Mercedes' GLE gains space. Can it gain ground?

Mercedes-Benz is counting on a redesign with a roomier interior to tap the brakes on a sales slide of its GLE this year.

The crossover has dropped 11 percent this year in a midsize luxury segment that has grown 2.7 percent.

But the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE is not your father's GLE.

The redesigned crossover boasts a bigger interior with a third-row option, a range of engines, a high-tech all-wheel-drive system and a suite of semi-autonomous technologies.

It will debut at the Paris auto show in October and go on sale in the U.S. next year. Pricing has not been disclosed.

The 2020 model will mark the fourth generation of the midsize crossover, originally named the M class. Mercedes renamed it the GLE in 2015 when it introduced a freshened model under a new naming convention for its cars and light trucks.

The M class was Mercedes' first mainstream SUV in North America and launched the company's U.S. manufacturing plant, in Alabama,said Sam Fiorani, vice president at AutoForecast Solutions.

"It is one of the of the highest-volume vehicles sold by Mercedes in North America and likely one of the most profitable," Fiorani said.

The redesigned GLE moves to Mercedes' Modular High Architecture, or MHA, platform. It will feature a new suspension system powered partly by the 48-volt battery and developed by Mercedes-Benz. It is the only system on the market where the spring and damping forces can be individually controlled at each wheel, the automaker says, meaning it not only counteracts body roll, but also pitch and squat.

The GLE will include several engine offerings for the U.S., including a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder turbo engine on the GLE 350 and GLE 350 4MATIC that produces 255 hp and 273 pound-feet of torque.

The 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder turbo engine in the GLE 450 4MATIC produces 362 hp and 369 pound-feet of torque.

The engine in the GLE 450 4MATIC is supplemented with an integrated electric motor system, known as EQ Boost, that adds up to 21 hp for short periods.

The GLE has a longer wheelbase that creates more space for passengers in the rear. Second-row legroom has increased by 2.7 inches to 41.1 inches. Headroom in the rear has increased by 1.3 inches to 40.4 inches. The GLE includes an adjustable second row; a third row is available as an option.

The Audi Q7 rival is equipped with the next-gen Mercedes-Benz User Experience, or MBUX, multimedia system that has improved speech recognition capabilities, artificial intelligence and predictive learning abilities.

The GLE offers a suite of safety features, including a driver assistance system that can respond to traffic jams or slow traffic before a driver notices.