VEHICLE FRONT
The Mercedes GLE starts at $55,400. This includes a 2.0-liter turbo four-banger rated at 255 horsepower. But some demand more, and the factory is pleased to accommodate them.
Text and photos by Chad Haire
EMBLEM
This brings us to the upgraded AMG 63-S. This is the ultimate GLE, the best of German engineering.
ENGINE
Under the hood is a proven 4.0 liter V-8. But thanks to a twin-turbo, and factory magic, horsepower output is a massive 603, with a torque rating of 627 lbs./ft. The Claimed 0-60 time is under 4 seconds easy.
ENGINE II
The motor is handmade, and the craftsperson’s name is placed on a plaque. This way if the engine blows, you know who to blame!
SEATS
Since this is a top-of-the-line vehicle it comes with plenty of goodies, which are optional to raise the overall price. The massage seats are great for long trips, yours for $1,650.
WHEELS
These 22-inch wheels look sharp, and are $1,750 extra.
PAINT
The metallic while paint looks sharp. It will tack on another $1,500 to the tab.
PRICE
While the start fee of the 63-S is $119K, the total tab on this one is $134K. Yes you could save a few bucks by deleting a few items, but on a vehicle like this, buyers want the best, so why not order everything? It's only money.
MODES
On the street, drive modes Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Race, Individual, and slippery are available. For going off-pavement, an additional Trail or Sand mode can be activated. The suspension can also be raised, to avoid large rocks. All-wheel drive is standard, for maximum traction, on or off the road.
OFF ROAD
Our GLE was taken into the dirt, and it performed very well when programmed properly. We suspect most owners will stick to the street, but it's nice to know there are other abilities.
GAUGES
The gauge cluster is very sophisticated and has plenty of settings.
NAVIGATION
The navigation screen is huge, but this is what we are paying for.
SCREEN CONTROLS
Most navigation and other screen functions are controlled from here. There are separate buttons to operate the suspension height or comfort level.
POV
The GLE AMG 63-S is a "do-anything" vehicle. On the street, it is quick enough to blow away many muscle cars in a race. It can take trips in the dirt. Yet daily commuting is very pleasant.
MPG
Our real-world fuel mileage was 13 in the city and 19 on the freeway during brisk driving. But in 2,085 miles of fleet use, the overall figure was a more practical 17.0 mpg. Considering the massive power and vehicle weight, this is certainly a reasonable figure.
