Should you buy one?

Yes. The Mercedes-Benz GLE is an accomplished luxury SUV that gives little away to its biggest rivals – the Volvo XC90 and BMW X5 – or in-house E-Class Saloon equivalent. It doesn’t have the outright wafty comfort and composure of the E-Class on the move, yet its ability to carry seven (just) and even do a spot of off-roading while you’re at it isn’t to be sniffed at.

If you’re after the cheapest GLE on offer then the only choice is the base 300 d model. If you’re likely to use the car around town a lot of the time and have room to up the budget, it could be worth reaching for the 400 e plug-in. It’s restricted to just five seats, but the opportunity to drive over 60 miles without the engine starting could save a huge amount of money, if you use it correctly.

What we like

The GLE feels like a truly premium product if you’re sitting in the first and second row seats. Surrounded by expensive materials and a lovely cabin brimming with tech, you’re unlikely to be disappointed in its luxury SUV credentials – especially once you experience the impressive refinement and smooth ride. Its towing capabilities are also a strong plus point.

What we don’t like

It’s not quite as sharp to drive as its BMW counterparts but for many that won’t matter one bit. What could be more of an issue is the cramped third row seats and fact that some rivals do have a slightly larger boot in five-seat mode.