The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class does 20.8 mpg combined (18.8 city, 24.1 highway), which works out to about $1,846 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 2.1L 4-cyl does 24 mpg while 5.5L 8-cyl does 15 — a difference of $960 a year. Against other Hybrid cars it sits below the average of 29.8 mpg.
Every Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class ranges from 24 down to 15 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $960 a year across 7 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1L 4-cyl | 22 / 29 | 2016–2016 | $1,600 | |
| 2L 4-cyl Hybrid | 21 / 28 | 2024–2026 | $1,648 | |
| 2L 4-cyl | 19.5 / 26.3 | 2020–2023 | $1,745 | |
| 3L 6-cyl | 19 / 25 | 2016–2019 | $1,770 | |
| 3L 6-cyl Hybrid | 20 / 24.1 | 2016–2023 | $1,778 | |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 18 / 23 | 2018–2018 | $1,920 | |
| 5.5L 8-cyl | 13.5 / 17.5 | 2016–2019 | $2,560 |
What that actually costs
The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class burns a gallon every 20.8 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 577 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.154 |
| Fuel per year | $1,846 |
| Fuel over five years | $9,230 |
| Against other Hybrid cars | +$557 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,800 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class gives up 5.3 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 24.1 out there against 18.8 in town, a 28% drop worth $450 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 18.8 mpg | $2,043 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 24.1 mpg | $1,593 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +5.3 mpg (28%) | Typical for its type |
How the GLE-Class changed over the years
The GLE-Class peaked in 2024 at 24 mpg (21 city, 28 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2019 at 17.5 — 6.5 mpg apart, or $594 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 23. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 21 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2025 | 21 / 28 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2024 | 21 / 28 | 1 | $1,600 | |
| 2023 | 20 / 25 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2022 | 19.5 / 26 | 2 | $1,745 | |
| 2021 | 20 / 26 | 2 | $1,707 | |
| 2020 | 19.5 / 25.5 | 2 | $1,786 | |
| 2019 | 15.5 / 20.5 | 2 | $2,194 | |
| 2018 | 17.3 / 21.3 | 3 | $2,053 | |
| 2017 | 16.7 / 21 | 3 | $2,053 | |
| 2016 | 19.5 / 24.5 | 4 | $1,803 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 23 EPA ratings of the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class — 7 engines across 2016–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,800. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class get?
20.8 mpg combined on average — 18.8 in the city and 24.1 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2016–2026.
How much does a Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class cost in fuel per year?
About $1,846 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $9,230 over five years, or 0.154 dollars a mile.
Which GLE-Class engine is the most economical?
The 2.1L 4-cyl at 24 mpg, against 15 for the 5.5L 8-cyl — a difference of about $960 a year.
Is the GLE-Class good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other Hybrid cars it sits below the average of 29.8 mpg, computed across 1162 ratings.
Are these real-world GLE-Class figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is $3,800 against the $1,846 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 25 and 15 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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