Some people like to own the latest technology, and others want to have the safest vehicles available. The best new vehicles combine these desires by offering high-tech interiors with a wide variety of capabilities, from entertainment to driver assistance. For 2020, Kelley Blue Book named the Mercedes-Benz GLE as the luxury vehicle with the best technology.

The Kelley Blue Book 2020 Best Auto Tech Awards

Kelley Blue Book’s editors have examined vehicles to see what technologies they each offer for both entertainment and for driver assistance. The organization chose a mainstream model and a luxury model as winners of the award, and the two winners of the 2020 Best Auto Tech Awards are the 2020 Hyundai Sonata and the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE.

Both of these vehicles include the top 10 tech must-haves and some of the top 10 cutting-edge technologies. These two lists, Top-10 Auto Technology for 2020 and Best Future Innovative Auto Technology, were created by Kelley Blue Book.

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE technology

The Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV was redesigned for 2020, and Kelley Blue Book says it provides the company’s best user experience, driver assistance, and air suspension technology.

The infotainment system and other visual displays make up the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX). Kelley Blue Book found that the system does “a better job than most” of handling voice commands. It also has AI abilities, so it can learn the driver’s habits for using the phone or the radio.

The infotainment system is located on one of two 12.3-inch hi-res touchscreens, and the instrument cluster is the other display. The 2020 GLE is able to display new off-road information, including how much the vehicle leans and its suspension levels. It’s also able to recommend a driving position or a massage mode for the driver.

The MBUX Technology Package includes a full-color head-up display plus an augmented-reality navigation system. The AR navigation system shows the driver a video of the street area with arrows showing where to turn. The package also includes the Interior Assistant, which lets the driver use hand motions to control interior features like map lights or seat controls. The driver can also set up new gesture-controlled functions. The package costs an extra $1,600.

Driver-assist systems

The Mercedes-Benz GLE offers a Driver Assistance Package PLUS, which provides a number of sensors and cameras. The package costs $2,250. While not cheap, it adds plenty of safety technology. Active Blind Spot Assist includes Exit Warning Assist to make sure people in the vehicle don’t accidentally get out and get hit by traffic or bikes. Pre-Safe Impulse Side is able to shift people seated in the front seats over by 2.75 inches when a side impact is sensed. Evasive Steering Assist helps the driver avoid hitting a pedestrian. Active Steering Assist helps the driver stay in their lane during turns.

Active Stop-and-Go Assist and Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function are two new features included in the package. Active Stop-and-Go Assist is able to forecast traffic jams based on radar and video info plus road data and vehicle speed. Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function will stop the vehicle for traffic or people crossing at an intersection and can also now stop for oncoming traffic sensed when turning left.

An enhanced air suspension control system

E-Active Body Control is the new system available on the GLE 450 4Matic and the GLE 580 4Matic, which enhances the Mercedes-Benz Airmatic air suspension. In addition to adjusting for road conditions, this system can adjust springs and dampers in each wheel independently. It uses cameras to look ahead for bumps up ahead in the road.

The driver is also able to adjust the level of each wheel when necessary, and the “free-driving mode” can rock the vehicle to free it from sand.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE SUV

The 2020 GLE SUV is offered in seven trim levels, and the prices for this luxury SUV go from $54,250 to $110,200. A fully loaded Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S could cost around $140,580.