THEY say a year is a long time in technology, so you can imagine how far large luxury SUVs have moved on in the seven years since Mercedes-Benz launched its previous-generation competitor.

Thankfully, 2019 has ushered in the second-generation GLE – a much-needed ground-up redesign of a model that is looking to loosen the BMW X5’s stranglehold on the $70,000-plus large-SUV segment.

So, it comes as no surprise that the new GLE is kind of a big deal for Mercedes-Benz and it is throwing everything – including the kitchen sink – at its box-fresh model in an attempt to be a class leader.

While it is undoubtedly bigger and bolder than before – and chock-full of cutting-edge tech – is the latest GLE actually a better overall proposition? Read on to find out how the entry-level GLE300d stacks up.