The Mercedes GLE Coupe with its distinctive silhouette is a flavourful alternative to the mainstream GLE SUV and was available in the fire-breathing AMG 63 guise as well as the relatively tamer AMG 53 guise. For 2024, Mercedes has updated the latter and here’s all that you need to know.
Design and Exterior
Its LED headlamps now get four daytime running lamp bars within and a DRL ‘eyebrow’ atop. It sports the new AMG logo on its nose, while the front bumper has also been mildly redesigned. The only other exterior change includes revised elements within its tail-lamps. Even though design changes are minimal, the GLE Coupe is quite an attractive brute to begin with, replete with muscular cues, pronounced arches, 21-inch wheels and chunky 315mm rear tyres, and its sloping roofline seriously boosts its appeal.
Interior Comfort and Technology
The only change to its interior is the new part-leather part-Alcantara steering, similar to the one in the AMG C43. The steering gets two dedicated shortcut controllers on each side; the right one is used to change the drive modes of which there are five – Comfort (default), Sport, Sport+, Individual and Slippery; using the left controller, you can change its suspension maps, open or close valves in its exhaust, raise or lower its ride height, turn ESP on or off and switch off automatic engine stop-start.
Our test car was specified to look and feel rather luxurious for an AMG, with its beige and black colour scheme, wood inlays and silver inserts. Expectedly, fit-finish and quality are top-notch, typical of what you’d expect in a car which costs as much as this. And this AMG doesn’t come at the cost of sacrificing comfort either. The front seats get heating and cooling, albeit the cushioning is firm. Space at the rear is plenty, so you will be able to ferry your family and friends, however, its seats don’t feel as luxurious or as plush as the standard GLE SUV.
Performance Prowess
Under the hood, the GLE 53 Coupe is powered by a robust engine that delivers a perfect balance of power and efficiency. At the heart of this AMG is the M256M 3-litre, 6-cylinder (twin-scroll) turbo-petrol engine, which it shares with the GLE 450 and GLS 450 . But on the AMG, performance is dialled up to make 435hp and 560Nm, an improvement of 55hp and 60Nm over its ‘mainstream’ SUV counterparts. And with the 2024 update, it now gets a new second-generation integrated starter generator, which provides an additional 20hp and 200Nm to further enhance responsiveness.
Everyday Usability
While the GLE 53 Coupe is a high-performance vehicle, it doesn't compromise on practicality. ? Driving Impressions:Behind the wheel, the GLE 53 Coupe comes alive. The multiple driving modes, including Comfort, Sport, and Sport+, allow for a customizable driving experience to suit various preferences. The Mercedes AMG GLE 53 Coupe is big, looks distinctive and feels desirable for what it offers – sportscar-levels of performance with the practicality and usability of a full-sized SUV. At Rs 1.85 crore (ex-showroom), it sits above competitors like the Porsche Cayenne Coupe and the Audi Q8, but it’s close to 100hp over said rivals and comes with a long list of standard equipment. So, as it stands, the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4Matic+ Coupe is a lot of car for a lot of money too.