McLaren Artura vs Mercedes-Benz GLE450

What's the difference?

Obviously the headline item of the new McLaren Artura Spider is the ability to drop the top and feel the wind in your hair, or, should you live in Melbourne, at least the damp mist on your face.

But this new plug-in powerhouse has plenty more to offer than just its folding hardtop.

The coupe and convertible are more powerful, there’s a new and louder exhaust, faster gear shifts, a richer rev range, better suspension and better braking.

Oh, and there's a new feature designed to unlock your inner hooligan, but we’ll come back to that one in just a moment...

But at its core, the Artura Spider is a plug-in hybrid monster that goes someway to previewing the future of the supercar species.

Does electrification enhance the excitement? We strapped in to find out.

Well into its second generation, the Mercedes-Benz GLE remains a key player in the luxury large SUV space.

Though it lags well behind the BMW X5 in terms of sales, by about half in fact, the GLE still aims to exude status and luxury, helped by a facelift in 2023.

In its category, there are however plenty of badges with the power to lure buyers away: Audi, Porsche and Range Rover. Even non-Euros like Genesis and Lexus.

Despite the facelift, the category is moving on with big screens and more tech, where the GLE still has to rely on some traditional charm to win over wallets - especially in our big diesel ‘450d’ guise.

A week behind the wheel around and out of the city should reveal whether the GLE still has a strong-enough USP in 2025.