Compare the2024 Mercedes GLEVS 2024 Mazda CX-90

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

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 CX-90 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 CX-90 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GLE has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert with Active Brake Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S Premium offers Rear Cross Traffic Braking.

Both the GLE and the CX-90 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available lane departure warning systems.

Warranty

The GLE comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The CX-90’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. With 2 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Mazda.

Engine

The GLE has more powerful engines than the CX-90:

	Horsepower	Torque
GLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	362 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
GLE 450e 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	381 HP	479 lbs.-ft.
GLE 580 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	510 HP	538 lbs.-ft.
CX-90 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	280 HP	332 lbs.-ft.
CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	323 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
CX-90 Turbo S 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	340 HP	369 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the GLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Mazda CX-90:

	GLE	CX-90 PHEV	CX-90 Turbo S
Zero to 60 MPH	5.3 sec	5.9 sec	6.4 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	13.9 sec	15.4 sec	15.8 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	6 sec	6.3 sec	6.7 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.3 sec	4.4 sec	4.4 sec
Quarter Mile	13.9 sec	14.5 sec	14.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	100 MPH	97 MPH	97 MPH
Top Speed	129 MPH	118 MPH	130 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The GLE 450e can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 48 miles, up to 10% further than the CX-90 PHEV‘s -mile range on a full charge and a full tank of fuel. The CX-90 PHEV has to start its internal combustion engine after only 26 miles.

The GLE’s standard fuel tank has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-90 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank (22.5 vs. 19.6 gallons).

Transmission

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 CX-90.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GLE 450e’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-90:

	GLE 350	GLE 450e	CX-90	CX-90 Turbo S/PHEV
Front Rotors	13 inches	15.7 inches	12.9 inches	13.7 inches

The GLE stops shorter than the CX-90:

	GLE	CX-90
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	120 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLE 580’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-90 (F:285/40R22 & R:325/35R22 vs. 275/45R21).

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 CX-90’s standard 55 series tires. The GLE 580’s optional 285/40R22 front and 325/35R22 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLE 580 offers optional 22-inch wheels. The CX-90’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 CX-90 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The GLE 450 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Mazda doesn’t offer an active suspension on the CX-90.

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 CX-90’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 CX-90 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

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 CX-90 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The GLE 450 handles at .84 G’s, while the CX-90 Premium Plus pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLE 450 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-90 Premium Plus (27 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the GLE Airmatic has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-90 PHEV Premium/Turbo S (9.2 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the GLE to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The GLE is 6.5 inches shorter than the CX-90, making the GLE easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the GLE 450 is quieter than the CX-90 Premium Plus:

	GLE	CX-90
At idle	38 dB	42 dB
Full-Throttle	70 dB	82 dB
70 MPH Cruising	63 dB	68 dB

Passenger Space

The GLE has .8 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear legroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-90.

Cargo Capacity

The GLE has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-90 with its rear seat up (33.3 vs. 14.9 cubic feet). The GLE has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-90 with its rear seat folded (74.9 vs. 74.2 cubic feet).

A control in the cargo area automatically lowers the GLE’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The CX-90 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the GLE. The CX-90 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The GLE’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CX-90’s (7700 vs. 3500 pounds).

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the CX-90 Premium/Turbo S, 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.

The GLE’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CX-90 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The GLE’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 CX-90 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The power windows standard on both the GLE and the CX-90 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the GLE is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-90 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

If the windows are left open on the GLE the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the CX-90 can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The GLE’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Advanced Keyless Entry and Start standard on the CX-90 doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The GLE’s 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 CX-90’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the GLE to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The CX-90 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 CX-90 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

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 CX-90.

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 CX-90.

The GLE’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The CX-90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The Mercedes GLE outsold the Mazda CX-90 by 87% during 2023.