M/T: 2020 Mercedes GLE
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2018 7:46 am
https://www.motortrend.com/news/2020-me ... BDCEA7FD0B
I post this because it's been about 20 years since Mercedes introduced the ML-class and invented the luxury midsize SUV (the original was body on frame, I was surprised to learn - it didn't go unibody until the 2006 2nd gen). Then Lexus showed up shortly thereafter with the RX300 which would have been the first luxury midsize crossover as far as I can tell. I don't know if Cadillac was the first with a luxury crossover with a 3rd row but if it wasn't in 2004, it wasn't much earlier. Remember also that 1998 brought us the Navigator and 1999 brought us the Escalade. They were barely luxury vehicles, but were true SUVs at least.
Anyway, other than that, it was interesting to see what they are up to. You might assume they are just stamping out cars with 3 pointed stars that are nice enough. But this seems to have some real segment-leading features. That suspension seems awfully complicated and unnecessary but then you could dismiss most luxury cars under that pretense. But the point is, they are putting in a real effort, so I would not accuse them, in this case, of sitting around and benefitting from brand recognition alone. Not all of their models are in the same boat, though. Many of their lower end offerings have been pretty lame.
I post this because it's been about 20 years since Mercedes introduced the ML-class and invented the luxury midsize SUV (the original was body on frame, I was surprised to learn - it didn't go unibody until the 2006 2nd gen). Then Lexus showed up shortly thereafter with the RX300 which would have been the first luxury midsize crossover as far as I can tell. I don't know if Cadillac was the first with a luxury crossover with a 3rd row but if it wasn't in 2004, it wasn't much earlier. Remember also that 1998 brought us the Navigator and 1999 brought us the Escalade. They were barely luxury vehicles, but were true SUVs at least.
Anyway, other than that, it was interesting to see what they are up to. You might assume they are just stamping out cars with 3 pointed stars that are nice enough. But this seems to have some real segment-leading features. That suspension seems awfully complicated and unnecessary but then you could dismiss most luxury cars under that pretense. But the point is, they are putting in a real effort, so I would not accuse them, in this case, of sitting around and benefitting from brand recognition alone. Not all of their models are in the same boat, though. Many of their lower end offerings have been pretty lame.