Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG GLSVS 2023 Tesla Model X

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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The AMG GLS’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Model X doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The AMG GLS’ standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Model X doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The AMG GLS has a standard Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Model X 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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the AMG GLS’ standard Downhill Speed Regulation allows you to creep down safely. The Model X doesn’t offer Downhill Speed Regulation.

The AMG GLS has a standard Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model X only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the AMG GLS’ standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Model X doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The AMG GLS has standard Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model X doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the AMG GLS and the Model X 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Mercedes AMG GLS weighs 629 to 834 pounds more than the Tesla Model X. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

There are almost 3 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the AMG GLS’ 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 Tesla vehicles. With 37 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Tesla.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the AMG GLS’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Model X:

	AMG GLS	Model X
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	15 inches
Rear Rotors	14.6 inches	14.4 inches

The AMG GLS stops much shorter than the Model X:

	AMG GLS	Model X
70 to 0 MPH	153 feet	172 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	113 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the AMG GLS has larger standard tires than the Model X (F:275/50R21 & R:315/45R21 vs. F:265/45R20 & R:275/45R20). The AMG GLS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model X (F:285/45R22 & R:325/40R22 vs. F:265/35R22 & R:285/35R22).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the AMG GLS 63 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the Model X. The AMG GLS’ optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the Model X.

The AMG GLS has a standard space-saver spare (not available w/Burmaster 3D Surround Sound) so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Model X; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The AMG GLS has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Model X’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The AMG GLS offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Tesla doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Model X.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the AMG GLS’ wheelbase is 6.7 inches longer than on the Model X (123.4 inches vs. 116.7 inches).

The AMG GLS 63 handles at .92 G’s, while the Model X pulls only .86 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The AMG GLS 63 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Model X (24.9 seconds @ .78 average G’s vs. 26.7 seconds @ .7 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the AMG GLS’ turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Model X’s (39.4 feet vs. 40.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the AMG GLS has a 1.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Model X (9.8 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the AMG GLS to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The AMG GLS has 3.2 inches more rear legroom, 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.8 inches more third row headroom, 4.8 inches more third row legroom and 9.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Model X.

Cargo Capacity

The AMG GLS’ cargo area provides more volume than the Model X.

	AMG GLS	Model X
Behind Third Seat	17.4 cubic feet	15 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	42.7 cubic feet	33.8 cubic feet

The AMG GLS’ available rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The Model X 6-Passenger doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the AMG GLS’ second and third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Model X doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the AMG GLS’ liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Model X doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

The AMG GLS’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the Model X’s (7700 vs. 5000 pounds).

While the Model X w/22” wheels can only tow 3500, any AMG GLS can tow a minimum of 7700 pounds.

Servicing Ease

An ASSYST PLUS is standard on the AMG GLS to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for oil changes, tire rotation, and brake pad replacement, based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model X.

Ergonomics

The AMG GLS’ entire steering wheel hub sounds the horn, facilitating hitting the horn in an emergency. The Model X has a small, single button on the steering wheel spoke that can be hard to find quickly in an emergency.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Model X, the AMG GLS has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, suspension setting, power steering assist, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The AMG GLS offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Model X doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The AMG GLS’ power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Model X’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the AMG GLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Model X doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the AMG GLS has a standard rear wiper. The Model X doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The AMG GLS’ standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model X doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

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

The AMG GLS’ sun-visors swivel front-to-side to block glare from the side windows. The Model X’s visors are fixed into the windshield header.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the AMG GLS to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Model X doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The AMG GLS has standard front air conditioned seats and offers them optionally in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Model X doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The AMG GLS has a standard center folding armrest for the middle row passengers. A center armrest helps make middle row passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Model X doesn’t offer a middle row seat center armrest.

The AMG GLS offers an optional center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and can provide a barrier between children. The Model X doesn’t offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

The AMG GLS has standard massaging front and optional massaging second row seats. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Model X.

The AMG GLS has a 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 Model X doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.