Compare the2022 Mercedes GLEVS 2023 Cadillac XT6

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLE have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Cadillac XT6 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GLE’s standard Downhill Speed Regulation allows you to creep down safely. The XT6 doesn’t offer Downhill Speed Regulation.

The GLE’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The XT6 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GLE and the XT6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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, available lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mercedes GLE is safer than the Cadillac XT6:

	GLE	XT6
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	84	167
Neck Injury Risk	24%	25%
Neck Compression	17 lbs.	28 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	301/184 lbs.	161/358 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	209	305
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	31%	38%
Neck Stress	125 lbs.	155 lbs.
Neck Compression	31 lbs.	71 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mercedes GLE is safer than the Cadillac XT6:

	GLE	XT6
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	40	98
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.7 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	103	180
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	41 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
HIC	264	292
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	615 lbs.	666 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the GLE its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 112 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XT6 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mercedes 1 place higher in reliability than Cadillac.

Engine

The GLE has more powerful engines than the XT6:

	Horsepower	Torque
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.
XT6 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	235 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport 3.6 DOHC V6	310 HP	271 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the GLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport 3.6 DOHC V6:

	GLE	XT6
Zero to 60 MPH	5.6 sec	6.8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.2 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.4 MPH	93.1 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the GLE gets better mileage than the XT6:

			MPG
GLE
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/25 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/26 hwy
XT6
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the GLE 450’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The XT6 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The GLE has 3.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the XT6 FWD’s standard fuel tank (22.5 vs. 19 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GLE’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XT6:

	GLE 350	GLE 450	XT6
Front Rotors	13 inches	14.8 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.6 inches	12.4 inches

The GLE stops much shorter than the XT6:

	GLE	XT6
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLE has larger standard tires than the XT6 (255/50R19 vs. 235/55R20). The GLE’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XT6 (F:275/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. 265/45R21).

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 XT6’s standard 65 series tires. The GLE 450’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLE has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XT6. The GLE 450’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport.

Suspension and Handling

The GLE 450 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Cadillac doesn’t offer an active suspension on the XT6.

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 XT6 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 XT6 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLE’s wheelbase is 5.2 inches longer than on the XT6 (117.9 inches vs. 112.7 inches).

The GLE 450 handles at .83 G’s, while the XT6 Sport AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the GLE has a 1.25 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the XT6 (7.9 vs. 6.65 inches), allowing the GLE to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLE Airmatic’s minimum ground clearance is 2.55 inches higher than on the XT6 (9.2 vs. 6.65 inches).

Chassis

The GLE is 4.2 inches shorter than the XT6, making the GLE easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The GLE has .7 inches more front headroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the XT6.

Cargo Capacity

The GLE has a much larger cargo volume than the XT6 with its rear seat up (33.3 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the GLE easier. The GLE’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.7 inches, while the XT6’s liftover is 33 inches.

Towing

The GLE’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT6’s (5950 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Cadillac XT6 is only 4000 pounds. The GLE offers up to a 7700 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the GLE is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XT6. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the XT6, the GLE offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

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 XT6 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The GLE’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The XT6’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the GLE the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the XT6 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The GLE has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The XT6 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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 XT6’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The GLE’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the XT6’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The XT6’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The GLE’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the GLE to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XT6 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

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 XT6.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLE has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the XT6 Premium Luxury/Sport offers wireless charging.

The GLE offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XT6 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the GLE owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the GLE with a number “8” insurance rate while the XT6 is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the GLE is less expensive to operate than the XT6 because it costs $200 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the GLE than the XT6, including $77 less for a muffler and $693 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

The Mercedes GLE outsold the Cadillac XT6 by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.