Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
As much as I love trundling around in my nifty two-door sports car, sometimes there’s a simple urge to cruise around in something bigger. Something that growls rather than purrs; a heavyweight rather than a flyweight.
So it was with much excitement that I picked up the Anthony Joshua of SUVs, the new Mercedes GLE 400. What a stylish, sensual champion this is, with its stocky, rectangular features and its sculpted shoulders. There’s more curvature on the rear (a popular feature in any walk of life) and sleek lines that give an aerodynamic feel to what is otherwise a bulky beast.
What’s more, the new model comes with a roof rack so you can attach your bicycle to it … perfect for a day trip where you want to park up and explore the great outdoors. Or, as the editor oft says when I ask for a pay rise: ‘On yer bike, Kristian’.
The humidity has taken a turn for the worst in recent weeks, so the first port of call was to bring the car to life with a quick push of the smooth silver button and turn the dual-zone air conditioning fans up to ‘save me’ level.
I was pampered by the usual Mercedes fine details, with comfy leather and stylish accents. The GLE 400 does have a good-sized screen for media options, climate control and other settings, even though I still occasionally get confused by the spaceship-like mouse/touchpad hybrid which accompanies it.
I must admit, the various knobs and control sticks that have popped up over the years seem more fanciful than functional, and often I had to take my eyes off the road to figure out what I was pressing or doing, and at one point I gave up trying to connect my iPod via Bluetooth!
After the usual juggling of mirrors, seat positioning and the last stop of switching the driving mode into Sport (where it would firmly stay for the duration of the test drive), it was time to hit the highway.
The 3.0L, V6 engine and nine-speed transmission is quick out of the blocks and extremely smooth when shifting up and down gears.
The interior is a little bit special, with its vast swathes of room both in the front and back. If you need luggage space, or want to fit another bicycle in, then the back row power-folds all the way down.
Of course, the main appeal of a car is the drive, and this was a smooth vehicle to pilot. Despite the bike on top and the aerodynamic difficulties that creates, this car glided through traffic and had smooth cornering with no discomfort even on the bumpier roads.
The drive back to Tubli to drop the car back to the showroom is usually either a very melancholy or very joyous occasion depending on how the experience went, and this time it was with much regret that I rolled into the car park.
The 2019 Mercedes GLE 400 is available from the Al Haddad Mercedes showroom in Tubli, starting from BD29,995.
For more information, visit the showroom or call 17785454.
