2026 Mercedes GLE/GLS Facelift

[klier]

The giant screen bezels alone bother me enough not to buy one - circa 2020, with zero effort to make it seamless.

And then those shutlines next to the vents, where the next black plastic part starts. Just nasty all around. What a horror show of a model update.

 

[Merc1]

This is the best the GLS can look right now. That front end has bigger headlights than the W140 S500 and the W140 was designed in the 80's. I really would have liked to have seen the GLE 350's I4 upgraded to 285-290hp and the GLS 450 should have become the GLS500 with the 443hp I6 from the S500/CLE53.

I guess the Hyperscreen was not compatible as some are speculating here, that is a pity. I think this facelift warranted updating whatever architecture that needed to be updated to accommodate it. Even if this is true about the GLE/GLS being too old for the Hyperscreen, what is the excuse for the VLE? It's a brand new vehicle like the GLC EV.

That said, these things won't matter to the overwhelming majority of buyers as the GLS and the GLE in particular sell like gangbusters. I see the GLE becoming more popular. Other than the older screen, I think the interiors are a big improvement. The level of Manufaktur options are amazing and they kept most of the physical controls from the pre-fl. Waiting to see the Maybach GLS, maybe the front will be somewhat different, but I doubt it. The AMG models should look better, lord knows the GLS needs it.

M

 

[Merc1]

I see what MBUSA is going to do now. The old GLE53 is now the GLE500e with the same powertrain, but now as a plugin with a lot more torque (502 lb-ft vs 413 lb-ft)

M

 

[martinbo]

That front end update is so incongruous with the rest of the design to the point that it’s ugly. What an unsuccessful facelift. GLS is just blob faced now.

 

[Centurion]

Crazy that Mercedes ugliest ever car is currently the halo car for all Mercedes front ends.

 

[fortuner]

 

[Ozy]

Notice how they darken the headlights on promo material, to blur the line between the headlight and the black plastic, while irl its so obvious and looks like shit

 

[SKY]

Crazy that Mercedes ugliest ever car is currently the halo car for all Mercedes front ends.

I have been saying this for a while. The EQ design has been a cancer for MB. Somehow they believe they had a ground braking thing that needed to be expanded across the line up.

The results speak for themselves.

 

[fan_of_642]

Isn't it obvious, that every next version of NK will be more breathtaking in contrary to MB design, whilst I expect only some chances for MB interiors.

We will get now: a total oldish C-Class Mopf, a generic normal C EQ and a very bad SL Mopf.

 

[kiki voinea]

Nice Touareg y'all got there , mate

 

[fan_of_642]

There actually is a gap there, and MB claims it's functional for fresh air flow into the engine bay

...

That's strange. Why did they mention in the past their efforts to reduce drag with closing the very small gap there (rubber) ???
But, ok, both are very dated cars with huge fuel consume, not fit for future, not BEV.

 

[AndreB]

Nice Touareg y'all got there , mate

Touareg light bar is more interesting looking and expensive, not just a black plastic piece to make it look like the GLC, which doesn't have interesting rear design, its same old MB shape with different static light graphics which Audi can change with oleds.

Hopefully that is not the design direction of future MB cars.

 

[PINHEAD]

I traveled in 1986 in a W124, since then my favourite car brand became the Benz. I always wait for the new models with great interest. I use a '98 C 220 CDI and a '04 C 280 CDI with great pleasure daily.

BUT!

Sorry to say from the W223, W206, W214 era I must say the quality, the materials and the whole stlye is cheap, plastic, constrained and soulless.

These are my thoughts about this facelift, the S facelift and the direction of the brand.

My love for the true tradition of Mercedes Benz lives on.

PS.: I hate the electric lineup, as it is.

 

[leylandi]

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

GLE looks pretty well resolved. Similar to the W214.
GLS looks half-finished.

Unfortunate, but Mercedes will have to live with this until the next generation is ready in 3-4 years.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

The facelifted S W223 and GLE/GLS look bad, very, very bad (Trump modus off: ).

On a more serious note. I simply don't understand, that all facelifts/new models must have that uglified black plastic around the grille. And another thing, why are those new headlights all looking worse than the pre facelifted ones. That goes for S as well as GLE/GLS.
What I also dislike very much, is that a new design feature like the grille on the GLC EQ, isn't introduced on the S class. By the time the W224 arrives, it's old news/design.

 

[klier]

Baffling to see yet another variation of the same f#cking bumper design we've had for well over a decade.

These cars don't sell at all here, it's all X5. So it doesn't matter much in the end for me personally. The GLE is rare by default, and it will only get more rare being this ugly and old...

 

[AbsoluteUnit]

What I also dislike very much, is that a new design feature like the grille on the GLC EQ, isn't introduced on the S class. By the time the W224 arrives, it's old news/design.

Supply chain lag.

 

[Uygar]

Kinda odd thing to say but why does this facelift look already old compared to the pre-facelift? Perhaps because of the thick chrome grille, I can’t tell what it is.

 

[klier]

Supply chain lag.

Doubling down is more like what they're doing.