Compare the2022 BMW iXVS 2022 Mercedes GLE

Both the iX and GLE have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The iX has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The GLE’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The BMW iX 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 iX 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 iX has standard 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, Full-Time Four-Wheel Drive is standard on the iX. But it costs extra on the GLE.

The iX’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 iX 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 and available around view monitors.

The BMW iX weighs 646 to 1161 pounds more than the Mercedes GLE. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the iX 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.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 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 20th in initial quality. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 25th.

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 iX xDrive50’s standard electric motors produce 261 more horsepower (516 vs. 255) and 291 lbs.-ft. more torque (564 vs. 273) than the GLE 350’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The iX xDrive50’s electric motors produce 154 more horsepower (516 vs. 362) and 195 lbs.-ft. more torque (564 vs. 369) than the GLE 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid. The iX M60’s standard electric motors produce 248 more horsepower (610 vs. 362) and 442 lbs.-ft. more torque (811 vs. 369) than the GLE 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

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

The iX’s EPA estimated pure electric driving range is 305 to 324 miles on a full charge (depending on wheels). The GLE has to run its internal combustion engine to move.

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

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW iX higher (10 out of 10) than the Mercedes GLE (5 to 6). This means the iX produces up to 19.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GLE every 15,000 miles.

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

The iX’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.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the iX has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the GLE.

For greater off-road capability the iX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GLE (8.8 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the iX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The design of the BMW iX amounts to more than styling. The iX has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .25 Cd. That is significantly lower than the GLE (.29) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the iX get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the iX 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 iX has 1 inch more front headroom and 2.2 inches more front shoulder room than the GLE.

The front step up height for the iX is 2.6 inches lower than the GLE (17.4” vs. 20”). The iX’s rear step up height is 2.7 inches lower than the GLE’s (17.3” vs. 20”).

The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLE with its rear seat up (35.5 vs. 33.3 cubic feet). The iX has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLE with its rear seat folded (77.9 vs. 74.9 cubic feet).