Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d Coupe now available
The new Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d Coupe has finally arrived in South Africa. It appears Mercedes doesn’t plan to stop growing their SUV segment, and who could blame them, its considerably the hottest trend right now. We recently spent the day at Zwartkops to experience the new GLE Coupé and it has all the luxury and sportiness of a coupé with the ground-breaking technology you would expect in a premium SUV.
Johannes Fritz, Co-CEO for Mercedes-Benz South Africa and Executive Director for Mercedes-Benz Cars South Africa says that the new GLE Coupé is a further example of the Mercedes-Benz objective to address all the requirements of customers in the premium-SUV segment in a targeted manner.
The GLE 400 d 4MATIC Sports Coupe features a powerful 3.0 litre six-cylinder diesel engine that delivers an impressive 243kW and 700Nm of torque. This big SUV puts down its power smoothly and effectively, this is the same engine featured in the G400d, its certainly no slouch. It dashes from 0-100 in a time of just 5.7 seconds with a combined fuel consumption of 7.4-6.9 l/100 km.
The GLE Coupé is 4939 mm long and 2010 mm wide, which means a much bigger than its predecessor. It will come with a steel suspension that ensures a sportier and firmer setup than its predecessor. It benefits from firmer mounting points and improved axle geometry. The front features the all the characteristics of the Mercedes-Benz SUV and coupe family. It has a diamond grille with the same single horizontal louvre associated with other Mercedes-Benz coupés. There’s broad muscle in the vehicle flank beneath the C-pillar, it can be seen starting in the rear door and envelops the tail lamps. That with the elongated tail lamps, certainly highlights the width of the rear end.
The new GLE Coupe is a comfortable five-seater, offering enough leg room and headroom, despite being 60mm shorter than on the GLE SUV. This is evident once you get in, there is plenty of space in the front and rear. The cabin also offers the latest generation of the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system which hosts a range of functions for connectivity, entertainment and operating comfort. It’s an extremely luxurious place to be and its exceptionally comfortable.
Mercedes-Benz driving assistance systems are also fully available in the GLE, which ensures a high level of active safety. The new GLE Coupé will come standard with Active Brake Assist, which can help prevent rear-end collisions and collisions with crossing pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles. Other Intelligent Drive functions can be ordered as additional options.
The GLE 400d is more than capable on and off the road. It was just shocking how comfortable this vehicle was, absorbing every bump on the road with little effort. We were even able to we drive down a series of small banks and the GLE took it with a smile, certainly no compromise on ride quality for any of the passengers.
Pricing
GLE 400 d 4MATIC Coupé R1 814 000
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FAQ
Q: What does the Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d Coupe cost in South Africa?
The Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d 4MATIC Sports Coupe is priced from around R1,850,000 in South Africa, putting it firmly in premium SUV territory alongside rivals like the BMW X6 and Audi Q8.
Q: Is the Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d Coupe worth buying?
The GLE 400d Coupe delivers serious value with its 243kW diesel engine, 0-100kph time of 5.7 seconds, and impressive fuel consumption of 6.9-7.4L/100km, making it a solid choice for buyers wanting luxury SUV practicality with coupe styling.
Q: How fast is the Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d Coupe?
The GLE 400d Coupe accelerates from 0-100kph in just 5.7 seconds thanks to its potent 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine producing 243kW and a massive 700Nm of torque.
Q: What are the main competitors to the Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d Coupe?
The GLE 400d Coupe goes head-to-head with the BMW X6 xDrive40d, Audi Q8 45 TDI, and Porsche Cayenne Coupe, all offering similar luxury SUV coupe styling and performance in the R1.8-2.2 million price bracket.
Should You Buy It?
The best luxury SUV coupe under R2 million in SA is the Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d Coupe at R1,850,000. This is a definite yes if you want German engineering, proper performance (5.7 seconds to 100kph), and reasonable fuel consumption for such a big beast. The 243kW diesel engine is the same unit from the G400d, so you know it's proven, and 700Nm of torque means overtaking will never be a problem. Sure, it's not cheap, but for the combination of luxury, practicality, and that coupe-SUV swagger, the GLE 400d Coupe delivers exactly what premium buyers expect from the three-pointed star.
