Compare the2024 Dodge DurangoVS 2024 Mercedes GLE

The Durango has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The GLE doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Durango and the GLE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and front and rear parking sensors.

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 Dodge Durango is safer than the Mercedes GLE:

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

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

There are over 6 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Durango’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 Durango’s reliability 13 points higher than the GLE.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 61 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 23rd, below the industry 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 Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in long-term dependability. With 26 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 Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Dodge 8 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Durango V8 is faster than the GLE 350 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

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

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Durango V8’s fuel efficiency. The GLE doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Dodge Durango uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended with the 5.7 V8 engine for maximum performance). The GLE requires premium, which can cost on average about 31.4 cents more per gallon.

The Durango has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLE (24.6 vs. 22.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Dodge Durango at emission levels ranging from “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) to “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Mercedes GLE is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

For better stopping power the Durango’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLE:

The Durango’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the GLE 350 are solid, not vented.

The Durango stops shorter than the GLE:

For better traction, the Durango has larger standard tires than the GLE (265/60R18 vs. 255/50R19). The Durango R/T Tow N Go’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLE (295/45R20 vs. 275/45R21).

The Durango offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the GLE; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango’s wheelbase is 1.9 inches longer than on the GLE (119.8 inches vs. 117.9 inches).

The Durango’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the GLE’s (53.5% to 46.5%). This gives the Durango more stable handling and braking.

The Durango R/T 4x4 handles at .80 G’s, while the GLE 350 pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Durango R/T 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GLE 350 (27.4 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Durango has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GLE (8.1 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Durango to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Durango’s cargo area provides more volume than the GLE.

The Durango’s cargo area is larger than the GLE’s in almost every dimension:

Maximum trailer towing in the Mercedes GLE is limited to 7700 pounds. The Durango 4x4 offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

The Durango V8 4WD can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Durango can be unhitched and driven around locally. The GLE can’t be towed flat on the ground.

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Durango, using the Electronic Stability 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 GLE.

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

Consumer Reports rated the Durango’s headlight performance “Good” to “Very Good” (depending on model and options), a higher rating than the GLE’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The Durango has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the GLE.

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

Insurance will cost less for the Durango owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Durango will cost $240 to $7345 less than the GLE over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Durango is less expensive to operate than the GLE because it costs $137 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Durango than the GLE, including $574 less for a water pump, $342 less for a muffler, $113 less for front brake pads, $205 less for a starter, $357 less for fuel injection, $39 less for a fuel pump, $40 less for front struts and $516 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Dodge Durango will be $20293 to $28973 less than for the Mercedes GLE.

The Dodge Durango outsold the Mercedes GLE by 20% during 2023.