2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e

The GLE luxury midsize SUV is Mercedes’ second-best-selling vehicle, behind the compact GLC. It’s available in 6 trim levels with a variety of powertrains. For 2024, Mercedes added a plug-in hybrid to the lineup—the 450e, which we tested. The 450e is powered by a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor, good for 381 hp and a generous all-electric range of 48 miles. However, the 450e’s drivetrain favors performance rather than fuel efficiency: its 58 MPGe and 24 mpg stats are on the low side as far as PHEVs go. The 450e checks almost all the boxes for a desirable SUV. Its hybrid drivetrain delivers plenty of power, and the 9-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly. It’s comfortable and easy to drive, and its cabin is roomy and elegant, replete with plush materials. A full suite of advanced safety features is standard. So what’s not to like? Expensive add-ons, for one. Even though our test vehicle had a suggested retail price just under $70,000, features like a head-up display, ventilated front seats, power-adjustable second-row seats, and a high-end sound system cost extra—nearly $20,000 in all. Additionally, the 450e’s multi-menu infotainment system is complicated and distracting, touch-sensitive steering-wheel controls are easy to activate by mistake, and side visibility is restricted by wide roof pillars and back-seat headrests.