Mercedes GLE 350de feedback

[1977amm]

Hi. Wondering if there's anyone on here running a diesel hybrid Merc GLE 350de. It's one of the options I'm currently considering as a replacement for my current car (Golf R estate) and looking for some reviews from owners and feedback in terms of real world performance, economy and reliability etc etc.

My annual mileage is usually circa 13/14k. This is generally made up of some short urban journeys through the week (ideal for an EV) and then a longer trip of 200-300 miles at the weekend, usually on motorway/dual carriageway with cruise control at 70+. A BEV would be inconvenient for the weekend use given the real world range of most and requirement to rely on public charging to complete the journey. Particularly interested in how the GLE fares over long journeys e.g. if running only on diesel power. I've ruled out petrol hybrids on the basis that they're not best suited to long distances (poor mpg due to weight).

I'm looking for much better refinement/long distance comfort, decent load carrying capacity and strong performance (obviously a reduction relative to a Golf R is acceptable/expected but I don't want something that feels too slow).

As is usually the case with hybrids/BEVS, one of the main attractions is from a tax perspective - sole trader with circa 80%+ business use.

Interested to hear feedback if anyone has comments to share. Thanks.

[BeeBopp]

Have a look at (BEV) bmw iX50. I’ve been running one since September- you get >300 miles on a full charge (even in winter).

[raspy]

BeeBopp said:

Have a look at (BEV) bmw iX50. I’ve been running one since September- you get >300 miles on a full charge (even in winter).

That's what I was going to suggest or the new MB EQS450 SUV (order now for March 2023) which would also have a real world range of >300 miles.

[DSLiverpool]

Sole trader, I didn’t know you could get the full benefit being one.

[TheDeuce]

DSLiverpool said:

Sole trader, I didn’t know you could get the full benefit being one.

On that point, is there a reason you can't go ltd? It's generally better to do so for lots of reasons - although there are also a few reasons some people are best as ST.

NB: I had a golf R for a short while. If you can make the maths work on a decent EV you won't miss the performance of the golf R

Edited by TheDeuce on Tuesday 6th December 00:15

[off_again]

raspy said:

That's what I was going to suggest or the new MB EQS450 SUV (order now for March 2023) which would also have a real world range of >300 miles.

For some unknown reason, there are two EQS and one EQS SUV's around here and they look MUCH better in the metal. The pictures dont really do it justice and I have to say that they look pretty good. The SUV model is more 'conventional', but doesnt look out of place when compared to the latest GLE / GLS models. A nice dark color I think, but worth looking at in person.

[DMZ]

My only experience is with the E300de estate (I think it was) so much smaller battery etc. I had it for a couple of days and did quite a bit of driving in it. I was properly impressed with it tbh. In town you’re mostly on electrics and on longer distance you’re on hybrid diesel so you get electrics where it’s at its best and then diesel when you want to truck on. It also drove like a normal car which is quite nice and looks like a normal car as there is not a huge battery that needs to be hidden or a total obsession with aero to eke out the last bit of range. You lose some boot space though. I don’t remember the exact figures now but even on a longer trip where the battery was depleted it was still diesel economy basically. If you programme in the destination in the sat nav then the car will automatically optimise battery use as it’s better to be on diesel at steady 80mph (let’s say) where EVs are usually hopelessly inefficient (by EV standards’) and then if you have slower bits near the destination then it starts to use up the battery where that makes sense. Because of the diesel you don’t get the massive cliff in running costs between electrics and ICE that you tend to get in petrol PHEVs. Given the outrageous cost of public charging these days I’d say it’s at worst cost neutral to use diesel instead on longer trips.

You obviously get the torque fill from the electric motor as well so it feels much more responsive than a diesel normally does and there is decent shove when both electric motor and diesel engine are running together.

If you compare this with a BMW which I think was mentioned above them you get a smaller battery in the BMW I’m pretty sure and you will mostly end up using a petrol V6 on motorways on cruise where it makes no difference how the car is powered and you just pay for petrol V6 inefficiency. Mercedes’s approach makes a lot more sense to me.

[Simon Jones]

Try the E300de. I have been running mine for the past 2 years and it does exactly what you are looking for. Coming from a Golf R it is a much better drive than an SUV and the 600ftlb of torque gives it some shove.. My 33 mile daily commute is a mix of fast downland roads and motorway, driven at pace and I average 120 mpg+. On long trips without a charge it will average 55mpg.

It will also return over 35mg towing my race car with no charge (at venue) and no range anxiety.

[1977amm]

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions above. Unfortunately the EQS or iX50 are both outwith budget but I'll have a look at the E300de.

Diesel hybrid seems a very good combo, it's unfortunate that more manufacturers haven't embraced this.