2016 Mercedes-Benz AMG GLE

If you follow religious theories, you're familiar with the seven deadly sins. These are described as the cardinal sins of existence – the things you should avoid to keep your life good and wholesome. A life of diligence and kindness is all well and good, but as I always say, eff that. And no vehicle I've driven in recent memory personifies those beliefs as wonderfully as the Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S. Gluttony, lust, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. Those seven evil virtues come to life in the AMG 63 S, the range-topping version of the 2016 GLE-Class. It takes an otherwise rational luxury crossover and turns up the indulgence factor to the point where you should feel guilty every time you fire up the 577-horsepower, twin-turbo V8 engine. It's bad in the best way. And while this SUV is certainly not perfect, I can't get enough. Driving Notes Wrath is evident from the moment you press the engine start button and let the V8 come to life. No, it's not as fire-breathing as the old, naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 from the previous ML63 AMG, but there's nothing wrong with the way this engine operates. Its brutishness is enhanced by the optional $625 AMG Performance Exhaust – an absolute must-have option, because why bother with a full-on 63 S treatment if you don't want everyone in a two-block radius to hear every bit of your wrath? And as far as lust goes, the exhaust note is delightfully delectable. Power delivery from the 5.5-liter, twin-turbo V8 is immediate, and the engine pulls hard to redline in every gear. That 577 hp is complimented by the shove of 561 pound-feet of torque, and all that force will rocket you to 60 miles per hour in a hair over four seconds. Impressive, considering the 5,238-pound curb weight. There's gluttony for you. Speaking of consumption, the EPA-estimated 13-miles per gallon city and 17-mpg highway ratings are rather sinful, too. Sloth comes to mind in many of the driving characteristics. This thing may launch like a rocket, but it doesn't really do anything else quickly. The steering is a bit numb, with dull turn-in, and despite being hunkered down on 20-inch wheels and wide, P255/45R20 tires (Pirelli Scorpion winter rubber, since it's February), there's lots of roll while cornering. The upside to this uncharacteristically relaxed AMG handling is a quiet, compliant ride for freeway cruising and bombing around town. Sloth can also relate to parts of the interior, where the brand-new GLE feels a step or two behind the rest of the class in terms of interior refinement. This car speaks more to the old M-Class than the new generation of Mercedes vehicles. Step inside the fantastic new GLC, then get in the GLE, and you'll be surprised that the more expensive of the two is the one that feels the most out of date. Everything inside the cabin works, it's just not as advanced as the rest of Mercedes' lineup. An interior overhaul can't come …
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