Compare the2023 Mercedes GLEVS 2023 Volvo XC60

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

Safety

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Both the GLE and the XC60 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, 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, driver alert monitors, 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 Volvo XC60:

	GLE	XC60
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	84	125
Leg Forces (l/r)	301/184 lbs.	489/470 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches
Neck Stress	125 lbs.	179 lbs.
Neck Compression	31 lbs.	55 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 Volvo XC60:

	GLE	XC60
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	40	73
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.7 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	103	185
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	45 G’s
Hip Force	677 lbs.	906 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches

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 135 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The XC60 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

There are over 36 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Volvo dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the GLE’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 67 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Volvo With 61 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volvo.

Engine

The GLE has more powerful engines than the XC60:

	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.
XC60 B5 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	247 HP	258 lbs.-ft.
XC60 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid	295 HP	310 lbs.-ft.
XC60 T8 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid	455 HP	523 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the GLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the XC60 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

	GLE	XC60
Zero to 60 MPH	5.6 sec	6.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.2 sec	15 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.4 MPH	89.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the GLE and the XC60 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All GLEs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC60 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The GLE has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC60 (22.5 vs. 18.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLE, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the XC60.

Brakes and Stopping

The GLE stops much shorter than the XC60:

	GLE	XC60
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLE has larger standard tires than the XC60 (255/50R19 vs. 235/60R18). The GLE’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC60 (F:275/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. 265/35R22).

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 XC60’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLE has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the XC60. The GLE 450’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the XC60.

Suspension and Handling

The GLE has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The XC60 Ultimate suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the GLE uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC60, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The GLE 450 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Volvo doesn’t offer an active suspension on the XC60.

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 XC60 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLE’s wheelbase is 5.1 inches longer than on the XC60 (117.9 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLE is .5 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than on the XC60.

The GLE 450 handles at .83 G’s, while the XC60 Recharge Core pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the GLE Airmatic has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XC60 (9.2 vs. 8.5 inches), allowing the GLE to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The design of the Mercedes GLE amounts to more than styling. The GLE has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is lower than the XC60 (.32) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GLE get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The GLE offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the XC60 can only carry 5.

The GLE has 2.5 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear headroom, 2.9 inches more rear legroom and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC60.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GLE’s middle row seats recline. The XC60’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The GLE has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the XC60 with its rear seat up (33.3 vs. 24.4 cubic feet). The GLE has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the XC60 with its rear seat folded (74.9 vs. 63.3 cubic feet).

The GLE’s cargo area is larger than the XC60’s in every dimension:

	GLE	XC60
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	40”/76.5”	37.8”/68.7”
Min Width	43.7”	39.8”
Height	35.5”	30.6”

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the GLE’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The XC60 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The GLE’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC60’s (5950 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Volvo XC60 is only 3500 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 XC60. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The GLE’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The XC60 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 XC60 has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

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” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the XC60’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLE has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The XC60 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the GLE has standard extendable sun visors. The XC60 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the GLE to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XC60 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 XC60.

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. Wireless charging costs extra on the XC60.

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 XC60 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The GLE’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The XC60 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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 XC60 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 XC60 because typical repairs cost much less on the GLE than the XC60, including $310 less for a fuel pump.