A plug-in six-cylinder with 577 horsepower takes on the 603-horsepower flat-plane V8, and the price gap is about $40,000.
For years, picking an AMG GLE was simple: you bought the V8 or you didn’t. For 2027, Mercedes-AMG has complicated things in a good way. The GLE 53 is now a plug-in hybrid with 577 horsepower, and the GLE 63 S keeps its twin-turbo V8 with a new flat-plane crankshaft. Both wear the same refreshed styling and the same three-screen cabin. The real question is which one you’ll enjoy living with every day.
For years, picking an AMG GLE was simple: you bought the V8 or you didn’t. For 2027, Mercedes-AMG has complicated things in a good way. The GLE 53 is now a plug-in hybrid with 577 horsepower, and the GLE 63 S keeps its twin-turbo V8 with a new flat-plane crankshaft. Both wear the same refreshed styling and the same three-screen cabin. The real question is which one you’ll enjoy living with every day.
Key Takeaways
- The GLE 53 Hybrid makes 577 hp and 553 lb-ft and can run about 45 to 50 miles on electric power alone, according to Car and Driver’s estimates.
- The GLE 63 S keeps its 603 hp and 627 lb-ft, but gets a flat-plane crank, a new selectable exhaust and launch control for the first time.
- The 63 S SUV starts at $138,550 including destination, roughly $40,000 more than the $98,450 GLE 53 SUV.
Same Look, Different Hearts
Both models share the 2027 GLE refresh: new bumpers and grilles, new wheel designs, and head- and taillights with the three-pointed-star treatment. The sheetmetal is largely unchanged from the 2020 generation, so the difference is under the skin. Both come as a standard SUV or a sleeker Coupe.
Inside, every 2027 GLE gets the Superscreen layout: a 12.3-inch driver display, a 12.3-inch center touchscreen and a 12.3-inch passenger screen under one sheet of glass. It runs Mercedes’ new MB.OS software with an AI voice assistant. Mercedes also brought back a physical rocker switch for adaptive cruise control and a roller for volume, which should please anyone tired of touch-sensitive steering-wheel controls. Some reviewers still find the Superscreen a stopgap and the center display a bit squat, and the AI assistant leans heavily on a good cell signal.
The Hybrid: Quiet Mornings, Quick Merges
The GLE 53 Hybrid replaces last year’s 429-hp inline-six with a reworked 3.0-liter turbo six and a large electric motor in place of the torque converter. Combined output is 577 hp and 553 lb-ft. Mercedes claims 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds.
Here is how that helps with daily use:
- Electric range: Car and Driver estimates about 45 to 50 miles without starting the engine, which covers many commutes.
- Silent cruising: The SUV can stay electric up to about 87 mph.
- Charging: AC charging at 9.6 kW is standard, with DC fast charging at up to 60 kW. The battery is estimated at 26 kWh.
- Efficiency: Car and Driver estimates 57 MPGe combined with gasoline plus electricity.
The motor also fills in for turbo lag off the line. Edmunds’ reviewer said the hybrid’s launch rivals the V8s and that he actually preferred it. The trade-off is chassis hardware: the GLE 53 keeps air springs and adaptive dampers but loses the previously optional active roll stabilization.
The 63 S: V8 Drama, Now Smoother
On paper, the GLE 63 S looks unchanged: 603 hp and 627 lb-ft from the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. Mercedes says the engine is heavily reworked, with a flat-plane crankshaft, a revised intake cam, new fuel injection, redesigned ports and updated turbos. The aim is quicker response, better refinement and better efficiency. A 48-volt mild-hybrid starter-generator adds up to 23 hp and 151 lb-ft at low rpm.
Reviewers say the engine delivers the flat-plane crank’s benefits without added vibration. A new selectable exhaust moves from a purr to a deep growl depending on drive mode. Mercedes claims 3.6 seconds to 60 mph for the GLE 63 S, and Car and Driver’s earlier tests of a 2021 GLE 63 S hit 60 in 3.4 seconds, so the claim looks conservative.
Fuel economy is the daily-driving cost. The 2026 63 models were rated at 17 mpg combined, and 2027 EPA numbers aren’t final.
Ride and Handling Day to Day
Both AMGs are calmer than you might expect in Comfort mode. The 63 S comes with active roll stabilization and AMG Ride Control+ air suspension as standard, with optional carbon-ceramic brakes. In Comfort, Car and Driver found the 63 S composed without the wallow of a standard GLE. Sport+ is where things tighten up. One tester called a 63 S Coupe stiff enough to spill into discomfort on uneven pavement, and switched back to Sport. If you drive rough roads daily, the SUV body style is the safer pick.
Both share a nine-speed automatic, and reviewers noted a slight delay on throttle tip-in in some drive modes. The hybrid’s electric torque hides it better.
What About Space?
Both GLE models seat five. Cargo volume is about 64 to 75 cubic feet with the seats folded and 32 to 33 cubic feet behind the rear seats. The Coupe gives up some usable space for its roofline. Curb weights run from roughly 5,600 to 6,150 pounds across the range, with the 63 S Coupe starting around 5,533 pounds per CarBuzz.
Pricing: Where the Gap Shows
All prices include destination.
| Model | Starting price |
|---|---|
| GLE 53 Hybrid SUV | $98,450 |
| GLE 53 Hybrid Coupe | $99,450 |
| GLE 63 S SUV | $138,550 |
| GLE 63 S Coupe | $140,550 |
The GLE 53’s $7,100 increase over last year’s SUV works out to about $48 per added horsepower. The 63 S buys you 26 more horsepower and 74 more lb-ft of torque, roughly half a second quicker to 60, and the V8 sound. Rivals for the 63 S include the BMW X5 M Competition and X6 M Competition, Audi RS Q8 Performance, Porsche Cayenne Turbo and Range Rover Sport. Both models are built in Alabama and arrive before the end of 2026.
Verdict
For daily driving, the GLE 53 Hybrid makes more sense. It saves about $40,000, can cover a typical commute on electricity, and still feels quick. The GLE 63 S is the pick if you want the V8’s character, sharper handling and the bigger sound, and the money doesn’t matter. Car and Driver’s closing line is a fair summary: the most persuasive argument for either model still comes through the right pedal.
The Basics
- Type: Luxury performance SUV and Coupe
- Seats: 5
- GLE 53 Hybrid powertrain: 3.0-liter turbo inline-six plus electric motor, 577 hp, 553 lb-ft
- GLE 63 S powertrain: 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with 48-volt mild hybrid, 603 hp, 627 lb-ft
- Transmission: Nine-speed automatic, 4Matic+ all-wheel drive
- 0-60 mph (Mercedes claims): 4.1 seconds (GLE 53), 3.6 seconds (GLE 63 S)
- Electric range (GLE 53, Car and Driver est.): about 45 to 50 miles; 57 MPGe combined
- Fuel economy (GLE 63 S): 2026 model rated 17 mpg combined; 2027 not final
- Starting price (with destination): $98,450 to $140,550
- On sale: before the end of 2026
- Production: Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Primary competitors: BMW X5 M Competition, Audi RS Q8 Performance, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Range Rover Sport
