Page 75 - Car South Africa (February 2020)

Gross frontal area: 3,11 m Weight: 2 305 kg Drag coefficient: 0,29 Seating: 5

2
MERCEDES-BENZ
GLE300d Headroom/kneeroom:
883/793 mm
adds an adaptive-damping mod- Headroom:
ule to the suspension and uprated 4MATIC 9G-TRONIC 788/872 mm 2 026 mm
towing capacity. 384/
1 368 L
Given its price point, the 1 772 mm
GLE300d is not the most gener- 69 54% 47% 764 mm
ously equipped model in its class. /100 190 mm
While premium SUV staples such 2 995 mm
4 924 mm
as climate control, auto lights
and wipers, a slick touchscreen Built in United States Width (excl. mirrors): 1 947 mm Track front/rear: 1 685/1 705 mm Tow rating (unbraked): 745 kg
infotainment system and cam-
SPECIFICATIONS POWER & TORQUE ENGINE SPEED
era-assisted parking aids are
present, it’s disappointing to see ENGINE
keyless entry and ignition, fully Cylinders: four, inline, longitudinal 200 600 280 8th
7th
180
540
Fuel supply: electronic common-rail Torque 240
adjustable electric front seats and 160 480 Max torque Max power 6th
direct injection, turbocharged, 140 420 200 5th
leather upholstery (the GLE300d 120 Power 360 160
intercooled, diesel 100 300
4th
features fairly soft and supple Bore/stroke: 82,0/92,3 mm 80 240 120 3rd
60
Artico synthetic leather) feature Cubic capacity: 1 950 cm 3 40 180 80 2nd
120
40
20
on its equivalent rivals in our Compression ratio: 15,5 to 1 kW 60 km/h 1st
N.m
Valvegear: d-o-h-c, four valves per cylinder 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5
Match-up section but not on the
Revs per minute (x 1 000) Revs per minute (x 1 000)
GLE300d. Thankfully, some of that
ENGINE OUTPUT
sting is softened by the engine’s Max power ISO: 180 kW Oil filter: R371,30 Air filter: R875,80 Left headlamp: n/a
frugal performance; it returned an Power peak/Red line: 4 200/4 600 r/min PRICES* Left rear tyre: R4 651,00 Windscreen: R12 776,00 Brake pads
PARTS
impressive 6,80 L/100 km on our Max torque: 500 N.m (front set): R3 721,50 Camchain (incl. tensioner): n/a
Torque peak: 1 600-2 000 r/min Total parts basket: R22 395,60 (excl. headlamp amd camchain)
100 km mixed-use fuel route.
TRANSMISSION TEST RESULTS
TEST SUMMARY Type: nine-speed automatic
Perhaps it was our positive rst 1st gear/2nd gear: 5,35/3,24 to 1 Test conditions**: Ambient temp/barometric press: 18 °C/1 022 hPa Test car’s odometer: 5 790 km

impression when sampling the 3rd gear/4th gear: 2,25/1,64 to 1 BRAKING TEST
GLE on its international launch 5th gear/6th gear: 1,21/1,00 to 1 TOP SPEED
7th gear/8th gear: 0,86/0,72 to 1 Manufacturer’s figure: 225 km/h Best/worst stop: 2,97/3,29
(visit CARmag.co.za for reviews Average of 10 stops/rating: 3,09/good
Top gear: 0,60 to 1
of the GLE400d and 450), or Reverse gear: 4,80 to 1 SPEEDO CALIBRATION (true speed) Average stopping distance: 42,29 m
the strangely unsettled quality Final drive: 3,27 to 1 60 80 100 120 10 stops from 100 km/h measured in seconds.
of our test unit’s ride, but we Drive wheels: all 58 78 97 117
Driver aids: ESC (electronic stability FUEL CONSUMPTION
walked away from the GLE300d
control), hill start Odometer error: 0,2% over Fuel tank: 65,0 L
with mixed feelings. We got the Est. tank range (fuel index): 846 km
impression the fundamentals BRAKES ACCELERATION (sec) Taxable CO rating: 169 g/km
2
were present but the execution Front: 375 mm ventilated discs
0-60 0-80 0-100 0-120 0-140 Manufacturer’s figure
felt curiously lacking. There’s no Rear: 330 mm solid discs 3,74 5,82 8,50 11,79 16,26 6,40
doubting the GLE’s presence and Hydraulics: ABS with EBD and EBA L/100 km
practical packaging, and the en-
WHEELS AND TYRES OVERTAKING ACCELERATION (sec)
gine’s ability to punch well above Tyre make: Michelin Latitude Sport 3 MO CAR fuel index
its weight was a pleasant surprise, Tyre size (f/r): 275/50 R20 AT 7,68
L/100 km
but the jittery ride quality and the Spare – type and location: space-saver, 40-60 1,51
1,99
60-80
fact that it wants for more stand- under boot board 80-100 2,65 Fuel route
100-120 3,35 6,80
ard speci cation for the price just

STEERING 120-140 4,59 L/100 km
seemed to take the wind out of
Type: rack and pinion, electric
the GLE’s sails. Granted, this is power assist
our rst (relatively low-specced) Lock to lock: 2,9 turns Power/mass: 78 W/kg Power/litre: 92 kW/litre PERFORMANCE

taste of the GLE, so we’re keen to Turning circle diameter: 12,0 m Torque/litre: 256 N.m/litre Cabin noise level at idle: 40 dBA FACTORS
Engine speed (at true 120 km/h in top gear): 1 643 r/min
see if a more generously equipped
SUSPENSION
model on air springs will atone for Front: independent, double wishbone, Airbags: front/side/curtain Air-con: dual-zone climate Audio system:
the GLE300d’s shortcomings. For coil springs, anti-roll bar FEATURES radio/USB/Bluetooth/voice control/smartphone mirroring Cruise control:
now, though, it looks as though Rear: independent, multilink, coil springs, CHECKLIST standard Sat-nav: standard Park assist: standard, incl. camera
Mercedes-Benz might have its anti-roll bar Windows: all-electric Trip computer: standard Driver seat adjust: part-
electric Folding rear seat: 60:40 split Upholstery: synthetic leather Isofix anchorages: outer
work cut out to remain a com-
WARRANTY & SERVICE INTERVALS rear Steering adjust: rake + reach Steering audio controls: standard Tyre sensors: standard
petitive player in the luxury-SUV
2-year/unlimited km warranty Wipers auto-on: standard Headlamps auto-on: standard Head-up display: optional
scene. 5-year/100 000 km maintenance plan
Services according to onboard computer *Prices as recommended by manufacturer **All tests conducted at sea level

CARmag.co.za CAR FEBRUARY 2020 73