2024 Mercedes-AMG GLE53 and GLE63 S: Minor Updates Keep the Performance SUVs in the Hunt

The Smoky Mountain region of the American Southeast has much in common with Germany's Black Forest. Both feature dense forestry, are steeped in local tradition, and host a vein-like network of tight, twisty two-lane roads carved into the mountainsides. Traveling those roads behind the wheel of the 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLE53 and GLE63 S performance SUVs, it's easy to experience brief moments of intercontinental singularity. Corners appear without warning; heavy braking orders a firm downshift and a bark from the exhaust before the driver dives back into the accelerator and sets up for the next one.

It's all pretty heady stuff, especially when you think about the fact that the machine you're piloting also has room for five and their luggage in the cargo hold. And like the topography, the Mercedes-AMG GLE53 and GLE63 S don't get hung up on the where but focus on the why and how: Envisioned and developed by Mercedes-Benz's AMG division in Affalterbach, Germany, the Mercedes-AMG models we drove are assembled at Mercedes-Benz's facility in nearby Tuscaloosa, Alabama, as verified by the VINs. Critically, the V-8 in the GLE63 S is assembled at AMG's HQ, employing its "one man, one engine" philosophy that assures quality and—equally important—maintains prestige; the inline-six in the GLE53 is bolted together in Stuttgart.

Changes for 2024

The 2024 model year brings mild revisions to the GLE53 and GLE63 S—both those with the traditional SUV profile and those with the almost-a-coupe body style with a rakish backlight. Specifically, the AMG GLE53 and GLE63 S lead off with fresh LED daytime running lights. In addition, the GLE53 models benefit from a slight redesign of the front fascia, complete with side air intakes, to bring its look closer in concept to the 63 S. Revised taillamps benefit from some internal manipulation to create a new pattern of illumination.

Two new colors join the lineup: a bold enamel-looking solid finish called Alpine Grey and Twilight Blue Metallic, a hue that Mercedes has been splashing over much of its portfolio recently. The latter color brings some sizzle, but it's far from tacky—a defining theme for the GLE53. A new 22-inch forged wheel in a 10-twin-spoke design is fitted standard on the GLE63 S Coupe and available as an option for the other models.

As expected, the AMG interior is a leather affair. New color combos include Bahia Brown/Black and Macchiato Beige/Black. Trim elements in High-Gloss Brown Linden Wood and Black Piano Lacquer Flowing Lines are optional.

The list of standard frippery is cranked up a notch for the GLE53. Items include an AMG Performance exhaust system (with user-selectable levels of obnoxiousness), a panoramic sunroof, and heated and ventilated front seats. There's also some electronic tweaking in the form of the enhanced Burmester surround sound system with Dolby Atmos, MBUX augmented video for navigation, and a surround-view camera system with a "transparent hood" feature that stitches together an image of what's immediately in front of the vehicle.

The GLE63 S and GLE63 S Coupe up the ante with massaging front seats, a head-up display, the Winter package with a heated steering wheel and heated windshield washers, and—to the amazement of onlookers—a logo projector with AMG-specific animation when the front doors open.

Driving the GLE53 and GLE63 S

While the feature content is necessary to keep the well-heeled interested, the powertrain and driving experience ostensibly defines an AMG product.

The GLE53 kicks things off with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt hybrid assist. It's rated at 429 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, the latter an increase of 29 pound-feet thanks to a larger turbocharger and a mild software tweak. Uniquely, the GLE53 also employs an electric supercharger to build boost until the turbo gets up to speed. The result is a 60-mph time Mercedes estimates to be 0.3 second quicker than before, which would put it at 4.4 seconds based on our last test of a GLE53. Output is funneled through a nine-speed automatic transmission and to all four wheels as determined by the standard 4Matic all-wheel-drive system.