Compare the2022 Mercedes GLEVS 2022 Acura MDX

The GLE’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The MDX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GLE’s standard Downhill Speed Regulation allows you to creep down safely. The MDX doesn’t offer Downhill Speed Regulation.

Both the GLE and the MDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

There are over 41 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Acura dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the GLE’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mercedes 25th in initial quality. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 26th.

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

The GLE 350’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 267) than the MDX’s 3.5 SOHC V6. The GLE 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 72 more horsepower (362 vs. 290) and 102 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 267) than the MDX’s 3.5 SOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the GLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Acura MDX:

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

Regenerative brakes improve the GLE 450’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The MDX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The GLE has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the MDX (22.5 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the GLE 450’s brake rotors are larger than those on the MDX:

The GLE 450’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the MDX are solid, not vented.

The GLE stops much shorter than the MDX:

For better traction, the GLE’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the MDX (F:275/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. 255/55R19).

The GLE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the MDX’s standard 55 series tires. The GLE 450’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the MDX’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLE 450 offers optional 22-inch wheels. The MDX’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The GLE 450 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Acura doesn’t offer an active suspension on the MDX.

The GLE offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The MDX’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GLE has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GLE’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The MDX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The GLE’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The MDX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLE’s wheelbase is 4.1 inches longer than on the MDX (117.9 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The GLE’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53.5% to 46.5%) than the MDX’s (58% to 42%). This gives the GLE more stable handling and braking.

The GLE 450 handles at .83 G’s, while the MDX SH-AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the GLE’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the MDX’s (39.4 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the GLE has a greater minimum ground clearance than the MDX (7.9 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the GLE to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLE Airmatic’s minimum ground clearance is 1.9 inches higher than on the MDX (9.2 vs. 7.3 inches).

The GLE is 4.1 inches shorter than the MDX, making the GLE easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The GLE has 2 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more rear headroom and 2.4 inches more rear legroom than the MDX.

The GLE has a much larger cargo volume than the MDX with its rear seat up (33.3 vs. 18.1 cubic feet).

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the GLE’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The MDX doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The GLE’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the MDX’s (5950 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Acura MDX SH-AWD is only 5000 pounds. The GLE offers up to a 7700 lbs. towing capacity.

The engine in the GLE is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the MDX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The GLE’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The MDX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the GLE and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the GLE is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The MDX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The GLE’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The MDX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GLE offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The MDX doesn’t offer cornering lights. The GLE also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The GLE’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The MDX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The GLE offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the MDX.

The GLE’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The MDX doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Mercedes GLE outsold the Acura MDX by 496 units during the 2021 model year.