2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The volume GLE 350 4MATIC uses the pre-facelift M264 2.0L turbo four. Above it in the 2022 range sit the GLE 450 (3.0L I6 with EQ Boost), the GLE 580 (V8), the AMG GLE 53 and the AMG GLE 63 S.

The pre-facelift 2.0T without a mild-hybrid system makes 273 lb-ft. The 295 lb-ft 48V version arrived with the 2024 facelift.

This is adequate but slow for the class. Most rivals' base engines are six-cylinders or stronger turbo fours and post quicker times.

The 2.0T is smooth at cruise but sounds strained and gruff when pushed in a 4,700-lb SUV, and the 2022 version had no 48V smoothing for engine stop-start. The GLE 450's inline-six is far more refined, but it is not the volume trim.

The 9G-Tronic 9-speed automatic shifts smoothly and unobtrusively. It is sometimes slow to kick down and can lurch at low speed when stop-start restarts the engine.

A 7,700-lb rating is near the top of the mid-size luxury SUV class.

4MATIC AWD is available on the GLE 350 and standard on the 450, 580 and AMG models. It comes with Dynamic Select drive modes, and an Off-Road Engineering package with a low-range transfer case is available.

It has about 8 in of ground clearance, an available AIRMATIC lift, off-road drive programs and an optional low-range package. It has no dedicated off-road trim or lockers, so it is capable but pavement-biased.

There are five distinct gas powertrains: 2.0T I4, 3.0T I6 mild hybrid, 4.0TT V8 mild hybrid, AMG 53 I6 and AMG 63 S V8. No plug-in was offered in the US for 2022; the GLE 450e arrived with the 2024 facelift.

This is about average for a gas mid-size luxury SUV.

EPA city rating for the volume trim.

EPA highway rating for the volume trim.

The large tank gives a strong combined range despite middling fuel economy.

The premium-fuel requirement puts annual fuel cost at the top of the band.

Every 2022 GLE gas powertrain requires premium unleaded.

NHTSA rates the 2022 GLE 5 stars overall, with 5 stars for frontal and side impact and 4 stars for rollover resistance (15.5% rollover risk).

The 2022 GLE earned an IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick+. It rates Good in every crashworthiness test IIHS ran: both small-overlap tests, the original moderate-overlap and side tests, roof strength and head restraints. The award applies only to vehicles with the optional front crash prevention system, which keeps the score below the top of the band.

Standard equipment covers AEB with forward collision warning (Active Brake Assist), Blind Spot Assist, rear automatic braking and Attention Assist. On the 2022 car even lane departure warning is optional, and adaptive cruise, lane centering and evasive steering need the Driver Assistance Package. That is thin for a luxury SUV at this price.

Both the standard and the optional systems earn Superior in IIHS vehicle-to-vehicle tests. For pedestrians, the optional system rates Superior in daytime tests, but the standard system rates only Basic, so how the car is optioned matters a lot.

Blind Spot Assist with exit warning and rear automatic braking are standard. Active (braking) blind-spot intervention and the cross-traffic braking functions come only with the optional Driver Assistance Package.

With the package fitted, Active Steering Assist centers confidently on marked highways and adds automated lane changes. Without it, the 2022 car lacks even lane departure warning as standard, so the base trim has no lane assistance at all.

DISTRONIC, with route-based speed adaptation and extended stop-and-go restart, is among the most refined adaptive cruise systems in the class. It loses points for being optional.

The 2022 GLE has no hands-free highway mode, because Active Steering Assist requires hands on the wheel. That puts it behind rivals offering Super Cruise or BlueCruise.

IIHS rates the two headlight variations Good and Acceptable. Neither has excessive glare, and both qualified for the 2022 TSP+ headlight requirement. High-beam assist helps make up for the weaker variant.

Forward and side sightlines are good for the class, but thick D-pillars limit the rear-quarter view. Standard parking sensors and a rear camera, plus an available 360° camera, make up for much of it.

IIHS rates the LATCH hardware Good for ease of use, and there is an extra tether-equipped seating position. Wide rear doors and a roomy second row make it easy to fit two child seats.

The volume 2022 GLE 350 4MATIC seats five. An optional power-folding third row raises capacity to seven, but few buyers choose it and the seats are child-sized.

Front headroom is generous. The 2022 model is a carry-over year on the W167 body introduced for 2020, so the interior dimensions are unchanged.

Front legroom is at the low end of the SUV band. It is adequate, but roomier rivals offer more.

Mercedes' published second-row headroom is modest for a mid-size SUV. Some dealer feeds quote 39.6 in, which conflicts with the manufacturer and TrueDelta figure, so the 36.9 in figure is used.

Second-row legroom is generous thanks to the long 117.9-in wheelbase, and it is a genuine strength of the GLE.

The volume five-seat GLE has no third row. The optional third row gives children only about 29 in of legroom and takes up most of the cargo space when raised.

Cargo space behind the second row matches the BMW X5 but trails the Volvo XC90 and three-row rivals.

Maximum cargo space with the 40/20/40 second row folded is mid-pack for mid-size luxury SUVs.

Everyday storage is competent: a useful center console, door bins, a front wireless-charging tray and 40/20/40 split rear seats with pass-through. Nothing leads the segment.

The front seats are widely praised for support and adjustability, and multicontour massage seats are available. The rear bench is comfortable for adults.

The ride is smooth and quiet on most surfaces, especially with optional AIRMATIC air suspension. The steel-spring GLE 350 can jiggle over broken pavement, so it trails the plushest rivals.

Reviewers consistently describe the cabin as hushed at highway speed, making it one of the quieter cabins in the class.

Heated power front seats and dual-zone climate control are standard. Ventilated and massage seats, a heated steering wheel and armrests, heated rear seats and four-zone climate are optional, and the app offers remote pre-conditioning.

In 2022 the W167 lineup still opened with a rear-drive GLE 350. The entry price sits in the upper part of the SUV band but about $2,000 below the 2023.

The GLE 350 4MATIC is the volume trim. Dealer stock typically adds the Premium package plus paint and wheel options, which puts it in the low-to-mid $60k range.

There is no included maintenance, Mercedes Service A/B visits are expensive, and the 4/50 warranty leaves year-5 repairs to the owner. KBB-class estimates for the W167 GLE land around $10k or more.

The 2022 model is now roughly five years old, so this is observed rather than projected. KBB's private-party value for the base GLE 350 is about 54% of its original MSRP, and used 4MATIC listings run $39–47k. That is mid-pack for German luxury SUVs and below Lexus.

Mercedes-Benz USA's new-vehicle limited warranty is 4 years/50,000 miles. That matches BMW and Audi but trails Genesis's 5/60.

Mercedes offers no separate, longer powertrain warranty, so drivetrain coverage ends with the 4/50 basic warranty. That is below the segment's 5-year floor.

There is no complimentary scheduled maintenance, which BMW, Genesis and Volvo all include. Perks are limited to roadside assistance for the warranty term and a Mercedes me connect trial.

$63,500 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (52% retained, or about $33,020) leaves about $30,480 in depreciation. Add the projected $10,000 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $40,480 in total.

Consumer Reports put the 2022 GLE on its list of the ten least reliable 2022 models, with a predicted reliability score of 5/100. Trouble spots included power equipment, climate, engine and in-car electronics. KBB owner ratings (~3.9–4.0/5) and iSeeCars (7.7/10) are kinder, which earns a point or two of mixed signal but leaves it firmly in the low band.

In J.D. Power VDS and Consumer Reports brand rankings, Mercedes-Benz sits mid-pack to lower-mid. It ranks above Land Rover and Jaguar but well behind Lexus and generally behind BMW.

Eight NHTSA campaigns name the volume 2022 GLE 350: two fuel-pump shutdown recalls that cause loss of drive power, two separate rear-door window trim-bar detachment campaigns, misrouted front airbag-sensor wiring, an eCall software fix, an under-seat 12V ground that can overheat and a steering-coupling screw that can loosen. Several more hit only the GLE 450/AMG (48V ground, transmission-downshift stall). The repeated fuel-system, trim and electrical-ground campaigns, two of them touching safety systems, put it just below the typical band.

2022 is a carry-over year of the W167 generation that launched for 2020; the facelift didn't arrive until MY2024. The volume GLE 350 uses the M264 2.0L turbo four with the proven 9G-Tronic automatic, with no catastrophic failure pattern. Two fuel-pump shutdown recalls and CR's engine trouble-spot flag for this year pull it down slightly from the 2023 car.

For the mid-size luxury class the cabin materials are among the best: open-pore wood, metal trim and widespread soft-touch surfaces under the dual-screen MBUX layout. Reviewers rank it alongside the BMW X5 and Audi Q7.

Assembly is generally solid, with tight panel gaps. But 2022 carried two separate campaigns for rear-door trim bars that detach while driving, plus misrouted airbag-sensor wiring and an unsecured ground connection, all of them assembly escapes, and CR flags power equipment.

Mercedes-Benz has one of the densest luxury dealer networks in the US, about 380 dealers, with mature service operations. Its J.D. Power service satisfaction is competitive within the luxury segment.

The dealer network keeps parts readily available, but Mercedes repair and maintenance costs are among the industry's highest. Air suspension, a common failure on this year per owner reports, is expensive, and MBUX and sensor-heavy components are largely dealer-only. The car is now out of its 4-year/50k warranty for most owners.

Two 12.3-inch widescreen displays are standard on the pre-facelift W167 GLE: a central touchscreen and a driver display.

The first-generation MBUX system is fast with sharp graphics. However, its menus are dense, and control is split across the touchscreen, a touchpad and steering-wheel swipe pads, which reviewers call distracting.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard but wired-only for 2022. Wireless projection did not arrive until the 2024 facelift.

The 'Hey Mercedes' natural-language assistant is one of the segment's better voice systems. The native navigation is strong and offers optional augmented-reality turn guidance.

The base audio is decent, and the optional 13-speaker Burmester surround system is well regarded. Dolby Atmos did not arrive until 2024.

A configurable, fully digital 12.3-inch driver display with multiple styles and modes is standard.

MBUX receives over-the-air infotainment and map updates. Whole-vehicle OTA coverage is narrower than on Mercedes' newer MB.OS and EQ models.

The Mercedes me app covers remote start, climate, lock/unlock and vehicle location. Several features require a subscription after the trial period.

USB-C ports are fitted in both rows, and a front wireless charging pad is standard. There is no household AC outlet.

Push-button start, app-based remote start and a power liftgate are standard. Full KEYLESS-GO proximity entry with a hands-free liftgate comes with the Premium Package.

A rear camera and front and rear parking sensors are standard. The surround-view camera costs extra on the 2022 GLE 350 and only became standard for 2024. Active Parking Assist is available.

A large, full-color head-up display is available on the GLE 350 through an option package. It is not standard in the US.

Wide rear doors, generous 40.9-in rear legroom and Good-rated LATCH hardware make car-seat duty easy, and 33.3 cu ft behind the second row fits a stroller. The optional third row is for children only and takes up cargo space.

The GLE has a 5-star NHTSA overall rating, a 2022 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and standard AEB plus blind-spot monitoring. However, the award needs the optional front crash prevention. Adaptive cruise, lane centering and even lane departure warning require the extra-cost Driver Assistance Package.

A quiet cabin, a spacious rear seat and a mid-size cargo hold make long trips easy. Heated rear seats and four-zone climate cost extra.

The GLE is smooth, quiet and easy in traffic, with auto high beams newly standard for 2022. Its 2.0T engine lacks mild-hybrid assist, so stop/start restarts are less seamless than on the 2024 model. The 9-speed can hesitate at low speed, and surround view is optional.

It returns 19/26/22 mpg on premium fuel, about $3,650 a year, which is average-to-below for a gas luxury SUV. Mercedes maintenance, tires and insurance are costly.

The 194.3-in footprint and 39.5-ft turning circle are manageable. However, the high beltline makes the corners hard to judge, and the 360° camera is optional.

The 7,700-lb tow rating (4MATIC, properly equipped) is strong for the class. The 255-hp four-cylinder has less reserve under load than the GLE 450's inline-six, and there is no bed.

The unibody is solid, but luxury interior materials, complex electronics and below-average brand dependability make the GLE a poor fit for hard use. Out-of-warranty repairs are expensive.

Roof rails, cargo tie-downs, a 12V outlet and a factory hitch cover the basics. There is no 120V inverter, no washable cargo surfaces and no upfit ecosystem.

A quiet cabin, supportive seats and available DISTRONIC adaptive cruise with active lane change make the GLE a strong mile-eater. At 26 mpg on the highway with a 22.5–23-gal tank, it covers roughly 580 highway miles per tank.

4MATIC AWD, off-road drive programs, optional AIRMATIC ride-height adjustment and the 7,700-lb tow rating handle gravel roads and toy trailers. The optional Off-Road Engineering Package adds low range and underbody protection.

Split-folding 40/20/40 rear seats, a power liftgate, roof rails and an available hitch give good flexibility. Cargo space of 33/75 cu ft is mid-pack, and underfloor storage is limited.

The GLE 350 4MATIC is secure and composed but tuned for comfort. At about 4,700–4,900 lb it feels heavier and less agile than the BMW X5 or Porsche Cayenne. The optional AIRMATIC air suspension tightens body control.

The steering is accurate and well weighted but numb on center with little feedback, which is typical of Mercedes' low-effort tuning.

The pedal is firm and linear, and the GLE stops from 70 mph in the mid-170-ft range, which is competitive for a heavy mid-size luxury SUV.

The 2022 GLE 350's 255-hp 2.0T lacks the 48V starter-generator added for 2024, so stop/start restarts are more noticeable. The 9G-TRONIC transmission shifts smoothly but can be slow to kick down.

The four-cylinder is well isolated in normal driving. It is less silky than the GLE 450's inline-six and sounds gruff when worked hard.

Mercedes publishes a 39.5-ft wall-to-wall turning circle for the GLE 350 4MATIC on the W167 chassis, which is average for the class.

The seat and wheel adjust widely and the view is commanding. The pre-facelift steering wheel's swipe pads and the touchpad-plus-touchscreen MBUX layout add some distraction.

The volume GLE 350 is a polished, quiet cruiser that is pleasant but forgettable. Enthusiasts look to the AMG GLE 53/63 or the Cayenne.

The 2022 GLE 350 comes with the 255-hp turbo-four, MBUX dual 12.3-inch screens, LED lighting with adaptive high-beam assist (newly standard for 2022), a power liftgate and smartphone integration. The full driver-assistance suite, Burmester audio, a head-up display and air suspension remain options, and the Genesis GV80 includes more as standard for similar money.

This is fair value for a top-tier luxury badge: a refined cabin, strong tech and a sub-$57k rear-drive entry point. Option-heavy builds pass $70k quickly, and the GV80 and Lexus RX give more content per dollar.

This is a wide lineup: rear-drive and 4MATIC GLE 350, the GLE 450 inline-six, the GLE 580 V8, and the AMG GLE 53 and 63 S. It spans roughly $57k to $115k+, with an optional third row and extensive packages. No plug-in hybrid was sold in the US until the 2024 450e.

The GLE was one of Mercedes-Benz USA's highest-volume model lines in 2022 despite chip-shortage supply limits. It sits in the segment's top tier with the BMW X5 and Lexus RX and outsells the Q7, XC90 and GV80.

The three-pointed star remains one of the most aspirational luxury badges in the US. That supports buyer satisfaction, though it does little for resale against Lexus.

MY2022 sold through the 2021–22 semiconductor shortage, when luxury SUV inventory was thin and discounts were scarce. Some dealers added market adjustments; MBFS lease and loyalty programs were the main buyer benefit.

2022 is the third model year of the W167 generation, which launched for MY2020, and is mid-cycle carry-over with minor changes. The facelift with restyled lights, a new steering wheel, mild-hybrid powertrains and the 450e arrived for 2024.

Reviewers praise its interior quality, refinement and MBUX tech. It ranks well in luxury mid-size SUV lists but rarely wins comparison tests against the BMW X5 or Genesis GV80, and it won no 10Best award.