Test Driving The Mercedes-Benz GLE 580 4MATIC With 510 HP Bi-Turbo V8

Forbes

5 days ago

Mercedes-Benz GLE 580 is a mild hybrid with a 510-horsepower bi-turbo V8 and all-wheel drive. In ... More most quarters, GLE is among the three or four best-selling Mercedes models.
Gravitational center of every German luxury car maker is SUVs, even for a firm like Mercedes-Benz, with its unrivalled thirteen decades of motorsports glory and fine range of coupes, sedans, GTs and all those wonderful AMG high-performance variants. SUVs are the center of financial success, globally.
Test car finished in Silicon Grey, a special color from Mercedes' branded customization shop, ... More MANUFAKTUR. The color changes dramatically in differing light, from a deep blue in the low light of dawn or sunset, to a strong, rich gray at midday. Well worth the investment.
Right smack in the middle of that is the GLE 580 4MATIC you see here in a complex shade of blue-grey. Sales of GLC, GLE, and GLS allow Mercedes financial leeway to also have AMG high-performance GTs and SLs, beautiful niche models that broaden choice, and an AMG Formula One engine program that is about to secure ever more glory.
Headrest pillows adjust for height and are a fantastic addition, bringing a subtle finer measure of ... More comfort. Carmine Red is also from the MANUFAKTUR menu and is also well worth the added cash. Gray exterior with red leather is a color palette that reaches to luxury and performance cars of the Classic era of the 1920s and '30s through the Vintage Era of the 1950s and early '60s.
GLE 580 4MATIC is a mild hybrid V8, which means a small electric motor helps pulling away from lights around town. But in reality this is a classic punchy V8 powertrain that delivers amazing performance from the stoplight up to triple digits.
Mercedes SUV nomenclature mirrors its sedan hierarchy. GLA, GLC, GLE and GLS. This is the 'E-class' ... More SUV. With a high and classic SUV roofline, it offers excellent leg, knee and foot room front and rear, and excellent headroom, too.
Mercedes product planners made several excellent choices. Much as a comparably punchy V8-powered German SUV might have a top speed of 160 or 170, Mercedes tops off the GLE 580 at 130 mph. Which means the 510 horsepower from the twin-turbo V8 delivers outstanding acceleration, from standstill at the intersection to roll-on for passing on the highway or rushing up an onramp, in the speed range most of us use, below 100 mph.
Rear seats offer ample room for tall adults. Due to SUV tall roofline, door frames are also tall, so ... More it's easy to climb in and out of the vehicle.
Horsepower is a wonderful thing to behold and experience, but it's torque that snaps your head back when throttle is mashed to carpet, and GLE 580 has no shortage: 538 lb. ft. between 2250 and 4500 rpm, right smack in the middle range where you want as much as possible.
And then there's the cargo hold. My infamous satchel adds perspective, a measurable for size. A ... More couple could tour for two weeks easily. A family could also bring along plenty of luggage.
All that power and torque delivers a sprint to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, enough to dust most lesser mortals at the stoplight, and to catapult this 5368 pounder up the freeway onramp. That's enough to shame some sports cars that weigh a metric ton less.
Big 3-pointed star rides on a broad spear, a design that reaches back to the 1950s. Grill ... More pattern is comprised of dozens of tiny stars. Sensors for the intelligent cruise control are neatly hidden in grill and lower bodywork.
Galloping over open highway at speeds perhaps modestly beyond the posted limit, the 9th speed of the gearbox keeps the engine loafing easily, and the cabin quiet, downright serene. GLE 580 should prove as good an any big-bore sedan, SUV or GT for the classic California highway run, from LA to San Francisco with a stopover at the most civilized point in the Central Valley, Harris Ranch, a perfect place for a late breakfast in a clean, well-lighted place. Traveling four up, everyone will be comfortable for hundreds of miles.
Mercedes offers multiple means of control for secondary and tertiary functions. Here, many of the ... More knurled 'analog' controls. There's also the touch screen, and then many controls located on the steering wheel arms
A big part of that comfort and serenity comes from the air springing of the suspension. Other than perhaps an AMG track day car, I can't imagine any of the larger scale Mercedes that is not improved by airspring suspension. The suspension remains dynamically pleasing, responsive, but also delivers a smooth ride without trending into the wallowy slop of some luxury vehicles. Mercedes has this just about right, even with optional 22-inch AMG wheels shod with sticky high-performance Pirellis, as my test car was. Front double-wishbone and rear multi-link suspension combined with air springs make it easy to manage a wheel-tire package of this immense size.
Mercedes has used variations on these seat adjustment controls for many, many decades, refining and ... More improving. They are excellent, and intuitive. Note the Burmester speaker grille. The Burmester audio comes with the Pinnacle trim level, and is optional elsewhere. Again, well worth the investment. Rich and precise sound field.
If you have kiddies in the rear seat, they have their own HVAC system. And because this is an 'E-class' SUV, there's ample rear leg room for lanky teenagers. With a classic SUV breadvan high roof line, the rear door frames are also tall, so adult males well over six feet tall will have no trouble climbing in and out. No need to duck the head toward the high point of the door frame. Just climb in.
Meaning of the badge. Mercedes SUV nomenclature follows sedan designations. Here, the "E-class" SUV, ... More the GLE 580. Ample room, and a powerful V8 to deliver strong acceleration.
The rear seats also have side-mount airbags, providing another element of safety if you're t-boned by someone too focused on playing with their iPhone rather than paying attention to stop signs at intersections. And of course, you also have sheer mass for safety, and the highest possible crash test ratings.
Optional 22-inch AMG alloy wheels. Front double-wishbone and rear multi-link suspension combined ... More with air springs make it easy to manage a wheel-tire package of this immense size. These wheels really dress up the car, making a bold statement. Check that box on the order sheet.
As with any Mercedes with Pinnacle trim level, the central dash integrates a remarkable touchscreen interface with elegant, subtle yet very clear graphics. And all the cameras, sensors, and robotic parking technologies one could want.
Tidy integration of alloy-finish exhaust outlets.
Mercedes has its ever evolving customization department, MANUFAKTUR, which also is a branding element for upgrade esthetics like paint, trim and leather. My test car wore a rich blue-gray paint, Silicon Grey, that played in changing light. In the photos you might think the car is a shade of darker blue, but in brighter light, it is a gray-blue. If you appreciate such elements, the paint is a worthwhile investment. Same for the carmine red leather. The combination of grey and red is truly Classic and Vintage era, a color combination one finds in German and Italian luxury and luxury-performance cars of the 1920s well into the 1960s. My test car had dark oak trim. All very subtle but making a statement to those who understand. These wonderful esthetic flourishes tie this 21st Century SUV to Mercedes luxury cars of the past 100 years.
Note broad stance, and the massive width of the tires. At the rear, test car had 325/35 22 Pirellis. ... More Up front, 285/40 22. It's a 'staggered' fitment with bigger tires at the rear, providing optimal performance.