Now it’s never a normal thing to get slightly more of a RM100k ‘discount’ on a set of brand-new wheels that one might fancy, but that’s pretty much the case with the fresh-out-of-the oven V167 Mercedes-Benz GLE450 AMG Line CKD!
That’s right, this new variant of the stunner from the legendary Stuttgart-based marquee has just hit the dealerships all over Malaysia sporting a somewhat alluring price tag of RM475,501 on-the-road without insurance, representing a substantial drop of nearly RM110,000 over the fully-imported model sticker price!
Of course, this happy situation has got a lot to do with the whole no sales and service tax situation that’s still putting a bit of a smile on most Malaysians right now! But yes, the revised price also has a lot to do with the fact that the new car is now assembled locally too, but on top of that, there’s also a revised level of equipment for the GLE450 AMG…
Fortunately, there’s no discernible difference visible on the outside, where this GLE continues to feature the full AMG Line appearance package with sportier front and rear bumpers and body-coloured wheel arch trims. Also fitted are Multibeam LED headlights and fantastic aluminium-look running boards.
But look closer and one will notice that instead of the massive 22-inch rims on the fully-imported imported example, the new variant gets the slightly muted 21-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels instead. Hop on board, and keen eyes will also quickly notice the only major downgrade: the use of Artico faux leather and Dinamica microfibre upholstery instead of the far more upmarket Nappa leather.
Apart from that, the GLE450’s kit list remains nothing short of extensive, with the superb AMG Line specification intact! This brings with it a flat-bottomed, Nappa leather-wrapped steering wheel, black headlining, chrome highlights and AMG-branded floor mats; anthracite open-pore oak trim continues to dress the dashboard. Owners can also count on the full Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with twin 12.3-inch displays, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality and a 13-speaker, 590-watt Burmester surround sound system.
There’s also keyless entry, push-button start, power-adjustable front and rear seats with front seat memory and lumbar adjustment, four-zone automatic climate control, heated and cooled cupholders, auto-dimming mirrors, a panoramic sunroof, double sun visors, powered rear sunshades, a Qi wireless charger, a 360-degree camera system, parking assist and a hands-free powered tailgate! So, are we breathless yes then?
Up front under the bonnet sits the M256 3.0 litre turbocharged straight-six, producing 367 PS from 5,500 to 6,100 rpm and 500 Nm of torque between 1,600 and 4,500 rpm. This is paired with a nine-speed 9G-Tronic automatic gearbox and 4Matic all-wheel drive, the GLE 450 gets from zero to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. The car also rides on Airmatic air suspension with adaptive damping for that magic carpet ride.
But when finally getting to the safety features, one might be slightly disappointed by one final, albeit almost minor, downgrade – the Driving Assistance package with lane centring assist has been discontinued, unfortunately! But fear not, you’ll still get autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, while Distronic adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and lane keeping assist have been optioned back in for peace of mind.
