The 2022 Mercedes GLE450 shows how if you start with a great model, every generation is simply a tweak towards improvement. I was a massive fan of the ML when i first saw its debut in The Lost World: Jurassic Park. Fast forward a couple of model generations and you can still see a lot of the ML’s DNA.

The loaner GLE I had, was Mercedes iconic silver color. Thankfully this had the night package option to add some black accents to things like the window frame, grille, and mirrors. The AMG Line option does change the fender trim to the body color. I would’ve honestly preferred that the trim were in gloss black to follow the other night package options.

Inside of the fender wells, the 21” multi-spoke wheels gave a classic look to the GLE. Although you typically don’t see such a large tire on an off-roader marketed vehicle, the 21” wheels still had a very large sidewall. The Pirelli Scorpion tire made roads extremely smooth to drive on. The AIRMATIC air suspension also helped with getting in and out of the SUV.

Once you get in the GLE450, I started to see things that will most likely be updated like other newer models started to get. The interior is still great with very comfortable leather seats. This model was only equipped with the heated option but you’ll definitely want to get the vented options for the hotter summer days. The steering wheel’s flat bottom design gave it a nice sporty feel. It is unfortunate that newer Mercedes have removed the BlackBerry style button in favor for an indented touch sensor which wasn’t as responsive. The infotainment system will probably be replaced for the newer Mercedes vertical screens. The problem I had with the newer screens was the very complicate user interface, compared to the one that this GLE had.

The 3.0L inline 6-cylinder engine was assisted with a mild hybrid system. The 362 horsepower felt great to get the big SUV moving. The awkward problem I encountered was with the transmission shifts feeling clunky. This only occurred when I was in any mode other than sport.

Overall I enjoyed the 2022 Mercedes GLE450 and hope Mercedes continues to improve on one of my favorite SUV models.