Having launched the V167 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 4Matic AMG Line back in 2019, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia is now introducing the CKD locally-assembled version on our shores. The seven-seater executive SUV is significantly less expensive than before, helping the company compete with tax-exempted plug-in hybrid rivals like the BMW X5 xDrive45e and Volvo XC90 Recharge T8.
The price is certainly attractive, as it dips well below the RM500,000 mark at RM475,501 on-the-road without insurance, representing a drop of nearly RM110,000 over the fully-imported model. This figure includes the sales and service tax (SST) exemption valid until June 30, after which the price goes up to RM499,888. As with all Mercedes models in Malaysia, the GLE 450 comes with a four-year, unlimited-mileage warranty.
The considerable saving comes not just from local assembly but also from the revised level of equipment. There’s no discernible difference on the outside, where the 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, aluminium-look running boards and 21-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels (the initial CBU batch came with 22-inch five-split-spoke alloys, but those were quickly dropped).
Inside, the only major downgrade is the use of Artico faux leather and Dinamica microfibre upholstery instead of the far more upmarket Nappa leather – the car you see here is one of the last CBU units, which is why you still see full leather in these images. The use of Artico extends to the dashboard and door cards, as before.
The AMG Line specification also remains, bringing 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. Also fitted is 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.
Other bits of standard equipment include 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.
Another area where the GLE has been downgraded is safety. Gone is the Driving Assistance package with lane centring assist, meaning that the previous car’s Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capability has been dropped. However, you 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.
Power continues to come from 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. Equipped 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 (the E-Active Body Control roll stabilisation system was also removed after the initial CBU batch was sold out).
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The downgrade in active safety features disgusts me. Like, why? Thumbs down to MBM.
Syukurr la the real rich can buy cheaper Merc.
Syukur now cars are cheaper. Tengkiu Kjaan Penyayang!
The only omission they’ve made here is the lack of a lane centering feature (which requires stereoscopic camera vision). I don’t wanna burst your bubble, but this is NOT a safety feature – its a convenience feature. The car will still warn and steer you back into lane, now that’s a safety feature.
But I get where you’re coming from, I was appalled by the omission of a radar by BMW in their X5. The argument of being less safe there makes sense because the radar is way better at collision avoidance especially for smaller objects such as peds and cyclists as compared to only relying on camera vision (easily confused by intense sunlight/shadows).
Not just the downgrade in active safety features but also no nappa leather as well. Smh, still selling for 475k. Then again the GLE’s price without excise duty is 358k. So I guess you are getting that price level of equipment.
The removed safety feature is Driving Assistance package with lane centring assist. Good for those on the phone while driving for drunk driver. These ppl should not be on the road to start with… coz no safety feature in a car can protect them and other innocent drivers on the road…
Anyone purchases this must be blinded by the badge! With so much of omission especially in safety system, this CKD’s saving isn’t genuinely. It’s just another way of Mercedes Malaysia using it’s brand power to milk profit from those less common sense blind brand followers. Volvo and BMW offer better value products, at least they respect their brand supporters more.
i think you havent fully read the article the car still has auto brake,adaptive cruise, blind spot monitoring and lane keeping assist those are same with what the x5 come with.
@abc — Kinda missing the msg @wth is trying to convey
Benz, Audi and BMW will continue to enjoy strong sales… From strong local economy now …. and record high FDIs brought in by govt. Many of us oredi got huge profits from stocks market, gold invest & bitcoin…
Like it or not, premium cars are hot in demand. Msians have full confidence in govt!
Audi…seriously bro?
The x5 does NOT come with adaptive cruise control or active lane keeping assist. In fact, the only BMWs currently on sale here in Msia that comes with ACC is the i3, 6-er, 7-er, X6 and X7. To add on, the ONLY BMW model to come with the Full Driver Assistance package is the 7 series.
Every car has pros and cons so not every car have 100% perfect
To correct: driving assistant professional is only available on both the 7-er and X6.
Dear Jonathan, in the article you said the wheel size drop to 19 inch. But in the pictures attached to this article, the wheel size is 21 inch. So the pictures are not the real CKD version of the GLE450?
“the car you see here is one of the last CBU units, which is why you still see full leather in these images”
It was a typo, sorry about that.
Also, this car is not the actual CKD model but a late CBU model that is close in spec, minus the omissions I have mentioned above.
Talk about CKD but show pics of CBU pulak. Makes potential buyers wag their tongues until they saw the real CKD car. What a disappointment.
Abt the wheel size, only a certain type of local ppl forever so focused with the wheel size.. LOL
Agreed. The Ah Beng subsegment
pass…just get the volvo
The front looks really cramp…especially the legroom
This is kovid version..less ppl, less legroom.
Rims is as per the pics above?
Correct.
To make it even more affordable, MB Malaysia should just introduce the GLE 350 paired with a 2.0L petrol turbo engine or the GLE 300d turbo Diesel engine , replace the Airmatic Air suspension with normal conventional steel spring suspension, remove the rear power adjusted seats; since it takes like so long for the seats to fully recline to enter the 3rd row seats and remove the sun roof. All MB Malaysia would have to do here is to add some plastic accessories, make the Mercedese logo even bigger and name this Grade of GLE – AMG Sport line. This would bring down the price to near 400k and I can CONFIRM all the uncle/aunty who wants a “Mesidis” badge would line up and buy it. LMAO
Volvo all day long. Any day of the week. Langit dan bumi is the apt malay saying :)
Don’t buy any ckd mercedes models include ckd gle, you will regret