Compare the2022 BMW X5 VS 2021 Mercedes GLE

The BMW X5 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GLE doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The X5 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The GLE doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The X5 offers optional Active Park Distance Control that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The GLE doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The X5’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLE.

Both the X5 and the GLE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The X5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLE’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLE.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the X5’s reliability 45 points higher than the GLE.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X5 second among upper midsize premium suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The GLE isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 18th in initial quality. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 30th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 8 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The X5 has more powerful engines than the GLE:

	Horsepower	Torque
X5 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	335 HP	331 lbs.-ft.
X5 M50i 4.4 turbo V8	523 HP	553 lbs.-ft.
GLE 350 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	255 HP	273 lbs.-ft.
GLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	362 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
GLE 580 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	483 HP	516 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW X5 6 cyl. hybrid gas is faster than the Mercedes GLE:

	X5	GLE 350	GLE 450
Zero to 60 MPH	5 sec	7.6 sec	5.6 sec
Quarter Mile	13.6 sec	15.8 sec	14.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	98.5 MPH	87.5 MPH	97.4 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the X5 gets better mileage than the GLE:

			MPG
X5
	RWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/25 hwy
GLE
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/26 hwy
		4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	17 city/22 hwy

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the X5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Mercedes only offers a regenerative brake system on the GLE 450.

The X5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The GLE doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the X5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLE:

	X5 xDrive40i	X5 M Sport	GLE 350	GLE 450
Front Rotors	13.7 inches	15.6 inches	13 inches	14.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	14.6 inches	13 inches	13.6 inches

The X5’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the GLE 350 are solid, not vented.

The X5 stops shorter than the GLE:

	X5	GLE
70 to 0 MPH	170 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	127 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

For better traction, the X5 has larger standard tires than the GLE (265/50R19 vs. 255/50R19).

The X5’s optional 275/35R22 front and 315/30R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLE 580’s optional 40 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X5 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The GLE doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The X5 M50i offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The GLE doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The X5’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50.2% to 49.8%) than the GLE’s (53.5% to 46.5%). This gives the X5 more stable handling and braking.

The X5 xDrive40i handles at .89 G’s, while the GLE 450 pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The X5 xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.4 seconds quicker than the GLE 350 4MATIC (25.8 seconds @ .75 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the X5 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GLE (8.7 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the X5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the X5 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The GLE doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The X5 has .2 inches more front headroom and .7 inches more front shoulder room than the GLE.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the X5’s available third row seats recline. The GLE’s optional third row seats don’t recline.

The X5 has a larger cargo volume than the GLE with its rear seat up (33.9 vs. 33.3 cubic feet).

Both the X5 and the GLE have standard second row automatic folding seats. The X5’s optional third row seats also fold down at the press of a button. The GLE doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

The X5’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The GLE’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

The X5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the GLE’s (6122 vs. 5950 pounds).

Consumer Reports rated the X5’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the GLE’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

Insurance will cost less for the X5 owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the X5 with a number “1” insurance rate while the GLE is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the X5 is less expensive to operate than the GLE because typical repairs cost less on the X5 than the GLE, including $110 less for a water pump, $16 less for front brake pads and $44 less for fuel injection.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X5, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes GLE isn't recommended.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its August 2019 issue and they ranked the BMW X5 xDrive40i two places higher than the Mercedes GLE 450.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X5 third among upper midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The GLE isn’t in the top three.