Compare the2023 BMW X5 xDrive45eVS 2022 Mercedes GLE

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The BMW X5 xDrive45e 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 xDrive45e has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The GLE doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The X5 xDrive45e 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 xDrive45e 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the X5 xDrive45e. But it costs extra on the GLE.

The X5 xDrive45e’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 xDrive45e 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 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, results indicate that the BMW X5 xDrive45e is safer than the Mercedes GLE:

	X5 xDrive45e	GLE
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	130 lbs.	151 lbs.
Hip Force	279 lbs.	287 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	48	103
Spine Acceleration	30 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	584 lbs.	677 lbs.

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

Warranty

The X5 xDrive45e’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLE’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 xDrive45e 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.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in initial quality. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

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.

Engine

The X5 xDrive45e’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 134 more horsepower (389 vs. 255) and 170 lbs.-ft. more torque (443 vs. 273) than the GLE 350’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X5 xDrive45e’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 27 more horsepower (389 vs. 362) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (443 vs. 369) than the GLE 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the X5 xDrive45e running on electricity gets better mileage than the GLE:

			MPGe
X5 xDrive45e
	AWD	Electric Motor	47 city/54 hwy
GLE
			MPG
	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
		4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	16 city/21 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the X5 xDrive45e running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the GLE 580 4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid (19 city/22 hwy vs. 16 city/21 hwy).

The X5 xDrive45e can travel with zero emissions for 31 miles. The GLE can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW X5 xDrive45e higher (7 out of 10) than the Mercedes GLE (5 to 6). This means the X5 xDrive45e produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GLE every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The X5 xDrive45e’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.

Brakes and Stopping

The X5 xDrive45e’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.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the X5 xDrive45e has larger standard tires than the GLE (265/50R19 vs. 255/50R19).

The X5 xDrive45e’s optional 315/35R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLE 450’s optional 40 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the X5 xDrive45e 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.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the X5 xDrive45e uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the GLE, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

For greater off-road capability the X5 xDrive45e has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GLE (8.3 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the X5 xDrive45e to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the X5 xDrive45e 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.

Passenger Space

The X5 xDrive45e has .3 inches more front headroom and .7 inches more front shoulder room than the GLE.

Cargo Capacity

Both the X5 xDrive45e and the GLE have standard second row automatic folding seats. The X5 xDrive45e’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 xDrive45e’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.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 17% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

Ergonomics

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the X5 xDrive45e to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The GLE doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Recommendations

The BMW X5 outsold the Mercedes GLE by 5% during 2020.