Mercedes-Benz M-Class / GLE SUV (W166) · M-Class / GLE

W166

The M-Class became the GLE mid-life.

Production
2011–2019
Body
SUV
Chassis
W166
Mercedes-Benz M-Class / GLE SUV (W166) (W166)

The M-Class became the GLE halfway through its life, absorbed into the naming scheme that turned every Mercedes-Benz utility vehicle into a G-something.

In production from July 2011 at Tuscaloosa, the W166 offered the M276 V6, the M278 and M157 V8s and the OM651 and OM642 diesels, joined from 2015 by the GLE 500 e plug-in hybrid, with 7G-TRONIC PLUS and later 9G-TRONIC.

The 2015 facelift brought the new name and the C292 coupé sibling; production ended in 2019.

W166 interior
Cabin of the W166.

Every model.

13 model phases across 2011–2019 — engines, transmissions and series codes for the W166.

MalliMallivuodetValmistettuAlustaMoottoriVaihteistoYhteensä
ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC201506.2011–06.2015166.004651.960722.9
ML 350 BlueTEC 4MATIC2012–201406.2011–06.2015166.024642.826
ML 3502013–201507.2012–06.2015166.058276.955
ML 350 / GLE 350 4MATIC2012–201906.2011–11.2018166.057276.955
ML 400 4MATIC201507.2013–06.2015166.056276.824
ML 500 / ML 550 4MATIC2012–201401.2012–06.2015166.073278.922
ML 63 AMG 4MATIC2012–201501.2012–06.2015166.074157.982722.9
GLE 250 d 4MATIC2016–2019166651722.9
GLE 350 d 4MATIC2016–2019166642725.0
GLE 400 4MATIC2016–2019166276725.0
GLE 500 4MATIC2016–2019166278725.0
GLE 500 e 4MATIC2015–2019166276722.9
AMG GLE 63 4MATIC2016–2019166157722.9
W166 side profile
Studio profile of the W166 — the proportions that defined this generation.

Year by year.

From M-Class launch to the GLE rename — the powertrain, equipment and facelift changes that identify a W166.

  1. 2012
    • The third-generation M-Class launched in the US as ML 350, ML 350 BlueTEC and ML 63 AMG, with permanent all-wheel drive, electromechanical steering and standard ATTENTION ASSIST.
    • Optional safety systems included DISTRONIC PLUS, Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Lane Keeping Assist and PRE-SAFE Brake.
  2. 2015
    • ML 250 BlueTEC replaced ML 350 BlueTEC in the US, exchanging the V6 diesel for a 2.1-liter twin-turbo four-cylinder.
  3. 2016
    • The facelift renamed M-Class as GLE and brought a reshaped grille, headlamps, hood, bumpers and LED tail-lamp graphics.
    • The range added the GLE 550e plug-in hybrid; most non-AMG versions adopted 9G-TRONIC, while the AMG became Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 with 550-hp and 577-hp S variants.
    • DYNAMIC SELECT added configurable road and off-road programs, and assistance-system functions were updated.
  4. 2019
    • The final W166 GLE model year preceded the V167 replacement.
W166 rear three-quarter view
Rear three-quarter view of the W166.