Stepping onto the Octane’s carpet…

Portugal loves SUVs…

We can pretend we don’t…

We can talk about fuel economy, aerodynamics, centres of gravity and all those very sensible things people discuss when no one’s actually choosing a car.

Then comes the time to buy… and we want to sit high up, see far ahead, take the family, the luggage, the kids, the dog – and still have room for that thing we swore we ‘didn’t need to take’.

So far, all perfectly rational…

The problem starts when we also want the car to really perform.

That it has presence…

That it makes a noise when it should…

That it corners in a way you wouldn’t expect from an SUV of this size…

And that, after dropping the kids off at school, it makes us look for an excuse not to head straight to the office.

This is where the Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+ comes in.

This particular car was registered in Portugal in August 2021 and currently has around 64,000 km on the clock.

It comes in Selenite Grey metallic, with a black/anthracite interior in Alcantara, synthetic leather and microfibre – a combination confirmed by the factory specifications.

We quickly realise that the first owner wasn’t exactly shy when using the configurator.

Under the bonnet lies the familiar 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder M256 engine, paired with 48V technology, a nine-speed automatic gearbox and the 4MATIC+ system.

But the most interesting part of this configuration becomes apparent when we look at what lies beneath the bodywork.

It features AIRMATIC, Adaptive Damping Plus and Active Body Control – a combination that helps explain how an SUV of this size can have two such different personalities: comfortable when we want to travel, and far less civilised when we press the right button.

And then there’s a particularly interesting acronym…

AMG Dynamic Plus.

The factory specifications confirm the inclusion of the package, along with the AMG Drive Unit on the steering wheel, a sports exhaust system, red brake callipers and 22-inch AMG wheels.

That is to say…

Yes, it’s still the car you can take the family on holiday in.

Except that now there’s a button on the steering wheel that can slightly alter the atmosphere inside the cabin.

On the outside, Selenite Grey complements the AMG grille, the dark alloy wheels, the four exhaust tailpipes and the red brake calipers in a combination that manages to look aggressive without needing to shout.

Inside, the story continues.

Glossy anthracite carbon fibre, an AMG steering wheel in Nappa leather, red seatbelts, heated and electrically adjustable seats with memory function, ambient lighting, a premium sound system, a large central display and a panoramic sunroof.

And, as a modern AMG also needs to know how to behave when we’re not in the mood for fun, we also find 360° cameras, active parking assist, blind-spot assist, active lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, KEYLESS-GO, an electric tailgate, wireless charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

And perhaps that’s the best way to describe the GLE 53.

It’s not the AMG we buy when we’re prepared to sacrifice everything in the name of performance...

It’s the AMG we buy when we don’t want to sacrifice anything.

Space...

Comfort...

Technology...

All-wheel drive...

Air suspension…

A boot big enough to accommodate family life, justifying the purchase.

And then…

A small button on the steering wheel that lets us forget all that rationality for a few minutes.

Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+

Domestic...

08/2021...

64,000 km...

Plenty of equipment...

And an extraordinary ability to convince the family that this was a completely sensible decision.

Get in touch!!!

Editor’s Note:

If anyone asks why a family SUV needs AMG Dynamic Plus, a sports exhaust, 22-inch wheels and four exhaust tailpipes… the correct answer is very simple.

It doesn’t really need them…

But nobody buys an AMG to answer sensible questions.