As the German premium brands in particular seek to fill every available niche, Mercedes-Benz has decided it’s time to bring to market a rival to BMW’s X6.

That means it now has a coupe-cum-SUV to sit alongside the regular GLE large off-roader, previously known as the ML before Mercedes revamped its nomenclature.

It’s fair to say the GLE Coupe isn’t a subtle car, especially in black with the huge 21-inch alloys that kitted out our test car.

There’s a premium of just over £5000 to get the coupe looks over the more practical and squarer GLE model, and the range consists of 367hp (209g/km) and 585hp (278g/km) petrol models plus the 350d diesel driven here, which is the only real option for corporate drivers at 187g/km. That still compares poorly with the BMW X6, which offers a 159g/km figure.

The BMW is also cheaper, and there’s even a price advantage when moving up to the more powerful 313hp version from the 258hp model that aligns with the GLE’s performance. Throw in the extra efficiency and the Mercedes is giving away more than 10p per mile in costs.

The interior is sumptuous, as it should be in top-spec Designo Line form driven here, but the driving experience is also a little way off the BMW. The nine-speed automatic sometimes struggles to settle on a gear, and the throttle response, particularly in Sport mode, is a touch enthusiastic, while ride quality is a bit hit and miss. On the flip side, the large bulk is well-propelled by the lovely 3.0-litre diesel engine.

The GLE 350d isn’t for the shy, and that rear end in particular is ostentatious and lacks any degree of subtlety, while the costs equation doesn’t help the car’s case, with the BMW X6 and also the Range Rover Sport, both more rewarding to drive and coming out cheaper.

The Mercedes may be nicer inside and better equipped, but the costs make this a car you’ve got to really want.