To many car enthusiasts, the BMW X6 is a ridiculous car. Despite its sporty looks, it’s by no means a sports car. It’s far too fat and heavy for that. Yet, despite being called an SUV (excuse me “SAV”), it’s body style is too compromised in the name of fashion to be properly SUV-practical. So it’s a ‘tweener that doesn’t seem to make any logical sense. Yet despite our old-man enthusiast ranting, customers eat it up. So much so that it can’t stop inspiring rivals, like the new Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe.
Awhile back, Mercedes-Benz launched its new GLE-Class line, which replaces the old, aging M-Class (which was eventually named GLE prior to this new model launching. I know, it’s confusing). The new GLE-Class SUV is actually an impressive car, with great looks, a lovely interior and tons of tech. It’s not too interesting to actually drive but it’s a luxurious enough SUV to make it worth buying. This new Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe, though, is designed to be the sportiest version of the car until the proper AMG 63 version comes out.
Much like the BMW X6, the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe is the sportier looking version of a traditional luxury SUV. In the case of the AMG GLE 53, it’s most like the new X6 M50i, in that it’s a performance version but not the full-blown performance monster.
Under the hoof of the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe is a 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 engine that makes a whopping 429 hp and 384 lb-ft of torque. In addition to that, it gets Mercedes-Benz’s EQ Boost technology, which uses an electric motor to add power temporarily. For short periods of time, such as a 0-60 mph run, the EQ Boost motor adds 21 hp and 184 lb-ft. That’s a lot of total power output for a powertrain with only six cylinders. According to Mercedes, 0-60 mph happens in 5.2 seconds.
Those figures are quite a bit behind the BMW X6 M50i’s, as the latter has 523 hp and 553 lb-ft from a 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8 and can hit 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. Still, the Mercedes makes do with a more efficient six-cylinder engine, which could be more attractive to a lot of customers.
In terms of styling, neither car is particularly pretty. In fact, some could say that they aren’t good looking at all and there’d be merit to that claim. However, if one is better looking, I might have to go with the Mercedes. It’s just a bit cleaner and a bit tighter than the X6, though neither car will be winning any beauty pageants anytime soon.
The Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 has a nice interior as well. Mercedes has always been great at making beautiful cabins and this is no different. I’m not much of a carbon fiber trim kinda guy, something this car has a lot of, but it’s sort of the nature of the beast these days. Still, it’s a bit more visually interesting than the X6’s.
We obviously don’t know how either is to drive, as neither has been available to drive in the US just yet. Having said that, both cars’ traditional SUV siblings could be indicators as to how well they drive. If that’s the case, then the BMW X6 will likely have an edge over its Mercedes-AMG rival, as the X5 is nicer to drive than the new GLE. Only time will tell. Though one thing is for certain: BMW created a monster with the original X6, one that just keeps spawning rivals.
429hp, 0-60 in 5.2s. Must be a heavy girl with all that hybrid stuff. The X5 40i only has 335hp and runs 0-60 in the 4.8s range. The X6 40i should be similar.
That’s true. Though, I suspect the AMG will be quicker in reality, the X5 40i is unnaturally fast for its claimed power figures. That B58 engine is criminally underrated.
correct, which is why I wish BMW would just rate all those 40i models at 382+hp. They’re all making WAY more power than BMW says they are, but they’re going to lose sales when they’re saying 335hp and Benz is saying 429hp, even if their cars are quicker in real world testing, because not everyone is going to know that. All they’ll know is “Benz makes almost 100hp more…”
I prefer it this way ive got many clients that bought M cars for their wives while they were driving AMG and came back asking me how their wives are driving the hell out of them =D….they are now also driving M
Funny how nobody ever called this car ‘the answer to the question nobody asked’… you know, what the original X6 was referred to as by every single journalist of the time. But Merc and others can copy BMWs great ideas and never get called out for it. Funny how that works…
People don’t understand that “Coupe” SUVs are as useful compared to SUVs, as sedans are to wagons.
Can’t put it in X6 M50i class. It’s best compo would be X6 40i. Nevertheless, Mercedes have seriously improved the looks of this new GLE Coupe. Impressed.
^ this. If anything, the GLE580 coupe competes with the X6 M50i
rear end looks good front end looks odd