Since April 2015, the M-Class has been renamed to the GLE with the release of the facelifted W166 model, in an effort to harmonize Mercedes-Benz SUV nameplates by aligning it with the E-Class. The second-generation M-Class (W164) moved to a unibody platform while sharing most components with the GL-Class, which sports a longer body to accommodate third-row seating.
For a short time, between 19, the W163 M-Class was also built by Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, for the European market, before all production moved to the U.S. The first-generation M-Class, designated with the model code W163, is a body-on-frame SUV and was produced until 2004.
In terms of size, it is slotted in between the smaller GLC and the larger GLS, the latter with which it shares platforms. The Mercedes-Benz GLE, formerly Mercedes-Benz M-Class (designated with the "ML" nomenclature), is a mid-size luxury SUV produced by the German manufacturer Mercedes-Benz since 1997. Mid-size luxury crossover SUV (2005–present)įront-engine, rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive ( 4Matic)