[ferwoods]

Have put about 1200KM onto my brand new GLE350d. Just completed my first "road trip" of 2.5 hours and I found after 2 hours that the seats were VERY uncomfortable. I previously drove a Hyundai Tucson and did many 8+ hour road trips and never had a problem. I'm really disappointed and am thinking of trading the car in and going to a different brand.

Has anyone experienced this issue with the new GLE SUVS? Do the seats require breaking in?

 

[GLEE]

Could be the seating position? I used to have butt pains because my seat was too far forward and I tended to lean to one side but it was fine after I moved back a bit and corrected my posture.

 

[ferwoods]

Maybe...I am pretty far back already...legs at 120 degrees...I will experiment see what happens!!

 

[GLEE]

Keep us posted!
If all else fails you could just buy one of those removable seat cushions.

 

[StopByUs]

Try to adjust the 4 -way Lumbar support. More information can be found in the Digital Operator's Manual. They are a bit stiff, but I adjusted my seat to be very comfortable.

 

[Donk]

I have the multi contour seats, and find them amazing. Was able to play around enough to get the lumbar & bolsters to fit like a glove, and I have a really bad back. I'm hoping the massage feature will help just a tad on really long trips.

 

[ferwoods]

I did not get the multi-contour seats, just the standard seats and I believe the 4-way lumbar support (up/down, in/out) powered by what seems to be a little air compressor.

I have tried playing around with the seat. Sitting closer, a bit farther, titling the angle up/down of the seat cushion. It's started to become of of those things that is driving me crazy. He I am with a brand new car awesome and I can't stop messing around with it. I can't tell whether or not the seat should support my calves or not and/or at what angle etc.

I took it on some windy roads during the drive and was very impressed with how it handles. The car really is a beautiful piece of machinery. Happy with everything but the seats.

 

[Glen]

I did not get the multi-contour seats, just the standard seats and I believe the 4-way lumbar support (up/down, in/out) powered by what seems to be a little air compressor.

I have tried playing around with the seat. Sitting closer, a bit farther, titling the angle up/down of the seat cushion. It's started to become of of those things that is driving me crazy. He I am with a brand new car awesome and I can't stop messing around with it. I can't tell whether or not the seat should support my calves or not and/or at what angle etc.

I took it on some windy roads during the drive and was very impressed with how it handles. The car really is a beautiful piece of machinery. Happy with everything but the seats.

I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. It's whatever makes you comfortable. You could look up some information of ergonomics to help guide you.

 

[homemaker]

Seats are MUCH Smaller

I went from a 2012 ML 350 diesel to a 2016 GLE 300d - the seats are smaller and extremely uncomfortable. My husband and I loved our ML350 for comfort. We could not believe that Mercedes changed the seats but they are at least a full inch shorter in width. My husband has a 2014 GLK and the seats in our 2016 GLEd are SMALLER than in the GLK. My husband and I are both on the taller side so seat comfort is quite important. I am 5'9" and my husband is 6' 3". The seats in the GLE do not adjust down as far in the ML, so you "sit up higher", I find this particularly annoying. When you sit up higher and you have to use the sun visor to block glare, too much of the windshield is then blocked and I actually have to tilt my neck down to drive. Also the seat in the GLE does not go back as far as in the ML. There are several other features in the GLE that, in my opinion are "cheap" compared to the ML. Why did Mercedes do away with having the memory settings for the front passenger seat? We purchased the wood steering wheel option and they made the steering wheel smaller. It feels like you are driving a go cart. The voice command button on the previous ML was silver color and set up above the other function keys - now it is flat black plastic and is mixed in with the radio control/mute function keys. Very easy to hit other keys when you are trying to use voice command. The interior door handles were of a much more substantial weight in the ML - now in the GLE they feel like flimsy plastic. I'm sure in a year or two they will break or need repaired. The engine is much louder and annoying in the GLEd compared to ML 350 diesel. I could write so much more about what I dislike about the GLE - I don't feel like this is a luxury vehicle. My husband and I were devoted Mercedes buyers but if this is the direction of where Mercedes is going (when is luxury a smaller seat?) we will have to reconsider. All in all not happy with the GLE 300d.

 

[stephen]

Sounds like the interior was designed more for the European market. That has me concerned about the GLE Coupe, maybe, just maybe they'll get it right in that.

 

[Glen]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/glob...ht-seat-position-in-my-new-car/article627150/

Check out this article.

 

[fanderso3]

Here's something I found works for me on long road trips. I take my wallet out of my back pocket and put it in the center console. I noticed a big improvement during one road trip and have stuck with it ever since. It seems obvious that sitting with a big lump under one butt cheek and nothing under the other butt cheek is going to twist your spine. However, this certainly does not explain why the new seats aren't as comfortable as the old seats.

Maybe another thing is whether the seats are MBTex or leather. I've had leather for many years and this time I switched to MBTex after hearing it was very durable. But it didn't occur to me that they wouldn't be as comfortable as leather. I've only had my car for a couple of weeks, so I hope I'm not disappointed.

 

[homemaker]

It's not the MBTex versus the leather that is the problem. As I wrote in previous posting - the seats ARE SMALLER in the 2016 GLE 300d than in the 2012 ML 350d. Also, my husband has a 2014 GLK and the seats in the 2016 GLE 300d are SMALLER than in the GLK. We measured the seats in our 2016 GLE 300d and the 2014 GLK. My husband is an engineer and knows how to measure - so no mistaking the measurements. So sad that I am stuck with these uncomfortable seats when I previously loved the comfort of my 2012 ML 350d. When are smaller seats luxury? I have spoken with the dealership and they acknowledge the change in seats - however there is nothing that can be done. Mercedes Benz dropped the ball on this one for me.

 

[kensterling]

Just came out of GLK250 into GLE300d and I can say that the seats are much harder to adjust to achieve an acceptable comfort level.
Not sure it is as comfortable as the GLK

 

[Glen]

Just came out of GLK250 into GLE300d and I can say that the seats are much harder to adjust to achieve an acceptable comfort level.
Not sure it is as comfortable as the GLK

What is so different between the seats? I find it hard to believe the same brand would have drastically different seats in vehicles that are relatively similar.

 

[kensterling]

Seems strange that the seats in the GLE are "stiffer" than the GLK seats....Maybe they will soften up with miles. First trip this weekend and I will return and post a "comfort" report.

 

[Doctoes]

Unconfortable seats in the GLE350

Sounds like the interior was designed more for the European market. That has me concerned about the GLE Coupe, maybe, just maybe they'll get it right in that.

I bought the new 2016 GLE 350 SUV, and since buying it, my back is killing me, the back of my legs feel numb and in constant pain, and any adjustment to the seat (pushing it as far back as possible) is now causing severe right knee pain to the point where I can barely walk without pain. Has anyone else experienced this gigantic flaw in Mercedes seats.

 

[hybrid]

hi all,
When picking your seat I have also some comment. I have a standard car with the AMG interior version. The standard seats are indeed poor. I doubted about the comfort version. I have to say the back and upper part of the AMG seats are perfect. The lower part is to sporty. You bottom hurts, and ladies have in general also problems. They are indeed to small. I wish I had taken the comfort seats. Try them all before you buy

 

[treydrier2]

Back ache

I have a 2016 GLE350. I ended up on this forum because I was wondering if I'm the only one who finds the seats extremely uncomfortable. I like the handling and ride but the seats ruin it for me. The adjustable lumbar support actually makes things worse imo. It's hard as a rock. Has anyone found a seat pad or something you can recommend? Thx!

 

[Crashton]

Stephen, I just bought a GLE 350 and was so excited about the car. I thought the seats were a little stiff/hard when I test drove but kept telling myself "how can a Mercedes be uncomfortable"? Every time I drive the car my back is in excruciating pain for hours or a day later. I can't believe it. I have owned the car 2 weeks and I'm looking for something else. Most costly mistake I've ever made.