Mercedes GLE review - Reliability and Safety
Mercedes has improved its reliability record, and the GLE is packed with the latest safety equipment
The GLE achieved a full five-star rating from Euro NCAP in 2019, with strong ratings of 91 and 90 per cent for adult and child protection respectively. The 78 per cent scores for the vulnerable road users and safety assist are also respectable.
We have every reason to believe that the 2019 GLE will follow suit, even though the test has been made tougher in recent years. That’s because it’s packed with the latest safety equipment, including blind spot assist, active bonnet, active braking assist, multiple airbags, lane-keeping assist and Isofix points on the two outer seats in the second row.
A Driving Assistance package is available for around £1,700, comprising autonomous emergency braking, active steering assist, evasive steering assist, traffic sign assist and route-based speed adjustment. It also features Pre-Safe Plus, which initiates preventative measures when a rear-end collision is detected.
Mercedes finished a respectable third on the list of the most reliable car manufacturers in our 2018 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. Although the previous GLE didn’t feature on the list of the best cars to own, the C-Class finished 27th and the A-Class 56th out of 75 vehicles, which suggests there’s room for improvement.
Warranty
When some volume car manufacturers offer five- and seven-year warranties, the GLE’s three-year cover feels a bit miserly, but at least there’s no mileage restriction. In comparison, Audi restricts its three-year warranty to 60,000 miles, although BMW’s cover is the same as Mercedes. Extended warranties are also available.
Servicing
Mercedes maintenance isn’t cheap, but you can lower the cost by using a ServiceCare package. For around £35 a month, you can have two services in two years, three services in three years or four in four years. The service intervals are yearly or every 15,500 miles, whichever comes soonest.
