Compare the2024 Subaru AscentVS 2023 Mercedes GLS

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 Ascent are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The GLS doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Ascent has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The GLS doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Ascent (except Base) offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The GLS doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Ascent’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 GLS.

Both the Ascent and the GLS 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Ascent its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GLS has not been tested, yet.

Subaru’s powertrain warranty covers the Ascent 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLS. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the GLS ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 65 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Ascent’s warranty.

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 Ascent’s reliability 14 points higher than the GLS.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 17 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The GLS doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Ascent gets better mileage than the GLS:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Ascent uses regular unleaded gasoline. The GLS requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Ascent 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 GLS doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Ascent stops shorter than the GLS:

For better maneuverability, the Ascent’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the GLS’ (38 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Subaru Ascent may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1050 to 1500 pounds less than the Mercedes GLS.

The Ascent is 8.1 inches shorter than the GLS 450, making the Ascent easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Ascent has standard seating for 8 passengers; the GLS can only carry 7.

The Ascent has 1.8 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room and 6.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the GLS.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Ascent’s middle and third row seats recline. The GLS’ third row seats don’t recline.

The Ascent’s cargo area provides more volume than the GLS.

A Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the Ascent, using the Vehicle Dynamics Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the GLS.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ascent’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Ascent Base). The GLS doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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

Insurance will cost less for the Ascent owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Ascent with a number “5” insurance rate while the GLS is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Ascent is less expensive to operate than the GLS because typical repairs cost much less on the Ascent than the GLS, including $360 less for a water pump, $485 less for a muffler, $137 less for front brake pads, $137 less for a starter, $356 less for fuel injection, $108 less for a fuel pump, $92 less for a timing belt/chain and $954 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Ascent, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes GLS isn't recommended.

The Subaru Ascent outsold the Mercedes GLS by over three to one during 2022.