Compare the2024 Ford EdgeVS 2024 Mercedes GLE

The Ford Edge 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 GLE doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Edge’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 GLE.

Both the Edge and the GLE 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available front and rear parking sensors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Edge is safer than the Mercedes GLE:

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

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 Ford Edge is safer than the Mercedes GLE:

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

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Edge 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 almost 8 times as many Ford dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Edge’s warranty.

The Edge has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The GLE doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

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 Edge’s reliability 32 points higher than the GLE.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 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 Ford vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 7 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

As tested in Motor Trend the Edge ST 2.7 turbo V6 is faster than the GLE 350 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Edge uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The GLE requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Edge has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLE 450e’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Edge has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The GLE doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Ford Edge as a “Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle” (PZEV). The Mercedes GLE is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

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

The Edge stops much shorter than the GLE:

The Edge ST handles at .88 G’s, while the GLE 350 pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Edge ST executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.2 seconds quicker than the GLE 350 (26 seconds @ .7 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Edge has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GLE (8 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Edge to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Ford Edge may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 1250 pounds less than the Mercedes GLE.

The Edge is 5.5 inches shorter than the GLE, making the Edge easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Edge uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The GLE doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Edge ST uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The GLE doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Edge Titanium is quieter than the GLE 450 (37 vs. 38 dB).

The Edge has 2.3 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, 3.4 inches more rear headroom and 2.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLE.

The front step up height for the Edge is 2.5 inches lower than the GLE (17.5” vs. 20”). The Edge’s rear step up height is 2 inches lower than the GLE’s (18” vs. 20”).

The Edge has a much larger cargo volume than the GLE with its rear seat up (39.2 vs. 33.3 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Edge easier. The Edge’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.6 inches, while the GLE’s liftover is 30.7 inches.

The Edge ST 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 Edge can be unhitched and driven around locally. The GLE can’t be towed flat on the ground.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Edge 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 Edge’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the GLE’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

Insurance will cost less for the Edge owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Edge will cost $2165 to $7960 less than the GLE over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Edge is less expensive to operate than the GLE because it costs $200 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Edge than the GLE, including $582 less for a water pump, $42 less for a muffler, $118 less for front brake pads, $525 less for a starter, $357 less for fuel injection, $177 less for a fuel pump, $213 less for front struts and $311 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Edge will be $18886 to $42027 less than for the Mercedes GLE.

The Ford Edge has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Ford Edge outsold the Mercedes GLE by 84% during 2023.