Compare the2023 Infiniti QX50VS 2023 Mercedes GLE

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the QX50 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The GLE doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Infiniti QX50 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The QX50 has standard Rear Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The GLE doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The QX50’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 QX50 and the GLE 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, available all wheel drive and 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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Infiniti QX50 is safer than the Mercedes GLE:

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

The QX50 comes with a full 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The GLE’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX50 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLE. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the GLE ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The QX50’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the GLE’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the QX50 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Infiniti will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLE.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the QX50’s reliability 27 points higher than the GLE.

The QX50’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 13 more horsepower (268 vs. 255) and 7 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 273) than the GLE 350’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Infiniti QX50 is faster than the GLE 350 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the QX50 gets better mileage than the GLE:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Infiniti QX50 higher (6 out of 10) than the Mercedes GLE (5 to 6). This means the QX50 produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GLE every 15,000 miles.

The QX50 has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The GLE doesn’t offer a CVT.

The QX50’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.

The QX50 stops shorter than the GLE:

The QX50 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The GLE doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the QX50 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.

The QX50 AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the GLE 350 4MATIC pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The QX50 AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the GLE 350 4MATIC (26.7 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the QX50’s turning circle is 3 feet tighter than the GLE’s (36.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the QX50 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GLE (8.6 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the QX50 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Infiniti QX50 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 1100 pounds less than the Mercedes GLE.

The QX50 is 9.6 inches shorter than the GLE, making the QX50 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the QX50 has an electronically controlled liquid-filled front engine mount. A computer-controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The GLE uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The QX50 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The GLE doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The front step up height for the QX50 is 2.8 inches lower than the GLE (17.2” vs. 20”). The QX50’s rear step up height is 2.3 inches lower than the GLE’s (17.7” vs. 20”).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the QX50 easier. The QX50’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 26.6 inches, while the GLE’s liftover is 30.7 inches.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 13% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the QX50 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLE only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the QX50’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the GLE’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

Insurance will cost less for the QX50 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the QX50 will cost $2320 less than the GLE over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the QX50 is less expensive to operate than the GLE because it costs $464 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the QX50 than the GLE, including $114 less for a water pump, $186 less for a muffler, $170 less for front brake pads, $124 less for a starter, $275 less for fuel injection, $61 less for a fuel pump and $169 less for front struts.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Infiniti QX50 will be $18045 to $27847 less than for the Mercedes GLE.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Infiniti QX50, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes GLE isn't recommended.