Mercedes GLE 450 AMG Coupe review, test drive

Imitation is the best form of flattery they say, more so if it’s by your arch rival that joins the segment you created eight years ago. Meet the GLE Coupe, Mercedes’ blatant take on the BMW X6, the car that pioneered the crossover-coupé niche. But what sets it apart? 

What does it look like?

The transformation of the M-class into the GLE has spawned not just a facelift but a four-door coupé body style as well. Apart from taking up the same amount of road space as the regular GLE on which it is based, visually it is completely different and more like a CLA that’s been pumped up. In fact, all the sheet metal is different to get the right proportions and sitting on those massive 21-inch wheels, the GLE Coupe will turn heads wherever it goes. It’s another fine product born out of the new thinking in Mercedes’ school of design that has transformed the image of the company.

The insides are very familiar and as expected there’s a lot borrowed from the GLE. In fact, the dashboard is identical. But given the sporty nature of the car, the seats are a lot more cosseting and there’s a greater sense of luxury thanks to the perforated Nappa leather. As expected, the rear isn’t madly spacious but it’s not too cramped either. There’s a surprisingly generous amount of knee room, and headroom isn’t bad either. Mercedes designers have done a great job balancing the swooping coupé roofline with internal room. Unlike the regular, the coupé version is strictly a four-seater. You can squeeze a passenger in the middle but the way the seat contours jut out makes this quite uncomfortable.