg of folding canvas

roof and strengthening for the shell is

but a small proportion of the coupé’s

overall mass, and any stiffness deficit

is largely undetectable on the road.

Paired with all-wheel drive and a

444bhp f lat six, the result is a secure

and phenomenally quick 911 with

excellent roof-down refinement. But

the price for such dynamism is low-

speed ride quality. Never before has

the 911 cabrio so closely matched the

coupé, but those after a more relaxed

drive might want to avoid the PASM

suspension and 21in rear wheels and

pick a standard Carrera Cabriolet. RL

Price  £64,255

Engine  6 cyls in line, 2925cc, diesel

Power 325bhp at 3600-4000rpm

Torque 516lb ft at 1200-3000rpm

Gearbox 9-spd automatic

Kerb weight 2170kg

0-62mph 7.6sec

Top speed 149mph

Economy 29.1-35.3mpg

CO 2 , tax band 187g/km, 37%

RIVALS BMW X5 xDrive 40d M Sport,

Range Rover Sport 3.0 SDV6

Price £108,063 On sale Now

What’s new? Flagship Carrera loses its roof, but

a t w h a t c o s t t o i t s a p p e a l a s a d r i ve r’s c a r?

MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 400D

4MATIC AMG LINE 7 SEAT

An engine of real character and

drivability, yet sadly not the ride

quality and comfort to match

AAAAC

AAAAC

READ MORE ONLINE

autocar.co.uk

AC SCHNITZER ACS 2 SPORT

WHEN IT COMES to the BMW

M 2 C omp e t it ion , t he r e e x i s t s s o

little room for improvement it’s a

wonder anyone would even bother.

But bothered AC Schnitzer has,

with the ACS2 Sport. Electronic

t u n i n g r e le a si n g 493bhp f r om t he

3.0-litre straight six and adjustable

suspension are the highlights, though

it’s possible to spend more than

£25,000 with cosmetic additions

including 20in forged wheels.

On the move, the car’s aggressive

suspension geometry makes for

scalpel-sharp direction changes

and the engine is nothing short of

rampant. This is still a playful car,

though for driving on British roads

we would opt for smaller wheels. RL

Price £25,471 (plus standard BMW M2

Competition) On sale Now

What’s new? Aachen tuning meisters turn their

attention to BMW’s finest driver’s car

AAAAC

The GLE’s sense of luxuriousness is undermined by its secondary ride