New 2019 Mercedes GLE Coupe: prices, specs and release date

• • Sportier GLE Coupe commands a small premium over GLE SUV
• • GLE Coupe range includes a powerful AMG 53 model
• • GLE 400 d starts at £72,530, while AMG 53 costs from £80,615

The new Mercedes GLE Coupe is now on sale, with first customer deliveries set to start in summer 2020. You’ll need to pay at least £72,530 to get behind the wheel of a GLE 400 d, while the mild-hybrid AMG 53 costs just over £8,000 more at £80,615.

AMG Line Premium Plus is the only trim level to choose from initially. The GLE Coupe is a little more expensive than the Mercedes GLE SUV spec-for-spec, as the SUV costs £70,785 and £80,485 for the 400 d and AMG 53 Premium Plus model respectively.

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Compared with the GLE, the GLE Coupe favours style over practicality, with its sportier shape shape slightly reducing rear headroom and boot space. There’s still 655 litres of boot space with all seats in place and 1,790 litres with the rear seats folded, so it remains a practical car.

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The space on offer is partly because the GLE Coupe is bigger than its predecessor. It’s 39mm longer and 7mm wider, while the wheelbase (the distance between front and rear wheels) is 20mm longer. The back seats fold 40:20:40, and the boot lip is lower than before to make loading easier.

There are plenty of similarities between the two cars, not least in the styling. From the front, the GLE Coupe shares its face with the GLE, although the windscreen is more steeply raked to give it a sportier look. At the rear, the swooping shape has been redesigned for a more cohesive look, and there are redesigned brake light clusters and bumpers.

Inside, the dashboard is also shared with the GLE, which means two 12.3-inch screens - one touchscreen and one to replace the instrument cluster - side-by-side. Mercedes’ MBUX infotainment system is fitted, complete with the ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice control function, and Artico man-made leather is standard across the range.

The only petrol engine on offer is the Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupe 53 model. Just like other 53-badged models in the Mercedes range, the GLE uses a mild-hybrid system to improve fuel economy and boost performance.

The GLE Coupe 53 produces 429bhp (including the electric motor’s 22bhp), which means a 0-62mph time of 5.3 seconds and a limited top speed of 155mph. The 3.0-litre engine is twin-turbocharged and is shared with the Mercedes E-Class and CLS 53 models. Its 48-volt electrical system is used to boost performance and reduce turbo lag.

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As with other mild-hybrid systems, the Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupe 53’s engine can shut off when coasting to preserve fuel. However, it’s designed with performance in mind - it only manages 30.4mpg, so it’ll be quite expensive to run.

A 3.0-litre, six-cylinder engine with 325bhp is the diesel option in the form of the GLE 400 d. This will probably be the big seller in the range, and comes with air suspension. It’s more economical than the AMG 53 model, managing 38.7mpg and 193g/km of CO2.

Standard equipment on the AMG Line Premium Plus (the only trim level offered from launch) includes a Burmester sound system, 22-inch alloy wheels, a driver assistance package, augmented-reality sat nav, a panoramic sunroof and smartphone mirroring. Choosing the AMG 53 means you also get active ride control and an AMG Track Pack. A towing pack (including a folding towbar and trailer manoeuvring assist) costs £1,150.

Read our review of the standard Mercedes GLE, or compare the GLE 53 to one of its premium rivals, the Porsche Cayenne.