Mercedes-Benz is in the midst of unveiling 40 new models over two years and many of the first out of the gate are family-friendly vehicles with new-age computing, increased comfort and enhanced feelings of luxury inside the cabin.
In September, the German automaker unveiled the battery-electric version of its top-selling GLC two-row SUV. Today, the people- and task-focused VLE was revealed and soon new versions of the GLE and GLS two- and three-row SUVs will debut.
Like the S-Class sedan, the GLE and GLS are on the receiving end of comfort and computing makeovers, as well as front and rear end design changes.
While the GLC, GLE and GLS have long-established connections with transporting families across the world in luxury, the V-Class has never quite met the level of luxury or comfort Mercedes-Benz SUVs offer. The most extraordinary V-Classes were modified by aftermarket companies to meet the needs of high-net-worth individuals on the go.
The new VLE changes that.
But, ahead of it coming to market, Mercedes-Benz is priming the market with the current V-Class. “We are definitely seeing a lot more families coming into it, a lot more leisure enthusiasts,” Sargee Sardien, head of sales and marketing at Mercedes-Benz Vans, told Newsweek. “These trends are growing in each of our markets, making, I would say, the VLE, probably the perfect fit.”
Mercedes-Benz vans have been well-known work vehicles as well as an executive shuttle. That won’t change with VLE, but the passenger, higher-end models will be far more refined in the new generation of vans than in those currently for sale worldwide.
“What we want to offer at Mercedes-Benz is the best of both worlds. We want to give you the driving and comfort of a Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicle while at the same time bringing that [multi-purpose vehicle] versatility, flexibility and functionality. The VLE, most certainly, brings both of these roles in quite close proximity,” Sardien said.
Customers interested in VLE will see stark differences in infotainment, entertainment and comfort over the current V-Class model. The changes help standardize the Mercedes-Benz product portfolio across the passenger vehicle lineup and make the transition from cars and SUVs into a van an easier mental exercise.
“The new MBUX Rear Space Experience immerses you in a completely different world. It takes luxury and digital to a completely new level. You have the ability to turn your vehicle into a concert hall, gaming and even be used for business professional meetings. We have, in the rear of the vehicle, a 31.3-inch panoramic screen… The Cinema Mode that the vehicle is able to go into gives you a ‘welcome home’ feeling. And this is what we at Mercedes-Benz, [we] want to bring more to our customers,” Sardien explained.
Though the new-age technology is designed to bring fresh enhancement to owners’ lives, it’s a simpler technology that has captured the heart of Sardien. She said: “My personal favorite things for VLE, personally, have to be the two electric sliding doors on the vehicle. This is very important for many of our customers in the market.”
The executive pointed out that the windows in the doors are able to go up and down, like those on many minivans. It’s a feature that many current V-Class owners wanted from the VLE, and Mercedes-Benz delivered it in the new-generation model.
The American-made GLC goes on sale later this year and the VLE arrives on U.S. shores in late 2027.