2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLS: More Tech, More Power

Car and Driver reports on the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE and GLS, which get a significant second freshening this generation. The updates bring styling changes, a new interior screen setup, powertrain upgrades, and pricing that inches upward.

Exterior and Interior Refresh

Both SUVs get new bumpers, grilles filled with rows of tiny three-pointed stars, and revised headlights and taillights also featuring star motifs. The GLE’s headlights have horizontal star elements, while the GLS stacks them vertically. At the rear, two stars in each taillight mark the GLE, three for the GLS.

Inside, the previous 12.3-inch driver and center displays are now joined by a 12.3-inch passenger touchscreen as standard. Mercedes calls the trio of screens Superscreen. A new AI assistant appears in the corner of the center screen. Mercedes has also addressed complaints about touch-heavy steering-wheel controls: the volume control is now a roller, and adaptive cruise gets a physical rocker, though the directional pad remains capacitive.

Powertrain Choices

The lineup offers several engine options. The base GLE350 keeps its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, now with an electric compressor for smoother torque delivery, but output is unchanged at 255 hp. The GLE350 is now all-wheel-drive only; rear-wheel drive is dropped.

The GLE450 and GLS450 use a 3.0-liter turbo inline-six with 375 hp and 413 lb-ft, up 44 lb-ft thanks to a stronger electric compressor and breathing improvements.

The plug-in hybrid GLE500e replaces the old 450e, swapping the four-cylinder for a 3.0-liter six. Combined output is 429 hp and 502 lb-ft, with an estimated 52 miles of electric range according to Car and Driver.

At the top, the GLE580 and GLS580 get a new 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 from the S-class, producing 530 hp and 553 lb-ft. Mercedes uses a flat-plane crankshaft for efficiency but adds balance shafts to mask the Ferrari-like sound.

Pricing and Value

Prices have gone up. The GLE350 4Matic starts at $69,850. The GLE450 SUV is $76,250, the GLE500e is $82,450, and the GLE580 is $97,750. The GLE450 Coupe, with less cargo space and a higher price, starts at $82,750. The GLS450 begins at $95,500, the GLS580 at $122,500.

Driving Impressions

Car and Driver notes that the powertrains are impressively smooth, with shifts barely interrupting power delivery. Three suspension setups are available per model: standard steel springs with adaptive dampers, traditional air springs, and active air suspension. The air systems now use cloud-based predictive damping to prepare for bumps, though the drive event didn't allow testing that feature. The active suspension leans the SUVs into corners, which the publication says feels unnatural but works well.

Mercedes says it aligned the GLE and GLS with the S-class on electrical architecture, enabling over-the-air updates. Hands-off highway and city driving features are planned via future software updates.

With these updates bringing the SUVs closer to S-class comfort, Car and Driver suggests that the end-of-generation improvements hint at what the next full redesign might deliver.

• 2027
• GLE
• GLS
• luxury
• Mercedes-Benz
• SUV