I鈥檓 not sure who asked that question, or why, but here we are. Still, after a few days with the bubble-shaped AMG450, I have a little better sense of what this car is truly for. I had the AMG for our first weekend of snow here in Michigan, and on those aggressive Pirelli P-Zeros, things got a little dicey. On my first expressway jaunt, when there were just a few slippery inches on the ground, the car felt sloppy. I looked at the window sticker and didn鈥檛 see the 4Matic notation, which made me even more nervous. I ended up putting the car in snow mode, which softened up the throttle, allowing me to use my normal pedal force without flying off the road. When I found it was 4Matic-equipped, I got a little more aggressive and found the 4WD and traction control system working in unity, no matter what I did with the right pedal.

The porky curb weight of nearly 5,000 pounds surely helped it push through the slushy mess. Output from the twin-turbo V6 was more than adequate at 362 hp and 384 lb-ft. My main complaint was with the gas pedal in any mode but sport plus. Like a lot or Mercs these days, there's a tiny hesitation at tip-in before takeoff. That鈥檚 only amplified when the stop/start system is active, which makes the car take two beats before moving forward. Sport and sport-plus modes seemed to mitigate that, the latter mode tdoing an even better job. The other thing the car does in sport-plus mode is give a little brap-brap from the exhaust in between shifts. Now, I鈥檓 a fan of those noises most of the time, but it didn鈥檛 seem to fit this car, even though it鈥檚 a mid-grade performer thanks to the AMG tuning. I love the backfires, and I let it pop a bunch of times in traffic just to be a hooligan, but I鈥檓 not sure the average GLE customer (whoever that might be) will be into that.

With the GLE450 AMG reaching 60 in a respectable low 5-second range, does that make the 2016 Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S Coupe pointless? And the GLE63 S? The real AMG model of the GLE Coupe lineup still serves a purpose; its 577-hp, twin-turbo, 5.5-liter V-8 helps the GLE63 S reach 60 in only 3.9 seconds. But that's only half the story. The U.S.-spec GLE Coupe has no base model. Whereas the family-oriented non-Coupe GLE offers four gas engines plus a plug-in hybrid and a diesel, the GLE Coupe debuts with the GLE450 AMG model as the least expensive model you can get. 66,025, the GLE450 AMG isn't cheap. 2,300 with the BMW. 15,000 separates the C450 AMG sedan from the GLE450 AMG Coupe, but the more pricey GLE Coupe "AMG Sport" model might sell better. Like the Look But Not the Price? 70,000 or more on a car, don't forget about the GLC Coupe.

Currently just a concept, the GLC Coupe concept debuted with the GLE450 AMG's engine and nine-speed automatic. So if you don't mind a smaller interior package, know that a production-spec GLC Coupe鈥攚ith a lower base price than the GLE Coupe鈥攊s most likely on the way. The GLE450 AMG Coupe offers sport seats with aggressive side bolsters that do a decent job of holding you in place around curves. Whether you're interested in the GLE450 AMG Coupe or the X6 xDrive35i, we'd avoid the darker color choices. Why get a vehicle whose main purpose is to make a memorable visual impression only to choose a dark color that will hide the way the side windows highlight the gently sloping roofline? Because the GLE Coupe is based on the GLE, a refreshed and renamed version of the ML, you won't find a head-up display on the GLE Coupe's extensive options list. 20,000 beyond the base MSRP (like the X6), though, you might not even notice the omission.

Interested in the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE450 AMG 4MATIC ? Pricing shown includes all applicable dealer fees including Freight/PDI, Admin, EHF Tires, Filters and Batteries, and applicable provincial fees. Prices do not include taxes, insurance and license fees, as well as any other products or services not listed that may be available to you through your selected Mercedes-Benz dealership. Vehicle prices subject to change without notice. Dealer may sell for less. Please contact the dealership directly for exact pricing details and total prices. Note: Vehicle may not be exactly as shown. Some vehicles may be shown with optional equipment or equipment not available in Canada based on the Government of Canada-approved testing method and as published in Natural Resources Canada鈥檚 Fuel Consumption Guide. Your actual fuel consumption may vary. Regarding towing capacity listed: Maximum permissible gross weight of the trailer, if the trailer is equipped with a separate functional braking system. Please make sure to comply with local trailer load regulations.