Mercedes VLE with all-wheel drive starts at €78,500
Mercedes-Benz is expanding its electric VLE lineup with a new all-wheel drive variant: the VLE 400 4MATIC. Prices for the five- or six-seater start at just under €80,000 in Germany.
Image: Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz does not want the VLE to be seen as a van, but rather: as an electric Grand Limousine. In April, the manufacturer initially launched a single-motor variant, the VLE 300. Now, an all-wheel-drive version called the VLE 400 4MATIC is here – with a system output of 310 kW. Its powertrain features the same NMC battery as the front-wheel-drive model, with a usable capacity of 115 kWh, enabling a WLTP range of up to 654 km for the VLE 400 4MATIC.
Prices for the all-wheel-drive version with six seats start at €78,909 in Germany. The leasing rate is €772.67. The entry price for the five-seat variant is €78,452.04, with a leasing rate of €768.19. All figures are gross prices. For comparison: the VLE 300 is now priced at €70,735.
It is clear that the all-wheel-drive model does not differ in its charging capabilities due to the identical battery but rather in driving behaviour, acceleration performance and towing capacity compared to the previously available front-wheel-drive version. The 4MATIC luxury vehicle, with its additional electric motor on the rear axle, now accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds. The manufacturer also highlights improvements to “traction and handling, particularly in challenging road and weather conditions”. (To see how the VLE 300 reaches its limits during strong acceleration, check out our driving report.)
The all-wheel drive also makes a big difference in towing capacity: the more powerful VLE can pull up to 2.5 tonnes, which makes it suitable as a tow vehicle for caravans and other trailers, among other things,. The nose weight remains unchanged at 100 kg. The previous towing capacity was 1.75 tonnes or 750 kg unbraked. Here is the tabular comparison of the two now available powertrains:
| | VLE 300 | VLE 400 4MATIC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Drive | FWD | AWD |
| Power | 203 kW | 310 kW |
| 0–100 km/h sprint | 8.9–9.5 s | 6.5 s |
| Battery | 115 kWh | 115 kWh |
| DC charging | 300 kW | 300 kW |
| AC charging | 11 or 22 kW | 11 or 22 kW |
| Range | 713 km | 654 km |
| Towing capacity | up to 1.75t | 2.5t |
| Gross price | from €70,735 | from €78,452 |
All versions of the NMC battery have a usable energy content of 115 kWh. Mercedes specifies a range of up to 713 km for the front-wheel-drive model, while the all-wheel-drive version, with its naturally higher consumption, achieves around 60 km less. The 800-volt architecture always enables DC charging power of up to 300 kW. Under ideal conditions: charging from 10 to 80 per cent takes 25 minutes – and enough power for up to 355 additional kilometres is delivered within 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz expanded the VLE range in the summer—primarily in terms of equipment. In addition to the standard equipment and the already available Exclusive trim line, the VLE 300 has been available since July as AMG Line and AMG Line Plus. Furthermore, additional freely selectable options and seat configurations have been orderable since then.
Image: Mercedes-Benz
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Mercedes is now adding another equipment package: the Advanced package completes the configuration options for the VLE to a total of four optional equipment packages (Advanced, Advanced Plus, Premium, Premium Plus) and supplements the standard equipment, among other things, with optional black high-gloss 19-inch alloy wheels in a 5-twin-spoke design and darkened rear windows.
Additional equipment and seating options
Since the summer, Mercedes has also ensured that trim lines, packages and individual options can be combined more flexibly. For example, the VLE Exclusive can now be combined not only with the Premium Plus package but also with the Premium package below it. The Premium Plus package includes, among other things, a head-up display and the MBUX Superscreen. The Sky View panoramic roof, previously included in the starting configurations, is now freely selectable.
In addition, Mercedes has offered electrically adjustable premium comfort seats for the rear since July. These feature armrests and seat heating. Additionally, the VLE 300 can now be ordered as an eight-seater for the first time. This means the range now starts at five seats and goes up to eight. At the order start, only configurations with five, six or seven seats were available depending on the equipment.