Mercedes is making subtle upgrades to the 2024 GLE SUV while refreshing it with even more elegant details. We have already seen camouflaged prototypes being tested, with the front lights and grille cleverly concealed, but the rear has maintained a relatively unchanged appearance with only partial covering, including the slender taillights, a feature of the 2024 facelift.
The new spy images reveal the updated GLE equipped with distinctive production taillights, showcasing a much larger update compared to the previous version. Mercedes’ design team has given the SUV star-shaped LED taillights, a design already seen on the new E-Class models, ensuring that the GLE can be recognized from a distance.
Since this prototype is still cloaked in camouflage, we cannot be sure what exactly Mercedes has in store for the front design of the GLE, but it is expected that the headlights will have a more rearward-leaning shape, and the grille will be larger with a frame this time.
If you are wondering why Mercedes is keen on updating the GLE soon, the answer lies in what’s happening in Munich with its rival automaker. The all-new X5 will begin production in 2026 as a 2027 model, and without a completely new GLE to maintain, Mercedes needs to quickly update the current vehicle to prevent customers from drifting to competitors. The new Mercedes model will be unveiled next year and is expected to go on sale in 2026.
The basic and mid-range engine options are expected to remain largely unchanged from the current model, meaning a selection of four-cylinder and six-cylinder mild hybrid engines. It is also anticipated that the existing 4.0-liter V8 engine, producing 510 horsepower, which powers the GLE 580 today, may continue, although it may not happen as Mercedes is moving away from V8 engines in favor of more powerful inline six engines.
