Compare the2023 Mercedes GLEVS 2022 Toyota Highlander

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

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 Toyota Highlander doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

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 Highlander doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The GLE has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Highlander LE/XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GLE has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Highlander LE/XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum has a rear cross-path warning system.

Both the GLE and the Highlander 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, rearview cameras, 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 Toyota Highlander:

	GLE	Highlander
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	84	292
Neck Injury Risk	24%	38.2%
Neck Stress	208 lbs.	347 lbs.
Neck Compression	17 lbs.	55 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	301/184 lbs.	321/243 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	209	328
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	125 lbs.	179 lbs.
Neck Compression	31 lbs.	90 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	401/438 lbs.	545/323 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 Toyota Highlander:

	GLE	Highlander
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	40	55
Hip Force	287 lbs.	300 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	103	114
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	15 inches
HIC	264	366
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	615 lbs.	664 lbs.

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

Warranty

The GLE comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Highlander’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Engine

The GLE 350’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 263) than the Highlander’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The GLE 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 67 more horsepower (362 vs. 295) and 106 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 263) than the Highlander’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The GLE 580’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 188 more horsepower (483 vs. 295) and 253 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 263) than the Highlander’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

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

	GLE	Highlander
Zero to 60 MPH	5.6 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	14.2 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.4 MPH	90.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the GLE 450/580’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Highlander doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The GLE has 4.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Highlander (22.5 vs. 17.9 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 Highlander.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GLE 450/580’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Highlander:

	GLE 450/580	Highlander
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	13.3 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	13.3 inches

The GLE stops much shorter than the Highlander:

	GLE	Highlander
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLE has larger standard tires than the Highlander (255/50R19 vs. 235/65R18). The GLE’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Highlander (F:275/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. 235/65R18).

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 Highlander L/LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The GLE 450’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLE has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Highlander L/LE/XLE. The GLE 450’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum.

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. Toyota doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Highlander.

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 Highlander’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 Highlander doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The GLE has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Highlander doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

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 Highlander doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLE’s wheelbase is 5.7 inches longer than on the Highlander (117.9 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

The GLE’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53.5% to 46.5%) than the Highlander’s (55% to 45%). This gives the GLE more stable handling and braking.

The GLE 450 handles at .83 G’s, while the Highlander Platinum AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The GLE 450 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Highlander Platinum AWD (27 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the GLE Airmatic has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Highlander (9.2 vs. 8 inches), allowing the GLE to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The GLE has .3 inches more front shoulder room and .2 inches more rear headroom than the Highlander.

Cargo Capacity

The GLE has a much larger cargo volume than the Highlander with its rear seat up (33.3 vs. 16 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 Highlander doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The GLE’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Highlander’s (5950 vs. 5000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Highlander is only 5000 pounds. The GLE offers up to a 7700 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The GLE uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Highlander uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the GLE is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Highlander. 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 seat and mirrors in the Highlander Limited/Platinum, 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 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 Highlander 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 Highlander does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

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 Highlander doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

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 Highlander offers 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 Highlander.

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 Highlander XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum offers wireless charging.

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

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the GLE is less expensive to operate than the Highlander because typical repairs cost much less on the GLE than the Highlander, including $9 less for a fuel pump and $1415 less for a timing belt/chain.