How Does the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE Handle in the Snow?

How Well Does the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE Handle in the Snow and Ice?

When the forecast turns to sleet, slush, and snow-covered roads, the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV is engineered to keep you driving with confidence. With standard 4MATIC® all-wheel drive across the entire lineup, an updated torque-distribution system, available AIRMATIC® suspension with predictive damping, and dedicated winter driving modes, the refreshed GLE is more winter-ready than ever.

Here’s a closer look at how the 2027 GLE performs in the snow, and which trims are your best bet when the roads get slick.

What Makes the GLE a Strong Winter Performer

The biggest change for 2027 is that all-wheel drive is no longer optional. Mercedes-Benz has discontinued the rear-wheel-drive GLE 350, meaning every 2027 GLE trim, from the base 350 up through the AMG® GLE 63 S, comes standard with 4MATIC® all-wheel drive.

The 4MATIC® system itself has also been upgraded. Rather than relying on a fixed torque split, the new system uses an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch that can direct anywhere from 0 to 100 percent of available torque to either axle in real time. That wider, more responsive range means the GLE reacts faster to changing traction, whether you’re pulling away from a stop on packed snow or navigating a patch of black ice mid-corner.

Ground clearance and suspension continue to play a major role in winter capability. Available AIRMATIC® air suspension automatically adjusts ride height and damping based on road conditions, and for 2027, it gains a predictive edge: air suspension-equipped GLE models now use cloud-based Car-to-X communication to receive road hazard and bump data from other Mercedes-Benz vehicles, then adjust the suspension before you ever reach that rough or snow-covered patch of pavement.

Behind the wheel, Mercedes-Benz’s DYNAMIC SELECT® driving modes still give you direct control over how the GLE responds to slippery roads. Selecting a mode like Slippery or ECO tightens throttle response, adjusts transmission shift points, and increases traction control sensitivity so the vehicle limits wheel spin and delivers smoother, more predictable acceleration on snow and ice, especially when paired with proper winter tires.

Which GLE Trims Handle the Best in Snow, and Why

Every 2027 GLE trim now comes standard with all-wheel drive, but power, suspension, and torque distribution still vary meaningfully across the lineup. Here’s how the refreshed GLE stacks up when the roads turn white:

GLE 350 4MATIC®: Standard All-Wheel Drive, Right Out of the Gate

With the rear-wheel-drive GLE 350 discontinued for 2027, every GLE 350 now comes standard with 4MATIC® all-wheel drive. It retains its 255-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged engine and 295 lb-ft of torque, now paired with a new electric compressor for sharper throttle response.

That combination of modest power and standard all-wheel drive is a genuine advantage in snow: lower horsepower paired with 4MATIC®’s traction control makes it easier to modulate throttle input without overwhelming the tires, which is exactly what you want on a slick road. Buyers no longer need to seek out the all-wheel-drive version separately, since it’s the only GLE 350 configuration available.

GLE 450 4MATIC®: More Torque for Winter Traction

The GLE 450 4MATIC® keeps its 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, but 2027 brings a notable torque increase, up 44 lb-ft to 413 lb-ft total. That added twisting force translates to stronger uphill traction and more confident highway merging in snowy conditions, while standard AIRMATIC® suspension keeps the ride settled over uneven, snow-packed surfaces.

For drivers who want a strong winter performer without stepping into AMG® territory, this remains the sweet spot in the lineup, and it’s now even better suited to low-traction situations than before.

GLE 500e 4MATIC®: A New Plug-In Hybrid With More Muscle

The plug-in hybrid formerly known as the GLE 450e has been replaced entirely by the GLE 500e 4MATIC®, which swaps the previous four-cylinder-based hybrid setup for one built around the GLE 450’s inline-six. The gas engine alone now makes 322 horsepower, a 74-horsepower jump over the outgoing model, paired with an electric motor producing 181 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque.

That electric motor still delivers torque instantly, which is a genuine advantage when pulling away from a stop on snow or ice, since power arrives smoothly rather than in an abrupt surge that could break traction. Mercedes-Benz says the added power drops the GLE 500e’s 0-60 mph time to 5.5 seconds while preserving roughly 50 miles of all-electric range.

GLE 580 4MATIC®: More Power, Plus a Smarter Suspension Option

The GLE 580’s twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 now produces 530 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, up from 510 horsepower and 538 lb-ft previously. It remains the most powerful non-hybrid, non-AMG® GLE in the lineup, and the extra weight of the V8 up front continues to help plant the nose during braking and cornering in slippery conditions.

New for 2027, the GLE 580 is the only trim that can be equipped with E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL, which uses five multi-core processors and more than 20 sensors to analyze road conditions 1,000 times per second and adjust each wheel’s suspension independently. On snow-covered or uneven winter roads, that level of real-time correction offers noticeably sharper body control than the standard AIRMATIC® setup.

AMG® GLE 53 Hybrid 4MATIC®: Now a Plug-In Hybrid, and Quicker

The AMG® GLE 53 has been fully reengineered for 2027, moving from a mild-hybrid inline-six to a plug-in hybrid setup producing a combined 577 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, increases of 148 horsepower and 140 lb-ft over the outgoing model. That extra power drops its 0-60 mph time to 4.4 seconds, a half-second quicker than before, and the GLE 53 can now run in all-electric mode at speeds up to 87 mph.

It still relies on the more advanced 4MATIC® system, which continuously calculates ideal torque distribution between the front and rear axles rather than relying on a fixed split, and it continues to offer an available Off-Road Package with underbody protection and Dynamic Select modes tuned for snow, sand, and mud. For drivers who face rougher, unplowed conditions or steep driveways, this remains one of the most capable GLE trims for winter driving, now with meaningfully more power in reserve.

AMG® GLE 63 S 4MATIC®: More Power, Same Winter Caveat

The flagship AMG® GLE 63 S now produces 603 horsepower and 672 lb-ft of torque from its twin-turbo V8, plus an integrated starter-generator contributing an extra 23 horsepower and 151 lb-ft to smooth out acceleration. Mercedes-Benz quotes a 3.6-second 0-60 mph time. Its 4MATIC® system is tuned to manage that power on demand, shifting torque between axles as road conditions change.

It’s an even more exhilarating vehicle than before, but its snow capability comes with the same caveat as its predecessor: this trim performs best in snow when paired with dedicated winter tires, since its performance-oriented factory tires prioritize dry and wet grip over deep snow traction.

Best Practices for Winter Driving in Your GLE

Even the most advanced all-wheel-drive system depends on you and your tires. A few habits make a real difference in snow and ice:

• Switch to dedicated winter tires once temperatures consistently drop below 45°F, since all-season tires lose grip in cold weather regardless of your drivetrain.
• Use Slippery or ECO drive mode on snow-covered roads to reduce wheel spin and smooth out throttle response.
• Increase your following distance, since stopping distances lengthen significantly on snow and ice even with 4MATIC® engaged.
• Confirm your 4MATIC® or 4MATIC® system is active before heading into severe weather, and keep up with regular maintenance to keep it performing at its best.

Find Your Winter-Ready GLE at Ray Catena of Freehold, NJ

Whether you want the standard all-wheel-drive efficiency of the GLE 350 4MATIC® or the reengineered power of the AMG® GLE 53 Hybrid 4MATIC®, the Mercedes-Benz team at Ray Catena of Freehold, NJ can help you find the 2027 GLE SUV trim built for how you actually drive through a New Jersey winter.

Stop by our Freehold showroom or schedule a test drive online today, and feel firsthand how confidently the GLE handles snow, slush, and everything else the season brings. Contact Ray Catena of Freehold now to get behind the wheel.