Compare the2023 Mercedes GLEVS 2023 Tesla Model Y

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

Safety

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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 Model Y doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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

The GLE offers an optional Surround View System to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Model Y 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 GLE’s 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 Y doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The GLE’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Model Y doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The GLE 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 Y 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 GLE and the Model Y 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and available lane departure warning systems.

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 Tesla Model Y:

	GLE	Model Y
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	24%	25%
Neck Stress	208 lbs.	210 lbs.
Neck Compression	17 lbs.	68 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	301/184 lbs.	298/427 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	209	211
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Stress	125 lbs.	165 lbs.
Neck Compression	31 lbs.	189 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 Tesla Model Y:

	GLE	Model Y
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	40	42
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	103	358
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	45 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	264	283
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	615 lbs.	682 lbs.

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

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 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 Tesla vehicles. With 37 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Tesla.

Engine

The GLE 580’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 28 more horsepower (483 vs. 455) and 29 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 487) than the Model Y Performance’s optional electric motors.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	GLE 450/580	Model Y
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	14 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	13.2 inches

The GLE stops shorter than the Model Y:

	GLE	Model Y
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	118 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLE’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Model Y (F:275/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. F:255/35R21 & R:275/35R21).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLE 450 offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Model Y’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The GLE has a standard space-saver spare tire 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 Y; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The GLE has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the GLE flat and controlled during cornering. The Model Y’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The GLE 450 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 Y.

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 Model Y’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 Model Y doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLE’s wheelbase is 4.1 inches longer than on the Model Y (117.9 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLE is 1 inch wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Model Y.

For greater off-road capability the GLE has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Model Y (7.9 vs. 6.6 inches), allowing the GLE to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLE Airmatic’s minimum ground clearance is 2.6 inches higher than on the Model Y (9.2 vs. 6.6 inches).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the GLE 450 is quieter than the Model Y Long Range (70 vs. 73 dB).

Passenger Space

The GLE has 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, .4 inches more rear legroom and 4.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model Y.

Cargo Capacity

The GLE has a much larger cargo volume than the Model Y with its rear seat up (33.3 vs. 16.9 cubic feet).

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

Towing

The GLE’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Model Y’s (5950 vs. 3500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Tesla Model Y is only 3500 pounds. The GLE offers up to a 7700 lbs. towing capacity.

Optional Trailer Stability Assist on the GLE uses the Electronic Stability Program sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Model Y doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

An ASSYST PLUS is standard on the GLE 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 Y.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Model Y, 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 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, certain gauge, warning 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 Y doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

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

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GLE offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Model Y doesn’t offer cornering lights. The GLE also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The GLE’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model Y 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 GLE has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Model Y 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 Model Y 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 Model Y doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the GLE keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Model Y doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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 Model Y.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Model Availability

The GLE is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Model Y doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.