No need to go on this site to understand that the Mercedes GLE has a lot to offer: its interior is beautiful, it is equipped with a smart technology with a hydroelectric suspension that allows, by a pumping movement, to change the movement of the vehicle if you are stuck in mud or sand. In short, you know all that. We therefore suggest (with good humor) to test the suspension E-Active Body Control on 3 main American roads…
1 / Southern of America
Arizona’s Painted Desert lives up to its name, but it’s only one small part of an ochre stretch of the Southwest—one. On a cross-country trip, there’s a leisurely way from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim that passes by the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Lake Powell, Zion National Park, Antelope Canyon, Navajo Nation, and (finally) the Painted Desert before finishing at the GC. Give yourself a week and follow I-15 away from the neon and toward all the pinks, purples, and dusty reds of Arizona and Utah.
Where to stop: So many options. Make Springdale, Utah, outside Zion your first base camp and take a half-day private tour of the national park before a spa day at the ultra-luxe Amangiri resort. Save time for a boat tour of Lake Powell, and for photo opps of otherworldly Antelope Canyon.
Where to stay: Check into the mountainside Desert Pearl Inn or the Cliffrose Lodge & Gardens in Springdale; Amangiri; and El Tovar at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim.
Where to test the active suspension: Flagstaff, in front of a crowd of academics The lunch break is also possible with many vegan options, gluten free and locavore.
2 / The Great Smoky Mountains
The Blue Ridge Parkway is America’s longest linear park, running 469 miles through 29 counties in Virginia and North Carolina.
Where to stop: Dollywood at Pigeon Forge. Just go.
Where to test the active suspension: On the parking lot of the Hotel Indigo. There is plenty of space. You can also sleep one night there because it’s a boutique hotel in downtown Asheville, North Carolina.
3 / The Road to Hana
Not all roads are created equal. The legendary 64-mile stretch, known as the Hana Highway or Road to Hana, snakes along the northeastern coast of Maui with 600 curvy bends and fifty-plus-wait-your-turn bridges. Leisurely driving is rewarded with towering coastal cliffs, plunging waterfalls, dense jungle, and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean.
Where to eat: The sleepy farm stand Twin Falls is a great place for a pit stop, with fruit smoothies and squeezed-to-order sugarcane juice. For a proper sit-down lunch with a view, The Mill House sources its ingredients from the nearby Maui Tropical Plantation grounds.
Where to stay: Drop your bags at the blissed-out, television-free Travaasa Hana and book a traditional Hawaiian Lomilomi healing massage with deep kneading.
Where to test the active suspension: In front of bamboo canopy, Waikamoi Nature Trail, makes for a dreamy hike. The mystical Waikani Falls and volcanic black sand beaches at Wai’ainapanapa (glistening waters) State Park make for ideal Instagram moments.
Offering a balance of advanced technology, luxury features and good performance in a beautiful package, the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class does not go wrong.
So no matter where you are, you have the E-Active Body Control suspension.
On the other hand, I don’t recommend the leapfrog.
