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About GLE

The GLE began life as the M-Class in 1997, a landmark car for Mercedes in more ways than one. It was the company's first serious attempt at an American-style sport utility vehicle and the first Mercedes built in the United States, at a new plant in Vance, Alabama, near Tuscaloosa. It even had a starring role in a Jurassic Park sequel. Buyers flocked to it, and the luxury SUV boom that followed reshaped the entire industry.

Early M-Classes were criticized for quality problems, but later generations steadily improved. The name changed to GLE in 2015 as Mercedes reorganized its SUV nomenclature around its sedan classes, and the current generation, launched in 2019, introduced an optional active suspension that can even bounce the car free of sand, a plug-in hybrid with an unusually large battery, and a coupe version aimed at the BMW X6. AMG GLE 53 and GLE 63 models deliver serious performance.

The GLE sits between the GLC and the seven-seat GLS, offering an optional third row in some markets. It competes with the BMW X5, Audi Q7 and Q8, Porsche Cayenne, Lexus RX, Volvo XC90 and Genesis GV80, and the electric EQE SUV served as its battery-powered counterpart. The Alabama plant also builds the GLS and has made the GLE an important export from America to the rest of the world. The coverage here tracks reviews and comparisons, the plug-in hybrid and future electric plans, special editions such as Night Edition models in India, pricing and launches across markets, recalls, and the outlook for the Alabama factory amid tariffs and trade disputes.