GLE 350 vs GLE 450: which 2027 GLE should you buy?

What's the same

Both are 2027 GLE SUVs with 4MATIC all-wheel drive, a 9-speed automatic, a 22.5-gallon tank and premium fuel. Cargo space is identical, 33.3 cu ft behind the rear seat and 74.9 with it folded, and both are rated to tow 7,700 lbs. The turning circle is the same 39.5 feet.

Engine and acceleration

The GLE 350 uses a 2.0L turbo four with mild hybrid drive: 255 hp and 295 lb-ft, 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds.

The GLE 450 uses a 3.0L turbo inline-6 with mild hybrid drive: 375 hp and 413 lb-ft, 0 to 60 in 5.0 seconds. It weighs 287 lbs more, 5,203 against 4,916, and still pulls away noticeably harder. Merging onto I-95 with a full car is where you feel the difference most.

Fuel economy

The EPA rates the 2027 GLE 350 4MATIC at 21 mpg city and 26 highway, and the GLE 450 4MATIC at 19 and 24. With the same 22.5-gallon tank, that's about 585 highway miles on paper for the 350 and about 540 for the 450.

Two mpg is a real but modest gap. For most drivers it adds up to a few extra fill-ups a year, not a reason on its own to pick one over the other.

What the GLE 450 adds as standard

Comparing Mercedes-Benz USA's standard equipment lists, the GLE 450 adds these over the GLE 350:

• Ventilated front seats. On the GLE 350 they come with the Exclusive Trim package.
• A Burmester Surround Sound System with Dolby Atmos and Sound Personalization
• A heated steering wheel and a sport steering wheel
• MBUX Augmented Video for Navigation, which overlays turn arrows and street names on a live camera view
• 20-inch AMG wheels instead of 19-inch wheels

Options only the GLE 450 offers

Some options are available on the GLE 450 and not on the GLE 350:

• The 3rd-row Seat Package, for seven seats
• AIRMATIC air suspension
• A Head-Up Display
• Multicontour front seats with massage
• Soft-close doors
• The Pinnacle Trim package, which adds 4-zone climate control, the Air Balance cabin air purification and fragrance system, heated and cooled front cupholders, and MAGIC VISION CONTROL wipers

Most families should start with the GLE 450

The GLE 350 makes sense if you mostly drive around town, want the GLE's space and towing, and don't need seven seats. Add the Exclusive Trim package if you want the ventilated seats and Burmester sound.

The GLE 450 is the one I'd point most families to. You get the stronger engine, the Florida-friendly ventilated seats as standard, and the only way into a GLE with a third row, air suspension or a head-up display.

Ten minutes in each is enough to feel the engine difference, especially on an I-95 on-ramp.

Questions people ask

How much faster is the GLE 450 than the GLE 350?

Mercedes-Benz USA lists 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds for the 2027 GLE 450 4MATIC and 6.8 seconds for the GLE 350 4MATIC, a 1.8-second difference.

Can you get a third row in the GLE 350?

No. For 2027, the 3rd-row Seat Package is offered on the GLE 450 4MATIC, not the GLE 350 4MATIC.

Does the GLE 350 have ventilated seats?

Not as standard. On the 2027 GLE 350 they come with the Exclusive Trim package; the GLE 450 has them standard.

Do the GLE 350 and GLE 450 tow the same?

Yes. Mercedes-Benz USA rates both at 7,700 lbs.

Models in this guide

• Mercedes-Benz GLE

Keep reading

• GLC vs GLE: which one to buy
• Mercedes-Benz SUVs with a third row
• See the GLE models on the lot