Compare the2024 Lexus RXVS 2023 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon

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 RX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Lexus RX 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The RX’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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the RX has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Mercedes charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Alert on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Both the RX and the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Lexus RX achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The RX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s (6 vs. 5 years).

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 Lexus RX’s reliability 39 points higher than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon and the Lexus RX Hybrid is rated 40 points higher than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in long-term dependability. With 33 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lexus first in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 29th.

The RX 500h F Sport Performance’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 4 more horsepower (366 vs. 362) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (406 vs. 369) than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the RX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon:

The RX 450h+ can travel with zero emissions for 37 miles. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus RX higher (7 out of 10) than the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (6). This means the RX produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon every 15,000 miles.

The RX offers an available 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the RX F Sport’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RX offers optional 21-inch wheels. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The RX 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RX is .9 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

For better maneuverability, the RX 500h F Sport Performance’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s (35.4 feet vs. 39 feet). The RX’s turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s (38.8 feet vs. 39 feet).

For greater off-road capability the RX 350 has a 2.35 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (8.1 vs. 5.75 inches), allowing the RX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The RX 350h’s minimum ground clearance is 2.45 inches higher than on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon (8.2 vs. 5.75 inches).

The Lexus RX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

The RX has 2 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom and 1.3 inches more rear legroom than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the RX’s rear seats recline. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s middle row seats don’t recline.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the RX uses the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 48% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

The RX’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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The RX’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s parking brake has to be released manually.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the RX has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RX Luxury/500h F Sport offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The RX Premium/Luxury/F Sport has standard front air conditioned seats and the RX offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The RX Premium+/Luxury/F Sport’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Advanced Park will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The RX is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the RX owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the RX will cost $4730 to $7245 less than the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon over a five-year period.

The RX will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the RX will retain 58.33% to 60.37% of its original price after five years, while the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon only retains 49.45%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Lexus RX will be $20026 to $33027 less than for the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus RX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the RX first among midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon isn’t in the top three.

The Lexus RX outsold the Mercedes E-Class/CLS by almost seven to one during 2023.