2023 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 Coupe Review: Weird, But It Works

There was a time when the idea of a coupe-styled SUV was laughed at; now, they are hotly sought-after, even more so if they're given the performance chops to give passengers a thrill. The 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe is one of these odd beasts, and a true animal it is with a potent V8 engine that sends 603 horsepower to all four wheels and launches the 5,000+ pounds of metal to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. This ensures it will keep up with midsize rivals like the BMW X6 M and Porsche Cayenne Turbo Coupe, both of which are also stylish and powerful. Of course, we expect classic Mercedes in the upscale interior, but up against segment sweethearts like the Cayenne Turbo Coupe with its incredible handling, is the AMG GLE 63 the one to splurge on? And are these less practical, high-speed family haulers even necessary?

New for 2023

The new Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S SUV Coupe enters 2023 without any noteworthy changes, although pricing increases, as is expected.

2023 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 Coupe Price: Which One to Buy

The price of the 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe is set at a cool $120,700, but this is MSRP and does not include the $1,150 destination charge. It is also important to remember that many premium automakers make you pay extra for a lot of the safety features they resign to the package and options list. This can easily cost you an extra $10k or more.

If we were buying, we'd consider adding the Driver Assistance Package, and probably the ceramic brakes, too. If this is going to be your family hauler, you may want to take a look at the quad-zone climate control, and the power-adjustable heated rear seats to ensure all occupants are comfortable.

Interior and Features

As a result of the coupe styling, SUVs in this segment can be a little tight in the rear seat for really tall occupants, but other passengers will be quite happy with their share. The cabin is featureful, luxurious, and stylish.

Despite its blistering performance, it is important to remember that the GLE 63 S is still a sports utility vehicle, which means it should be moving people and lots of stuff regularly. The Merc stands out from its more tunnel-visioned competitors in this regard with a truly stunning interior that is awash with high-quality materials and loads of modern features. The square vents are a little old-school, but that's part of their charm, and the twin LCD displays dominating the dashboard will likely draw all of your attention anyway. Still, there are some welcome manual controls for the climate control, though a rotary knob would have been better than toggle dials.

Space

There is enough interior space for up to five adults, though taller adults will have to slouch a bit to access the second row due to the sloping roof. But once inside, there is actually a fair amount of headroom to go around, and even those in the back shouldn't find a need to complain about legroom. Naturally, the front seats get the lion's share. They are also power-adjustable and come with heating and ventilation as standard. This makes it particularly easy for the driver to find a comfortable position to take advantage of the broad sightlines. Seeing out hte back is a little trickier, once again thanks to that so-called stylish roof. Luckily, there are driver aids to overcome this problem.

Cargo

The whole point of an SUV is to provide loads of cargo space for all your daily errands, especially when hauling your entire family around town. But as people are wont to say, beauty is pain, and you're going to feel the pinch in the rear with just 27.5 cubic feet of room for your assorted junk. In dire circumstances, you can fold down the rear seats to more than double this area, maxing out at 63.2 cubes. On the plus side, the hands-free power-operated tailgate opens wide and the loading height is quite convenient. Closing the curved tailgate proves that taller items can't be stored easily, though.

At least small-item storage is generous, with several bins around the center console, a pair of cupholders in the front, and another set in the back, as well as four door pockets, and a standard glove compartment.

Materials and Colors

At this price, Mercedes gives you Nappa leather upholstery as standard in a choice of five interior colors. Four of these are free and include Black, Black/Grey, Tartufo/Black, and Classic Red/Black. For a nominal $250, you can opt for extended leather in Black. As for interior accents and trims, wood and metal are freely available, including Grey Linden, Natural Grain Grey Oak, Natural Grain Brown wood, and Aluminum. There is also Metal Weave for $440, and a pair of Manufaktur options for $690: Natural Grain Black Flamed Ash and Brown Linden Flwoing Lined. Finally, there is the classic AMG Carbon Fiber option, but that it going to cost you a hefty $1,750.

Features and Infotainment

Loads of features come standard, but that's to be expected at over six figures. Thus, you get dual-zone climate control, keyless entry with push-button start, remote start, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with memory, a heated steering wheel, and a panorama roof. Both the driver-information display and MBUX infotainment screen measure 12.3 inches, with the latter offering access to wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and navigation. Oddly, in-car Wi-Fi needs to be optioned. A 13-speaker Burmester surround sound system ensures pristine audio quality throughout the cabin. You also get an AMG head-up display as standard. Available upgrades include quad-zone climate control, heated and power-adjustable rear seats, and heated front armrests.

Performance

The large SUV can easily beat many genuine sports cars when it comes to sprint times, but handling it properly takes some getting used to.

Powering the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that develops 603 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque. This is sent to a 4Matic all-wheel drivetrain via a nine-speed automatic transmission. Despite its size and weight, the GLE 63 S can go from 0-60 in a blistering 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 174 mph. It also has a respectable max towing capacity of 7,700 pounds.

While it may be a sports utility vehicle, the GLE 63 S feels far more at home around town than off-road. Since it is built for performance, it doesn't have the kind of ground clearance you need for adventuring. That being said, it really excels on the tarmac. Here, it soaks up bumps with aplomb, especially if you stick to Comfort mode. If you must try out Sport or Sport+, you'll feel the suspension stiffen a bit and throttle responses tighten up. The engine also becomes more vocal and who doesn't love a V8 soundtrack? The AWD ensures good grip, which lets you play a little more, and the steering is easy to handle despite the car's size and weight. There are more engaging and dynamic options out there, such as the Cayenne Turbo Coupe, but we have no real complaints for Mercedes.

Fuel Efficiency

An enormous car with a roaring V8 engine is not going to get good gas mileage, even with twin-turbocharging, so the pitiful mpg figures of the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe are hardly shocking. It manages just 15/19/17 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles. To make up for this, the automaker has given it a pretty high fuel capacity of 22.5 gallons, which gives the SUV a maximum range of around 382 miles.

Safety

Though it lacks a safety rating of its own, the GLE 63 S Coupe is based on the GLE-Class, which is a Top Safety Pick+.

While there is no safety review of the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe from the NHTSA or IIHS, the regular GLE-Class received rave reviews from the latter. It also earned a Top Safety Pick+ this year. With all the same tech and most of the same body parts, the AMG coupe variant should be just as safe.

Standard safety systems include seven airbags, ABS, and stability control. More advanced driver aids comprise a surround-view camera, active brake assist, blind-spot assist, exit warning, crosswind assist, Pre-Safe with sound, Parktronic with active parking assist, and attention assist. There are a few packages and options that can add active distance assist, active steering assist, evasive steering assist, lane-keep assist, lane change assist, Pre-Safe Plus, speed limit assist, and active brake assist with cross-traffic. An additional two airbags can be added in the rear, too.

Reliability

The reliability of the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe is a hot topic, considering the regular GLE Coupe has been subject to a number of recalls over the years. The current model has barely been around for five minutes and there have been two recalls already. Reasons include loss of drive power from fuel pump shutdown and possible detachment of the rear door window trim bars. Both are carryover problems from 2022, which saw a total of six recalls.

The new Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe gets a standard four-year/50,000-mile warranty that covers limited and powertrain issues.

Warranty

Design

A four-door coupe SUV is not for everyone, and some purists may shun to body style altogether. Practicality, performance, and sophistication is a hard recipe to get right, but Mercedes-Benz seems to have done a pretty good job. The GLE 63 S Coupe has a handsome face, with a convex grille that shows off its teeth in the form of vertical slats. The logo is particularly large and dominates a fair portion of the front fascia. The lower bumper is just as aggressive as the grille, and the LED headlights are bisected by a pair of slim LED daytime running lights. Naturally, the sloping roofline is eye-catching, and it slides down to a slightly petit rear end with LED taillights and trapezoid quad exhaust outlets. The AMG SUV comes with a hands-free power tailgate, a panorama roof, and 21-inch alloy wheels as standard, though 22-inch variants are available.

Verdict: Is The 2023 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 Coupe A Good SUV?

You can find just about any type of car in the USA, and a few people who would lay down their lives defending even the most absurd styles. Still, we can picture the 2023 AMG GLE 63 S Coupe capturing the hearts of many shoppers. It is an attractive SUV that manages to be quite good at a variety of applications, despite its Frankenstein construction. Yes, it's not as practical as your regular breadbox crossover, but it's far more practical than many of the sports cars it easily spanks on the highway. After all, this is an absurdly quick AMG. It's not the most nimble, though, but many people love their cars for going stupidly fast in a straight line. At the end of the day, the GLE 63 S Coupe is a passion purchase rather than a smart one, and as car lovers ourselves, we can't fault anyone who falls under its spell.