The 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE combines predictive suspension, a smarter cabin and genuine family practicality, but which version deserves your money?

There is something wonderfully excessive about a luxury SUV that can receive information about a speed bump from another car and adjust its suspension before reaching it. That is one of the cleverest features in the updated Mercedes-Benz GLE, and it raises an interesting question: are we finally getting vehicle technology that solves actual problems?

Mercedes has revised approximately 3,000 components for the 2027 GLE SUV and Coupe. There are new engines, dramatic headlights, three dashboard screens and an entirely new digital architecture. But the things that interest me most are rather less theatrical: how the vehicle rides, how easily the controls work and whether it can comfortably carry people, luggage and large dogs.

Mercedes has already established the GLE as a serious luxury contender. The challenge now is making all that new technology worth paying for.

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2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE Suspension: The Real Headliner

Mercedes calls its predictive suspension technology cloud-based damper control. With available AIRMATIC air suspension, the GLE can receive anonymized Car-to-X road information collected by participating Mercedes vehicles traveling ahead.

The vehicle uses that information to prepare its damping system for an approaching road irregularity. Instead of relying exclusively on the suspension reacting after a wheel encounters a bump, it has an opportunity to make adjustments beforehand.

For families, the benefit is potentially significant. Children sleeping in the back, passengers working on laptops and dogs resting in the cargo area should all appreciate less abrupt vertical movement. A calmer ride is a more persuasive luxury feature than another animated dashboard graphic.

There is an important qualification. Mercedes’ published description establishes what the system is designed to achieve, but it does not mean every pothole can be predicted. The feature needs useful road information, suitable conditions and the appropriate equipment. Car-to-X also requires a connected Mercedes account and related service activation.

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Optional E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL on the GLE 580 takes chassis management further, using individually controlled wheel forces to counteract body movements. It can also alter ride height and operate a rocking function to help free the SUV from certain loose surfaces.

The buyer question is whether the additional suspension capability justifies its cost. I would prioritize a properly equipped GLE 450 with AIRMATIC before paying for the V8 simply to obtain more sophisticated chassis technology.

The GLE Interior Finally Remembers That Buttons Matter

Mercedes has installed its standard MBUX Superscreen, placing three 12.3-inch displays beneath a single glass panel. The arrangement includes digital instruments, a central infotainment display and a dedicated screen for the front passenger.

The passenger can access supported streaming entertainment, while the vehicle uses safeguards intended to prevent that content from distracting the driver. Services, data connections and subscriptions may be required.

MB.OS brings a new software foundation with over-the-air updating, enhanced voice interaction and navigation integrating Google Maps technology. For drivers who keep vehicles for several years, software support and ongoing service costs deserve as much attention as the screen size.

However, my favorite change is remarkably old-fashioned. Mercedes has reintroduced tactile steering-wheel controls, including a volume roller and a physical rocker for Distance Assist DISTRONIC.

Finding the volume control without looking down is sensible engineering. We should not need three computer screens and a committee in Stuttgart to rediscover that.

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The new interior also features illuminated climate vents, additional trim choices and Beech Brown upholstery. Mercedes’ optional Digital Light headlamps use micro-LED technology with improved illumination efficiency.

That matters beyond appearance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s headlight research shows that properly designed headlights can reduce nighttime crash risks. Buyers should still distinguish a manufacturer’s lighting specification from an independent rating for the exact vehicle and equipment.

Family Space Is Where the Regular GLE Wins

The conventional GLE SUV offers 22.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the second row, expanding to 72.6 cubic feet with those seats folded. Those figures make the vehicle useful for more than weekend luggage.

For dog owners, loading height matters enormously. Mercedes’ available suspension adjustment can lower the rear by more than two inches, which is particularly welcome when an older dog cannot comfortably jump into a tall cargo compartment.

The optional second-row seats move electrically through approximately 3.9 inches of travel, and their backrests can recline up to 18 degrees. That flexibility is useful when juggling a rear-facing child seat, tall teenagers or a large crate behind the seats.

A third row is available, although anyone intending to use it regularly should check access, legroom and remaining cargo capacity before placing an order. A seven-seat configuration on paper is not necessarily a substitute for a larger three-row SUV.

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Mercedes also includes a standard panoramic glass roof covering more than 10 square feet. It brightens the cabin, although buyers traveling with dogs should consider heat management, cargo barriers and ventilation rather than assuming a beautiful interior automatically makes a pet-friendly vehicle.

Which GLE Engine Should You Actually Buy?

The GLE 350 4MATIC produces 255 horsepower from a turbocharged four-cylinder. It offers an accessible starting point within the model range, but the GLE 450 4MATIC makes a stronger case for shoppers who expect effortless performance from a premium SUV.

The GLE 450 develops 375 horsepower from its 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, supported by a revised 48-volt integrated starter-generator system. Mercedes estimates a five-second acceleration time from zero to 60 mph.

For most buyers, that is more than adequate. The appeal is smooth merging, relaxed passing and the ability to carry passengers without constantly working the engine hard.

The GLE 580 delivers 530 horsepower from a revised 4.0-liter V8, with a manufacturer-estimated 4.4-second run to 60 mph. Its flat-plane crankshaft is an unusual piece of engineering for a luxury SUV, and Mercedes uses additional balance shafts to maintain refinement.

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The plug-in hybrid GLE 500e offers another interesting alternative, combining electric propulsion and gasoline power for 429 horsepower. I would wait for final U.S. electric-range and efficiency figures before recommending it over the six-cylinder gasoline model.

That is particularly important because official vehicle safety ratings and efficiency data should be checked against the exact model year and configuration rather than assumed from an earlier vehicle.

GLE SUV or GLE Coupe?

The GLE Coupe has a 2.4-inch shorter wheelbase than the regular SUV, more direct steering and a sportier suspension setup. Its standard AMG Line interior and sports seating reinforce the more athletic character.

The GLE 450 Coupe shares the 375-horsepower inline-six and has a Mercedes-estimated zero-to-60-mph time of 4.9 seconds.

It is an appealing choice for drivers who want a more distinctive silhouette and put greater priority on handling. The conventional GLE SUV remains my preferred recommendation for families because its roofline and cargo configuration place practicality first.

Mercedes also equips the GLE family with sophisticated cameras and parking technology. The available Transparent Hood function combines exterior camera images to illustrate obstacles and wheel paths that the driver cannot see directly.

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Driver Assistance Is Helpful, Not Autonomous Driving

The new MB.DRIVE architecture uses ten exterior cameras, up to five radar sensors and twelve ultrasonic sensors. Depending on equipment, the GLE can assist with lane positioning, following distance, collision avoidance and parking.

The distinction between assistance and autonomy matters. The NHTSA explanation of driver assistance makes clear that these technologies perform specific tasks while the human driver remains responsible.

The SAE driving automation framework also separates supervised driver support from systems that take over the driving task under defined conditions.

Automatic emergency braking and blind-spot technologies are valuable, but buyers should examine the actual system capabilities. NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program offers an independent framework for understanding safety evaluations, rather than treating the number of vehicle sensors as proof of crash protection.

OEDRO Floor Mat Offer

Protecting your GLE’s interior: Family SUVs encounter wet shoes, muddy paws and spilled drinks. Properly fitted all-weather mats can help protect original carpeting. Shop OEDRO directly or Shop OEDRO on Amazon. Use code NIKM20 at the OEDRO official store. Verify model-specific fitment and offer terms before buying. Test Miles may earn a commission from purchases made through these affiliate links.

My Verdict: Buy the Technology You’ll Actually Use

The 2027 GLE makes its strongest argument when advanced engineering addresses ordinary inconveniences. Predictive suspension, a lower loading height, adjustable rear seating and sensible physical controls all deliver potential benefits beyond the showroom.

My starting point would be the GLE 450 4MATIC SUV with AIRMATIC, subject to final pricing and equipment availability. It offers the stronger six-cylinder engine without requiring buyers to jump directly into the V8 model.

I would choose the Coupe for its appearance and driving character, and consider the GLE 580 for buyers who specifically want the more powerful engine and advanced active suspension.

The biggest question is no longer how many computers Mercedes can install. It is whether those computers improve the experience for everyone inside, including the people and pets who never touch the steering wheel.

On that measure, the new GLE has some genuinely compelling ideas. And preparing for a pothole before the driver reaches it is a particularly good place to start.