The current-gen Mercedes Benz GLE was first showcased at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. It was launched in India in January 2020 with 300d and 400d diesel engine options. The GLE sold in India is the long-wheelbase version (LWB).

Under Mercedes Benz's naming scheme, this generation of the GLE goes by the codename W167.

• Later, in June 2020, Mercedes Benz India launched the 450 4Matic petrol engine for the GLE alongside the 400d 4Matic.

• Mercedes Benz India also launched the coupe version of the GLE in India, albeit in the sportier AMG version. It is priced at ? 1.71 crore.

• You should also know that the facelift for the current-gen GLE was unveiled globally in February 2023.

• You could expect the new and updated GLE facelift to be launched in India sometime later this year.

• The updated GLE facelift gets subtle design tweaks on the exterior, but the cabin remains more or less unchanged. However, it gets the newest MBUX interface on the same old screen. Instead, it could have debuted the floating screen you get on new-gen GLC, C-Class and S-Class. But Mercedes' might have decided to save it for the next-gen model.

You can buy the Mercedes Benz GLE in India for a starting price of ? 89.87 lakhs for the

GLE 300d 4MATIC variant. The more expensive 400d 4Matic is available for ? 1.08 crore. And the petrol version, which is the 450 4Matic, will cost you ? 1.04 crore. All prices mentioned are ex-showroom Delhi.

In terms of appearance, the GLE has a bold and aggressive design typical of a Mercedes Benz SUV.

• You get a large imposing front with an upright grille and sharp LED headlights signature with dual barrels. These headlamps also integrate the adaptive MULTIBEAM LED headlamps which are intelligent, powerful and bright.

• The long hood and sleek body lines give the GLE a sportier look, especially for a full-size SUV. It carries a proper boxy design yet looks much more modern and appealing.

• You can have it with a wheel size of up to 20 inches. At the back, the sleeker-looking LED tail lamps are unique to the GLE and remind you of much sportier Three-Pointed Stars.

Just like the sleek and sophisticated exterior, the GLE's interior is equally imposing, spacious and luxurious. You get high-quality materials throughout as you would expect from a Mercedes.

• As for the seats, you would find them to be comfortable and supportive, with plenty of legroom and headroom for all passengers. The cabin is also quiet, thanks to the advanced noise insulation, making it perfect for long drives. You get a contrast of luxury and robustness inside the GLE, which is quite a unique combination in the Merc's line-up.

• There is a stylish cockpit on the central element of the dashboard's design. The dashboard support flows into the door panels. And the integral trim elements extend around the driver and front passenger. The free-floating display has two 12.3-inch screens housed behind a shared, continuous glass surface to form a large, free-standing screen.

• The controls have haptic and audible feedback. There's a new sports steering wheel with lots of buttons on it. You have a range of choices when it comes to materials and colours and shades. The choices for the interior are bicolour such as magma grey/macchiato beige, magma grey/espresso brown or the cool combination of black/Tartufo.

• In terms of space, the GLE has a boot capacity of 630 litres, which can be extended by folding down the second row of seats.

The GLE offers you a range of advanced safety features that make it one of the safest SUVs on the road. Apart from the usual safety suite, the GLE debuts some of the most innovative safety hardware that you would find in this segment.

• The E-Active body control uses hydropneumatic, active suspension on a 48-volt basis, and air suspension to offer controlled body rolls and reduced pitching and squatting.

• Active Tailback Assist predicts any tailback action at an early stage and actively mitigates it in stop-and-go traffic up to approx. 60kmph.

• There's Active Brake Assist where if the car senses the danger of a collision with oncoming traffic, it can automatically reduce the speed by braking.

• Mercedes' famous 4MATIC uses fully variable all-wheel drive (Torque on Demand, TonD) which controls the torque distribution between the front and rear axles.

You also get other safety nets like a tyre pressure monitor, blind spot assist, adaptive high beam assist, and a 360-degree camera.

With the 300d badge, you get a turbodiesel making 250bhp and 500Nm. This is enough power to move around the city or go on long trips in utmost comfort. And when the roads start to disappear, the 4Matic hardware comes to your rescue with intelligent torque distribution to the wheels with the maximum grip.

Similarly, the bigger 400d version has better ammunition and firepower with earth-shattering 700Nm torque. This makes it not only unbelievably fast, but it's also so much more fun to drive. It's the classic case of 'if you've got it, flaunt it'.

The GLE also offers you an advanced air-suspension system that can lean into corners easily when pushed enthusiastically. And it can also help you get unstuck in the stickiest of situations when in sand or mud.

While the steering may be light, it offers precise control. This helps you with light control and ease of driving. The damping is good and provides a lot of resistance to body roll.

And for those who want nothing but the best, the AMG version has the fire-breathing V8 engine which can decimate drag strips easily. This is one of the few AMGs that can eat supercars for breakfast.

With the GLE parked in your garage, you would surely need the Park+ app on your smartphone. It is a one-stop solution for everything related to hassle-free car ownership including FASTag purchase and recharges, checking challan status, buying car insurance, parking assistance, car wash, and looking up pre-owned cars.

So go ahead and download the app today and make the best of your car-owning experience.