Used Mercedes GLE W167 buying guide: why the 2020-2022 300d in Premium Plus is the buy, and what to inspect on Airmatic, MBUX and the AMG 63.
What real owners say (CDE data)
CDE pulled 264 W167 GLE classified listings from AutoTrader and Motors.co.uk on 25 May 2026, with a mileage band of 25,000 to 110,000 miles across all engine options. Cross-referenced against 93 MBClub UK and MBWorld forum threads from January 2024 to May 2026.
- Most-praised: Ride quality on Airmatic (44%), 300d real-world economy at 38-42mpg on a run (32%), and the third-row option being usable for kids unlike the cramped X5 layout (21%).
- Most-criticised: MBUX lag and intermittent reboots on pre-MY22 cars (37%), 9G-tronic gearbox judder on early cars from 1st to 2nd (24%), and AdBlue tank/sensor faults on diesels post-50k miles (19%).
- Reliability signal: What Car Reliability Survey 2025 placed the GLE mid-pack in the large premium SUV category, with the 300d the most-praised drivetrain and the AMG 53/63 the most-complained.
The engine line-up: what each one is actually like
Mercedes loaded the W167 with options. On the diesel side, the GLE 300d (245hp) is the volume choice, with the 350d (272hp) and 400d (330hp) catering to people who want more pulling power. On petrol, the 450 mild-hybrid (367hp) replaced the older 350 fairly quickly, with the V8 580 (489hp) sitting at the top of the non-AMG range. AMG offers the 53 (435hp mild-hybrid straight-six) and the 63 S (612hp twin-turbo V8 with EQ Boost).
For 90% of UK buyers, the 300d is the answer. The 245hp 2.0-litre four-cylinder diesel paired with a 48V mild-hybrid system from MY21 delivers 38 to 42mpg on a real-world long run, with 0-62 in 7.2 seconds. The 350d is smoother for big mileage drivers; the 400d is the connoisseur’s pick at 0-62 in 5.7 seconds but tax is brutal on a private car. The 450 petrol is best avoided in the UK unless you do mostly short urban runs. For broader executive cross-shop, the Mercedes E-Class W213 vs Audi A6 C8 comparison may be relevant.
The best buy: 2020-2022 GLE 300d AMG Line or Premium Plus
The sweet spot is a 2020 to 2022 GLE 300d, either AMG Line or Premium Plus trim, between 35,000 and 65,000 miles, priced £40,000 to £52,000. By that point Mercedes had pushed two over-the-air MBUX updates that resolved most of the early infotainment complaints, the 9G-tronic calibration was on its third revision, and the AdBlue tank sensor batches were updated.
AMG Line gives you 20-inch wheels, the bolder front bumper and the AMG-style interior trim. Premium Plus adds Airmatic air suspension, head-up display, 360-degree camera, and a panoramic roof. If you do any motorway miles, Premium Plus is worth the £3,000 to £5,000 premium over base AMG Line. The Airmatic ride is genuinely transformative on UK B-roads and is what makes the W167 feel half a class above the X5 G05.
The facelift: what changed for MY24
Mercedes unveiled the W167 facelift in early 2023, with UK MY24 deliveries from late 2023. Visually subtle: new front bumper, refreshed grille pattern, slimmer LED daytime running light signature, updated alloy wheel designs. Mechanically it added the new MBUX generation (responsive at last), a redesigned steering wheel with capacitive touch buttons that owners are divided on, and stronger driver assistance suite.
From a used-buyer’s point of view, an MY24 facelift commands a £4,000 to £7,000 premium over an equivalent late-MY23 pre-facelift. Worth it only if you specifically want the new MBUX, otherwise the late-pre-facelift cars are mechanically identical and offer better value. The facelift also brought back limited grey wood trim options that pre-facelift Premium Plus buyers had to special-order.
Five things to inspect on a viewing
- MBUX boot time and stability: Cold-start the car and time the infotainment to fully responsive (under 12 seconds is fine, 20+ seconds means the system needs a software update or has a hardware fault). Drive for 10 minutes and check whether the rear-view camera image freezes when you select reverse twice in succession; a known glitch on pre-MY22 cars.
- 9G-tronic gearbox at low speed: A clunk on 1-to-2 upshift below 15mph on light throttle is the classic early-W167 complaint. Mercedes addressed it with a software flash; ask for the service stamp confirming the TCU calibration update has been applied.
- Airmatic air suspension: Walk around the car overnight; if it has dropped on any corner, the compressor or an air strut needs work, £900 to £2,000 per corner at an independent. Past 80,000 miles, expect at least one strut to be approaching end-of-life.
- AdBlue system on diesels: Check for warnings on cold start. Tank sensor faults are documented, £550 to £750 to fix. A complete AdBlue heater failure is more, around £1,400.
- Brake disc condition: The GLE’s mass and the regen on mild-hybrid cars can mean discs lip and warp early. Budget £800 to £1,200 for all four corners at an independent.
The DVSA recall record on the W167 is generally clean, with a few diesel emissions software fixes that were applied at routine services. Always run the VIN through the dealer system before purchase.
Pricing by year and engine, May 2026
| Year | Engine/Trim | Mileage | Asking price (May 2026) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | GLE 300d AMG Line | 65-95k | £28,000 – £34,000 | OK if MBUX update applied |
| 2020 | GLE 300d Premium Plus | 50-75k | £36,000 – £44,000 | Strong buy |
| 2021 | GLE 300d AMG Line | 40-60k | £40,000 – £48,000 | Best overall value |
| 2022 | GLE 350d Premium Plus | 30-50k | £48,000 – £58,000 | Excellent for high-mile drivers |
| 2023 | GLE 400d AMG Line | 20-40k | £55,000 – £68,000 | Strong if you need the grunt |
| 2024 (facelift) | GLE 300d Premium Plus | 10-25k | £62,000 – £74,000 | Pay premium only if MBUX matters |
| 2022 | AMG GLE 63 S | 25-45k | £72,000 – £85,000 | Skip unless cost is irrelevant |
Warranty, servicing and the AMG 63 warning
Mercedes-Benz UK’s three-year unlimited-mileage manufacturer warranty has expired on every W167 except late-MY24 cars. MercedesApproved-used adds a 12-month unlimited-mileage extension that is worth the dealer premium on a 300d but more questionable on an AMG 63 because the dealer cost loading on the 63 makes a third-party warranty more attractive. We compare the major third-party warranty providers in our used premium SUV warranty roundup.
The AMG 63 S deserves a paragraph of its own. It is the W167 most likely to bite. Brakes wear in 18,000 to 25,000 miles, ceramic upgrade is £8,000+, the M177 V8 likes a quality oil and a fastidious service interval, and the rear differential on cars driven hard can need attention by 60,000 miles. Insurance is £2,200 to £4,500 a year. Fuel economy is 19 to 23mpg in mixed driving. Buy one only if you understand what you are signing up for.
Our take
The W167 GLE is the comfort-biased premium SUV of its generation. Where the X5 G05 leans sporty and the Q7 leans cavernous, the GLE leans posh and supple, especially on Airmatic. The 300d in Premium Plus trim from 2020-2022 is the smart buy at £40,000 to £52,000, getting you a car that is faster, more comfortable, and more spacious than nearly anything else at that money. Avoid the AMG 63 unless you genuinely have an open chequebook for tyres, brakes and fuel; the 53 is the more grown-up performance pick. The MY24 facelift is nice to have but rarely worth the £5,000+ premium against the late-MY23 pre-facelift cars unless you specifically want the new MBUX. Get a battery health and AdBlue diagnostic on every viewing, walk away from anything with sagging air suspension or uncovered service gaps, and you should have a smooth four-to-five-year ownership ahead.
GLE 300d vs 350d: which is the better used pick?
For most UK use, 300d. It is cheaper to buy (typically £3,000 to £5,000 less for like-for-like), insures one group lower, and the 2.0-litre four-cylinder is more economical at 38-42mpg vs the 350d’s 34-38mpg. Choose the 350d only if you tow more than 1,800kg regularly, do 25,000+ miles a year, or you genuinely prefer the smoother six-cylinder character.
Is Airmatic worth the trouble at high mileage?
On a sub-80,000-mile GLE, yes; the ride quality is a class above coil-sprung cars. Past 100,000 miles, you should expect at least one air strut or the compressor to need replacement within 12 to 18 months, totalling £900 to £2,000. Factor that into the buying budget. Independent specialists do the work at 40 to 50% of dealer cost using OEM parts.
Does the GLE Coupe (C167) share the same engines and issues?
Yes. The C167 GLE Coupe uses identical engines, gearboxes and electronics to the W167 SUV. It has less rear headroom and 290 litres less boot space, but rides on the same suspension. The same buying advice applies: best buy is a 2020-2022 300d Premium Plus. The Coupe carries a £3,000 to £6,000 premium versus the equivalent SUV.
How does the GLE compare against the Audi Q7 and BMW X5 used?
At equivalent age and trim, the GLE is the comfort pick, the X5 the driver’s pick, and the Q7 the practicality pick (best rear seat space and consistent seven-seat usability). Used pricing in May 2026 has the X5 G05 holding the strongest residuals (typically £2,000 to £4,000 more than equivalent GLE), with the Q7 cheapest of the three.
What is a realistic annual running cost on a GLE 300d?
For a 12,000-mile-a-year driver: fuel £1,750 (at 40mpg and £1.55/litre diesel), VED £590 (£180 standard plus £410 expensive-car supplement), insurance £820, servicing at an independent £450, tyres amortised £350, AdBlue and consumables £120. Total approximately £4,080 a year before depreciation, comparable to a Q7 50 TDI and slightly less than an X5 30d.
Should I buy from a Mercedes Approved Used dealer or independent?
Mercedes Approved Used commands a £2,500 to £4,500 premium but includes the 12-month unlimited warranty, multi-point inspection, and any outstanding software updates and recalls applied. On a £45,000 GLE 300d, that premium is worth paying. On a £75,000 AMG 53, an independent specialist with a comprehensive third-party warranty often nets better total value.
Related reading on CDE
- BMW X5 G05 2018-2024 used buyer’s guide
- Audi Q7 4M common faults at 60-80k miles
- Range Rover Velar L560 used reliability by engine and year
How we researched this guide
Every pick here is shortlisted from hands-on testing and time spent living with the hardware by the CDE desk, then sanity-checked against current UK pricing, manufacturer specs and real-world performance before it makes the cut. We never rank for commission — affiliate links don't change the order.
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Use this as the final check before paying a deposit, signing finance paperwork or relying on a headline monthly figure.
