Moving from a GLE 53 to a 63S
Had the GLE 53 for a while, it was great in the beginning but when new car purchase wore off became annoying to live with:
1.) Rides very very harsh over any road imperfection because of the fixed anti-roll bars. When picking between comfort-sport-sport+ you're just picking how hard do you want to bounce, comfort bounces the car back and forth so hard its ridiculous. What I found funny is that the GLE 63S which you would think would ride harder, actually rides SOFTER because of the active ride control allowing the car to not only be extremely agile in performance driving, but also very very soft and luxurious over road imperfections.
2.) It's incredibly slow, the AMG badge might as well be aftermarket when you will literally get smoked off the line by any car and even SUV competitors in the same price range (SQ7, BMW M50/60i) and cars half the price. 0-100 is 5.3 seconds (2023) Also, you notice there is NO POWER after you're at 60MPH you slam the pedal to the floor in Sport+ and the car starts to crawl. After 85mph its barely accelerating from the wimpy engine.
3.)Incredibly expensive, comes with no options. Rear climate control is an option (joke), adaptive driving assist is an option, massage seats, the full executive leather (4500), the alcantra headliner so it doesn't look like a peasent car (1600), acoustic comfort package, etc etc by the time youre doing adding options its almost 120k after tax.
Other than that it's a great car when fully optioned. Massive head turner, extremely luxurious and high end on the interior and quiet driving environment. Everytime I Step into a 350/450 I think I'm inside a Totyota or Mazda, they feel very cheap.
GLE 63S Thoughts:
1.) Rides and drives like a real AMG. Amazing power at every step of the way. What really blew me away is when you're already driving at 80MPH+ and slam the pedal down you take off like a rocket, there's no other Car/SUV/Truck that can even compete with you. Especially when you're trying to merge and some bozo tries to speed up to block you, you slam the pedal and watch them disappear hahaha.
2.)Interior is the same as the GLE 53, mine was fully optioned so not much different here other than getting a lot of the good options standard that you would have to pay for.
3.Very comfortable in comfort mode. The dynamic engine mounts and active ride control suspension make it so smooth and buttery when you're just cruising and relaxing that it gives you that luxury feeling even over very bad and bumpy roads which is amazing on 22".
4.) Sound is amazing. That deep V8 engine growl and scream in S+ and Race with the exhaust flaps open is the best in class. Pops and bangs sound great, the GLE 53 sounds like a baby in comparison now.
5.) Burmester High End 3D system. one word. WOW. Best sound system I've heard in the car market and makes this car so amazing. Really sad they discontinued this option on all GLE's after 2022.
Those are my quick thoughts that come from owning both. Now obviously I'm a power junkie but both cars are great for the right person, only issue with the 53 is how expensive it is, being branded an AMG, and not having any power to back that up.