The Mercedes-Benz GLE 400e 4MATIC gives you a plug-in hybrid electric powertrain in the large luxury SUV format.
Interest in electrification has steadily increased in Malaysia and while not everyone is ready to make the transition to a full electric vehicle, many are starting consider the benefits of zero-emissions driving. Mercedes-Benz Malaysia has responded by expanding their Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) line-up steadily over the years and now we finally have a the GLE400e 4MATIC AMG Line. While it’s not a flagship vehicle, I would argue that the GLE of the current generation has been the best way to experience modern day Mercedes-Benz qualities, so to finally get a locally-assembled electrified GLE brings the experience full circle. The new GLC has a more modern look, but you just don’t get the width and presence of a ‘proper’ Benz.
Just to quickly recap, the current generation Mercedes-Benz GLE has been around for since 2018 and while that sounds like a long time, it’s worth noting that this class of vehicle historically only gets a major platform revision after a decade, sometimes longer. In fact, some may be wondering why they haven’t heard of a ‘GLE’ before and that’s because it was once known as the ML or M-Class. Think Jurassic Park II: The Lost World and you’ll probably remember the rugged looking first generation ancestor to today’s GLE. The GLE of today is built on the Modular High Architecture and feels like a modern day Mercedes-Benz product. Class-leading NVH, superb comfort, organically-tuned high-speed dynamics and a responsive powertrain characterize the GLE, no matter which engine choice you go for. In our 400e model, we lose the turbocharged 3.0L inline 6 for a turbocharged 2.0L inline 4 that’s aided by a reasonably powerful electric motor and joined by a sizeable battery.
Speaking of the battery, it’s an NMC unit with 31kWh of energy available. While 31kWh may not sound like much at first glance, it’s actually the same amount of energy packed in the battery pack of the base Proton e.MAS 5 EV. Unfortunately, it’s lugging around a gearbox, an engine and a massive luxury SUV, so the pure electric range is around 114km, and in our testing it feels about right. The car defaults to pure electric mode and can run LIKE and EV if you’re just doing your typical city commute as the motor is good for 156 PS and 440Nm of torque. That means you could get away with treating your GLE 400e as an electric vehicle in day-to-day use, then lean on its massive combined fuel and battery combo for long distance drives where a combined 381PS and 650Nm of torque are made available. The GLE400e does not come with fast charging capabilities but it does have 11kW AC charging for a 2-3 hour recharge at home, the office, or a mall.
In terms of equipment, the GLE400e is priced and positioned one rung below the GLE450, and it feels it. You no longer get a third row of seats, and the heads-up display is missing as well. The lack of a third row was necessary to fit the massive battery (which also reduces overall boot capacity to 490L), and the heads-up display omission seems like a reasonable compromise. After all, you still get a very premium experience with 21″ wheels, an AMG Line body kit, a massive panoramic sunroof, electrically retractable rear passenger window sunblinds, the Artico + Microcut upholstery package, memory front seats, a Nappa leather-wrapped steering wheel, and open-pore wood trim. The rear seats are also power adjustable and fold flat at the press of a button.
Far from ticking boxes on a spec list, the GLE’s equipment levels are good and what’s expected in the segment. Today we take a lot of these features for granted but it really was Mercedes-Benz pioneering and perfecting these items back when this generation of the GLE was first released. There’s nothing in the cabin that feels aged or outdated. In fact, the presence of so many tactile dials and buttons in real wood and metal reminded me of what a proper premium experience felt like not so long ago. These days, even premium carmakers are happy to just give you a single display, a voice assistant and contextual steering controls to carry out every function. It’s personal preference, some say. In my experience, there’s no running away from physical buttons and Mercedes-Benz continues to offer some of the most satisfyingly tactile switchgear experience in the business. I also liked how even basic features like the FM radio have been enhanced to give track info.
On the whole though, it’s pretty familiar territory for anyone who has an eye on what Mercedes-Benz have been up to these last few years. The 12.3″ infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, electrically-adjustable steering column, capacity buttons on the steering. It’s all very ‘atas’. Plus, the GLE’s roots in pre-2020s Mercedes-Benz actually works in its favour as more modern premium German products (particularly from BMW) have gone for a more minimalist, more plastic-heavy cabin. The GLE400e may not look like the most trendy car, but it carries the timeless look perfected in the 2010s by Mercedes-Benz.
What really completes the premium experience and sets the GLE400e apart in my view is the AIRMATIC system. It allows the vehicle to float over the worst surfaces and it cushions occupants from the worst of potholes. It also lowers the vehicle and stiffens things up in the corners when in Sport mode. This suspension set-up is perhaps the largest engineering advantage Mercedes-Benz still have over the rest of the industry, particularly when it comes to more upmarket electric vehicles from China. Rivals in that space can already match raw performance numbers and equipment levels but they just can’t get the suspension tuning right even when air suspension is involved.
On to value, the Mercedes-Benz GLE 400e 4MATIC at RM498,888 doesn’t scream value-for-money, but it certainly has an air about it. It has been a while since my last Mercedes-Benz test car and I almost forgot how good these cars make you feel behind the wheel. Plus the brand still carries a lot of weight and even though the GLE has been around for some time, it’s still a design that turns heads. I mean, this thing is enormous and it looks expensive even if you’re not tuned in to the current trend of tax-free EVs. And if you ARE tuned in, then the GLE is even more of a flex. It’s a sort of expression of taste to buy something so much more expensive than ‘fair value’ alternatives out there just because you can and want to. And if you want to run it like an EV, well its got an e.MAS 5’s worth of energy in its battery.
2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE 400e 4MATIC AMG Line Specifications
Engine: Inline-4, 16-Valve, DOHC, Turbocharged Petrol
Capacity: 1999cc
Gearbox: 9-Speed Conventional Automatic
Max power: 248PS + 154PS Electric, 381PS Combined output
Max torque: 400Nm + 440Nm Electric, 650Nm Combined output
Top Speed: 210km/h
0-100 km/h: 6.1 seconds
Price: RM498,888
Mercedes-Benz GLE 400e 4MATIC AMG Line Gallery
