Unlike the other big luxury 4x4s tested this year, the new Mercedes-Benz GLE 300 d has a four-cylinder engine, rather than a six.
It’s not quite as quick as the BMW X5 or VW Touareg, and the engine sounds a little more strained at high revs.
However, it’s right up with its rivals in terms of high-speed stability, although not as nimble and alert as some of them in the lane-change test. The hill-start was a doddle, too.
Mercedes-Benz is renowned for high-quality interiors, and the GLE is another fine example.
