The AMG GLE53 can do everything. Want to go on a spirited drive? Sure. Want to go off-road? Let’s go. Want to be driven in luxury? Yes sir. But, when you are everything to everyone, you can’t be something to someone. Or whatever the internet feeds you.
So it’s Sunday morning and you take the GLE53 to have some fun. The 3.0l turbocharged inline-6 is powerful and delivers 435 hp. The exhaust seems like it has a pops and bangs tune from factory. The GLE53 sings and burbles and crackles. Even in comfort mode, you can still hear the distant hum of the exhaust. Switch it to Sport+, the graphics turn red and a huge wave of torque hits you.
It pulls in a straight line but as soon as you hit the ghats, you feel the weight. All 2.3 tonnes of it. There is body-roll in the corners and it nose-dives under braking. The air suspension or the AIRMATIC keeps the ride busy and the car is never glued to the road. But for its size, the handling is impressive!
Now, you want to travel in luxury in true Mercedes fashion? The interior is a perfect blend of modern tech and old-school luxury. The CF panels, physical buttons and the AMG steering wheel makes the interior look sporty. The crisp high-res graphics on the screen deserve a special mention. The seats are sporty and hold you when the driver is absolutely ripping it which will usually be the case. The back-seats are on the firm side and head-room is a concern for taller people thanks to the coupe shape. This is not your chauffeur-driven Mercedes but a driver’s car.
Feel like taking it off-road? No one in their right mind would take their 2 crore SUV off-roading but on the occasion you find yourself on Mumbai roads, this car is a blessing. The ride-height can be increased by the touch of a button and the ground-clearance makes driving stress-free. The 4-Matic system helps in tricky situations and you can even take this to Leh.
Imagine you have taken this to Leh. You take out your phone to click a picture of your car against the picturesque bg. What you’ll notice is that it has some weird dimensions. It is a LWB SUV-coupe and I don’t know why, but I like it. It is something very different from what you usually see on the road. It is very similar to the GLC43 but just with a long-wheelbase.
It is everything for everyone.
