Compare the2024 Mercedes GLEVS 2023 Maserati Grecale

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLE have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Maserati Grecale doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 Grecale doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The GLE offers optional Post-Collision Brake, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Grecale 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.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLE has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seemlesly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Grecale doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

The GLE has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Grecale’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GLE has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Maserati charges extra for Rear Cross Path on the Grecale and the Grecale’s Rear Cross Path does not include automatic braking.

Both the GLE and the Grecale have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, rearview cameras and available lane departure warning systems.

The Mercedes GLE weighs 447 to 1448 pounds more than the Maserati Grecale. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 GLE its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 58 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Grecale has not been tested, yet.

The GLE’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Grecale’s (5/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

There are over 3 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Maserati dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the GLE’s warranty.

The GLE has more powerful engines than the Grecale:

As tested in Consumer Reports the GLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Grecale GT 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the GLE running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Grecale:

The GLE 450e can travel with zero emissions for 38 miles. The Grecale can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The GLE has 5.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Grecale (22.5 vs. 16.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLE, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Grecale.

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

For better traction, the GLE has larger standard tires than the Grecale (255/50R19 vs. 235/55R19). The GLE’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Grecale (F:275/45R21 & R:315/40R21 vs. F:255/45R20 & R:295/40R20).

The GLE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grecale GT’s standard 55 series tires.

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

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the GLE can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Grecale doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

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 Grecale; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The GLE 450 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Maserati doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Grecale.

The GLE’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Grecale doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLE’s wheelbase is 3.7 inches longer than on the Grecale (117.9 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLE is 1.8 inches wider in the front than on the Grecale.

For better maneuverability, the GLE’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Grecale’s (39.4 feet vs. 40.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the GLE Airmatic has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Grecale (9.2 vs. 8 inches), allowing the GLE to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The design of the Mercedes GLE amounts to more than styling. The GLE has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Grecale (.326) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GLE get better fuel mileage.

The GLE offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Grecale can only carry 5.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GLE’s middle row seats recline. The Grecale’s rear seats don’t recline.

The GLE has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Grecale (33.3 vs. 18.9 cubic feet).

The GLE’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grecale’s (7700 vs. 5071 pounds).

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Grecale, the GLE has standard driver and 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.

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 Grecale doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the GLE to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Grecale doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

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 Grecale.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLE has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Grecale.

The GLE’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Grecale doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Mercedes GLE outsold the Maserati Grecale by over 120 to one during 2022.