test Mercedes GLE 350 d 4Matic Coupe vs BMW X6 xDrive40d

A brand new episode within the Mercedes-BMW confrontation within the realm of luxurious coupe SUVs: the second technology Mercedes GLE Coupé versus the third technology BMW X6, in variations with inline six-cylinder diesel engine. Take a look at Mercedes GLE 350 d 4Matic Coupe vs BMW X6 xDrive40d.

Picture: Adrian Cobzașu

Within the coupe SUV phase, it’s like within the Champions League. Within the larger phases, the opponents are about the identical, being extraordinarily troublesome to penetrate among the many “giants”. Particularly, the SUV-coupe phase is a purely German enterprise, during which solely Porsche, BMW, Mercedes and Audi play.
The phase was invented in 2008 by BMW, which loved the privilege of getting no opponents for 7 years, in an automotive business the place, as a distinct segment seems, it’s instantly occupied. The X6 needed to face a rival solely in 2015 when the primary technology GLE Coupé appeared. In the meantime, the BMW X6 has reached the third technology, launched on the finish of 2019, whereas the brand new GLE Coupé appeared in the summertime of 2020. Our take a look at confronts the variations with inline six-cylinder diesel engines, all-wheel drive and computerized transmission.

Mercedes is extra sensible and has a greater design of the rear

In a easy definition, coupe SUVs are derived from equal SUVs, have much less house within the rear and trunk and price greater than the SUVs they arrive from. So why do folks purchase them? As a result of they’re modern, and the mixture of SUV and coupe is enticing, inducing the thought of ​​sportiness to a tall and heavy SUV.

As I mentioned, the inside house is narrower than the SUV from which every one comes. Right here is at all times a battle between the designer who desires a silhouette as shut as attainable to a coupe and the physique engineer who desires an inside house as sensible as attainable. The primary-generation X6 had a strongly tilted rear window and the rear passengers hit the ceiling with their heads. On this case, the designer received.As a substitute, within the first technology Mercedes GLE, the engineer accountable for the physique triumphed. There was loads of headroom within the  for rear, however the relatively vertical rear window had nothing to do with the thought of ​​the coupe. From the aspect, the GLE Coupé was just a little unpleasant, with a “hump” that was not solely elegant.

What’s the scenario now? Mercedes tilted the rear window extra and with the design of headlights and taillights developed within the horizontal path the brand new GLE Coupé has a slimmer silhouette, nearer to the thought of ​​the coupe. What did BMW do? The Bavarians didn’t wish to quit the thought of ​​a coupe and saved the rear window very inclined, however they pushed it again as a lot as attainable, thus ending near the aileron. What resulted from that? The headroom is first rate in each fashions, within the sense that, in neither, the 1.80-meter-tall folks hit the ceiling with their heads, however Mercedes nonetheless presents just a little extra headroom within the rear.

Though each fashions have beneficiant wheelbase, the knee house is just not spectacular in comparison with the SUVs they arrive from and, though BMW has a 40mm wheelbase benefit, it isn’t palpable once you sit.

Each fashions have a sensible trunk, apart from the excessive loading edge brought on by the coupe line. The bench is divisible 40/20/40%, and by folding it you get a superbly flat floor. Underneath the ground of each fashions there may be one other sensible compartment, however from right here on the variations seem.

Mercedes has a 75-liter bigger trunk, however at BMW you may fold the seat segments from two levers within the trunk, and the ground of the trunk has a shock absorber that enables it to be saved open. Each have a button for reducing the air suspension as a way to load heavier objects.

How do you’re feeling within the driver seat? Opposite to expectations, the driving place in BMW may be very excessive for a BMW. BMW mentioned that the so-called Command Place is the want of the shoppers, though it isn’t conventional for Bavarian fashions, the place we’re used to remain on a seat very near the ground. However not on SUVs.

In Mercedes, you keep just a little decrease, however this isn’t related to driving dynamics. Each fashions had the sports activities packages, AMG at GLE Coupé (3.272 euro AMG Line Exterior, 952 euro AMG Line Inside) and MSport at BMW (5.200 euro).

By way of ergonomics, each supply many working choices and each have strengths and weaknesses. In each, the controls are tactile, vocal with notions of synthetic intelligence (for instance, you say “I’m chilly” and the temperature rises and the heating of the seats is began), basic and even gestures, the latter mode current solely at BMW.

For the basic management, the BMW controller stays probably the most sensible and exact answer, whereas the brand new touchpad from Mercedes is just not probably the most exact and the best to function whereas driving.

And we recognize extra the separate air con block from BMW, though the tactile one from Mercedes can also be straightforward to entry.

As a substitute, at Mercedes we like the 2 mini-touches on the steering wheel, with which you use the dashboard menu (the one on the left) and the menu of the multimedia system (the one on the fitting) with out taking your hand off the steering wheel. At Mercedes, you have got a number of choices for displaying the instrument cluster and they’re very straightforward to function, whereas at BMW the structure of the instrument cluster is dictated by the chosen driving mode with out different choices.

With Nappa leather-based and fake leather-based on the doorways and the highest of the dashboard at Mercedes and Merino leather-based with prolonged content material at BMW, the interiors of the 2 fashions look very premium. BMW desires to impress with the CraftedClarity trim which include the controller and the beginning button lined in glass, however there are not any apparent variations in meeting high quality.

BMW is extra partaking, Mercedes is extra comfy

How are they driving? With a weight of 2290 kg every, it’s troublesome to beat the legal guidelines of physics, however we nonetheless have excessive expectations from two fashions bearing the identify “coupe” within the identify.

Customary, each fighters include an adaptive suspension, however the take a look at fashions had adaptive air suspension with floor clearance adjustment (2142 euro at Mercedes and 2100 euro at BMW).

At each there’s a extra subtle possibility, BMW’s Adaptive M Skilled, with lively stabilizer bars and integral steering (4600 euros, together with MSport), which reduces rolling and improves dynamics, and E-Energetic Physique Management (7735 euros, with individually managed shock absorbers), which brings further consolation as a result of Curve perform and Highway Floor Scan which “learn” street irregularities and adjusts the suspension accordingly.

Returning to the take a look at tools, with air suspension on each fashions, whether or not we set the Sport or Consolation mode, BMW feels stiffer and tilts much less corners than Mercedes. It’s apparent that the BMW’s suspension is way firmer, which generates a smaller roll, even when the X6 has the next floor clearance of 216 mm in comparison with 206 mm for the GLE Coupé.

The X6 feels extra partaking because of a heavier and extra incisive steering, whereas at Mercedes the steering is extra assisted. Within the succession of curves, BMW follows the trajectory with surgical precision and it’s a small miracle of physics that this monster could be so agile at double adjustments of path in alternating curves.

As a substitute, Mercedes presents extra consolation, particularly when overcoming quick bumps, which BMW passengers really feel even when the suspension is about to Consolation mode. And that occurs even when Mercedes has bigger 21-inch rims with blended tires, whereas the take a look at BMW was outfitted with barely smaller 20-inch rims, worn with winter tires, just like the Mercedes.

The engines of the 2 fashions have a really related building – 3 liters, two generators, six cylinders in line. The right comparability would have been the X6 xDrive40d with 340 HP versus the GLE 400 d 4Matic Coupé with 330 HP, however the take a look at mannequin, the Mercedes GLE 350 d 4Matic Coupe, develops solely 272 HP from the identical inline six-cylinder engine with a displacement of 2925 cm3.

As well as, BMW’s engine acquired an improve final 12 months, a light hybrid system at 48 V, with an built-in starter-alternator that gives 11 HP. As well as, a small 11 Ah battery powered by the 48 V community shops the vitality from braking after which helps the warmth engine at begin and acceleration.

How do they really feel driving? The additional energy and torque of BMW, 68 HP and 100 Nm, is present in sooner acceleration by 1.1 seconds and high velocity by 19 km/h. BMW’s built-in starter-alternator, which helps at acceleration, forgets any turbo lag, and the X6’s engine responds spontaneously from 1000 rpm.

Nevertheless, Mercedes admirably makes up for the shortage of an built-in starter-alternator, with a greater optimized torque curve, the utmost of 600 Nm being obtainable from 1200 rpm (1750 rpm at BMW), and subsequently, even on this case, the turbo lag doesn’t really feel in any respect.

The refinement of the powertrain can also be ensured by the superb gearboxes, with eight gears for BMW and 9 for Mercedes. At Mercedes, the gearbox is extra refined in Consolation mode and it doesn’t really feel in any respect once you change gears.

BMW’s engine could be heard at acceleration, nevertheless it’s not that disagreeable diesel sound, however an thrilling sound, perhaps as a result of the MSport package deal additionally comes with the MSport exhaust system. As a substitute, Mercedes engine may be very silent and is nearly unheard within the passenger compartment, even at full load.

Within the consumption self-discipline, surprisingly, BMW’s extra highly effective engine shows decrease official values. The gentle hybrid system, which helps to begin and speed up, but in addition stops the engine in coasting mode and at speeds beneath 5 km/h, has an essential contribution. 7.1 l / 100 km at BMW and seven.7 l/100 km at Mercedes are the official information, however in actuality they’re larger, at the very least 9 l/100 km at BMW and nearly 10 l/100 km at Mercedes. Nevertheless, at these performances and weights, the consumption values ​​characterize a powerful enterprise card.

Prices
As a base value, Mercedes GLE 350 d 4Matic Coupe is nearly 8000 euro cheaper than BMW X6 xDrive40d , but when we examine the equal energy model, GLE 400 d 4Matic Coupé, the costs are nearly the identical: 84.002,10 euro for Mercedes and 84.300 for BMW.

Mercedes GLE 350 d 4Matic Coupe
Extra spacious and intensely comfy, the GLE Coupé retains the normal qualities of the model. It consumes greater than its rival, however the value is unbeatable thanks to raised normal tools.

BMW X6 xDrive40d
A really highly effective engine, which, because of the gentle hybrid system, is extra economical than the one from Mercedes. Excellent dynamics and excellent ergonomics. The value is a bit excessive.