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Power & torque

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Brakes & wheels

Mercedes-BenzGLE 450

AMG 4Matic Coupe

Price (as tested)|R1 099900 (R1 277 842)

He

ight

1729

Suspension

Doublewishbonefront, multi-link

rear, air suspension

Engine

2 996ccV6, bi-turbo petrol

Width^2003

Length (^4900)
Transmission
Eight-speed auto,
all-wheeldrive
Power 270kW@ 5 50 0rpm
Torque 520Nm@ 1 80 0-4 000rpm
Power toweight125.8kWpertonne
Claimed
Urbancycle 11 .7ℓ/100km
Extra-urbancycle 8.1ℓ/100km
Combined cycle 9.4ℓ/100km
CO2 emissions 219g/km
Actual
Test route 80 km
Consumption 12.7ℓ/100km
Cruisingrange 55 1km
Warranty 2-year unlimitedkm
Maintenance plan 6-year/100 000kmMotorplan
Service intervals Determined byOBC
Bootcapacity 650 ℓ
Utilityspace 980 ℓ
Kerbweight 22 19kg
Fuel supply Direct injection
Acceleration
0-60kph 3.24sec
0-80kph 4.52sec
0-100kph 6.22sec
Overtaking
0-120kph 8.59sec
60 -100kph 3.08sec
80 -120kph 3.9sec
Braking
100-0kph 2.79secin 38m
Top speed 250kph
Brakesfront
Brakes rear
Wheels
Tyres
Ventilated discs
Ventilated discs
22 -inch alloys
Pirelli P Zero
28 5/40R2 2 front
32 5/ 35 R22rear
kg
70
litr es
TANK
indecision. Slip the drive mode
into Sport or Sport+ and the air
suspension firms up, the steering
hardens, the auto ’box drops a
couple of cogs and the
soundtrack goes rock ‘n roll. The
exhaust note now becomes a
bewitching blend of AMG GT-
like bark when you floor it and
shrill A45-like percussion when
you lift off. Drive it for maximum
aural reward and you’d better like
the number 20. Why 20? Beca use
that’s the instant fuel
consumption figure we saw most
of the time. Of course you can
slip it into Comfort, drive like
you’ve lapsed into a coma and
achieve an average consumption
in the region of 13ℓ/100km, as we
found on our test rout e.
Prim ed for future
AMGship
So it sounds like an AMG,
drinks like an AMG, but my
main concern with niche-busting
cars is they’re ultimately a bit of a
let-down to drive. Think BMW
X6, 5Series GT, VW Passat CC
or even Merc CLS – first
generations of these cars felt
cobbled together, burdened by
compromise. I’m
happy to report
the GLE Coupe is
better resolved on
itsfirst outing.
Yes, the handling
is wallowy in
Comfort mode
but it gets morecomposed in
Sport; although at the
expense of ride quality
which becomes quite cras hy
over the likes of everyday
manhole covers and
highway joins. R50k for the
optional Active Curve
system that nips on the
brakes and interfaces with
the vehicle’ s stability
systems ensures you don’t
catch the two-tonne-plus
behemoth out when
cornering too
enthusiastically. The end
product is a big SUV which
chews up a mountain pass
with minimalfuss, although
‘athletic’ is a word I’d use
ahead of ‘sporty’ when
describing its handling
agility. Our test unit’s
optional 22-inch rims
did love to tramli ne
over road cambers
too, but that’s the
price you pay for
looking like a baller.
Parting shot
In attempting to annex the SUV from the
mundane, Merc’s GLE
Coupe has delivered on its
manifesto: performance
and style of a sports coupe,
practicality of an SUV and
the stately pres ence of a
luxury sedan. While it ticks
all these boxes –some
better than others – the
final product impres ses by
being morethan just a
cobbled-together
Quasimodo of a car. It
sounds fantastic, goes just
like a ‘junior’ AMG should
and has a totally unique
character. Not only that,
but all the head-turni ng
and admiring glances we
saw over our test period
proves that; however od dly,
it resonates with th e public.
It doesn’t matter that more
conventional SUVs offer
better value and
practicality, the GLE Coupe
proves that when fashion
trum ps utility, you’re onto a
winner.tc
Ray@TopCar
Terrain select-like
dialpromises
go-anywhere cred.
22 -inchrims and
runningboards
youcouldsurf on
suggestotherwise
OUR CHOICE:Eachcompetitor is
afflicted with ahintof badge
snobbery but new Mercoutdoes
six-cylindered Beemer on
performance andRRS on price.
Couple that toitsextrovert character
andit winsout in oureyes
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