2017 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the 2017 GLE gets a new AMG GLE43 that replaces the outgoing GLE450, with rear-wheel drive standard on the base model and all-wheel drive optional. Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) adds that a rearview camera is now standard on all trims, and that the optional twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 makes 329 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque.

Carvana (opens in a new tab) describes it as the second model year after the 2016 GLE rename and update of the former M-Class, a quiet follow-up with no major redesign before the all-new 2019 model. EPA rates the 2017 GLE-Class at 15 to 21 mpg combined and $3,700 to $5,150 a year in fuel, the best figure belonging to the plug-in hybrid.

NHTSA lists twelve recall campaigns for the 2017 GLE-Class. 17V077000 covers a center console that may unlatch in a crash and let objects fly around the cabin, with a free modification to keep it latched. 16V903000 covers a front passenger occupant classification calibration that may misclassify the occupant as a child, 17V816000 a driver-side rear door that may indicate it is locked when it is not, and 22V955000 covers water collecting in the spare tire well and damaging the fuel pump control unit, which could stall the engine while driving; dealers fit a drain plug and replace the unit as needed. Others include 21V197000 and 23V854000, a front roof panel that may not have been bonded correctly, 17V506000, engine and transmission software on AMG GLE43 models, and 17V655000, passenger air bag inflator modules.

Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA: unknown or other with 18, electrical system with 16, vehicle speed control with 9, and steering and exterior lighting with 8 each. ProblemsByVin (opens in a new tab) names electrical as the most-reported issue, and Kelley Blue Book (opens in a new tab) keeps a common-problems page for the year.

EPA rates the 2017 GLE-Class at 15 to 21 mpg combined and $3,700 to $5,150 a year in fuel. The BMW X5 lists 17 to 25 at $3,250 to $4,550, the Audi Q7 21 to 22 at $3,500 to $3,700, the Volvo XC90 22 to 25 at $3,100 to $3,500, and the Lexus RX 22 to 30 at $2,600 to $2,850. The GLE-Class has the lowest mpg and the highest annual fuel cost of the five.