Mercedes-Benz GLE (M-Class) History

Mid-size luxury SUV · 1998–present

History

Introduced in 1998 as the M-Class (ML, W163), built in Alabama, it helped launch the luxury-SUV boom; the W164 and W166 followed.

In 2015 the W166 was renamed GLE under Mercedes' revised nomenclature, and a GLE Coupe joined the range; the GLE continues as a core model with the AMG GLE 63.

Generations

ML (W163) · W163 (1998–2005)

The original M-Class, US-built; helped launch the luxury-SUV era.
- 1998
  Photo: “1998 Mercedes-Benz ML 320 in Brilliant Emerald Metallic, Front Right, 05-27-2023” by Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
- 2000
  Photo: “2000 Mercedes-Benz ML 320 (W 163 MY00) wagon (2010-09-23) 02” by OSX / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain . Cropped to 16:9.
- 2004
  Photo: “2004 Mercedes-Benz ML350 in Brilliant Silver Metallic, Front Left, 09-04-2022” by Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
ML (W164) · W164 (2006–2011)

Second-generation M-Class on a unibody platform.
- 2006
  Photo: “2006-2008 Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG (W 164) wagon (2018-09-03) 02” by EurovisionNim / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
- 2007
  Photo: “2007 Mercedes-Benz ML 320 CDI (W 164 MY08) Luxury wagon (2011-11-18) 01” by OSX / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain . Cropped to 16:9.
- 2009
  Photo: “2009 Mercedes-Benz ML 280 CDI (W 164 MY09) wagon (2011-06-15)” by OSX / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain . Cropped to 16:9.
- 2010
  Photo: “2010 Mercedes-Benz ML 320 CDI (W 164 MY10) 4MATIC wagon (2018-10-19) 02” by EurovisionNim / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
ML / GLE (W166) · W166 (2012–2019)

Renamed GLE in 2015; a GLE Coupe (C292) joined.
GLE (W167) · W167 (2020–present)

Current GLE; available third row and the AMG GLE 63.
- 2026
  Photo: “2026 Mercedes-Benz W167 IMG 6655” by Alexander Migl / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.