Compare the2025 Mercedes GLEVS 2025 Volvo XC90

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 seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The XC90 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

Both the GLE and the XC90 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, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mercedes GLE is safer than the Volvo XC90:

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 Mercedes GLE is safer than the Volvo XC90:

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mercedes GLE is safer than the XC90:

There are over 36 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Volvo dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the GLE’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Volvo vehicles. With 36 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volvo.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Volvo With 27 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Volvo.

The GLE has more powerful engines than the XC90:

As tested in Consumer Reports the GLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the XC90 B6 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the GLE 450e running on electricity gets better mileage than the XC90 T8 Extended Range running on electricity (57 city/63 hwy vs. 59 city/57 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the GLE running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the XC90 running its gasoline engine:

The GLE 450e can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 50 miles. The XC90 T8 Extended Range has to start its internal combustion engine after only 32 miles.

Both the GLE and the XC90 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All GLEs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The XC90 T8 doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The GLE’s standard fuel tank has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the XC90 (22.5 vs. 18.8 gallons).

The GLE has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port on the 350e which lock and unlock with the power locks. The XC90 doesn’t offer a locking fuel filler door. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

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 XC90.

For better stopping power the GLE’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XC90:

The GLE stops much shorter than the XC90:

For better traction, the GLE 580’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the XC90 (F:285/40R22 & R:325/35R22 vs. 275/45R20).

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 XC90 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The GLE has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The XC90 Ultimate suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The front and rear suspension of the GLE uses coil springs for better ride, handling and control than the XC90, which uses transverse leafs springs in the rear. Coil springs compress more progressively and offer more suspension travel for a smoother ride with less bottoming out.

The GLE 450/580 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Volvo doesn’t offer an active suspension on the XC90.

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 XC90 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The GLE 450 handles at .84 G’s, while the XC90 B6 Core pulls only .77 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 XC90 B6 Ultra (27 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

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 XC90 (.33) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GLE get better fuel mileage.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the GLE 450 is quieter than the XC90 B6 Core:

The GLE has 1.6 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 3.9 inches more rear legroom and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the XC90.

The GLE has a much larger cargo volume than the XC90 with its rear seat up (33.3 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

The GLE’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the XC90’s (7700 vs. 5000 pounds).

The engine in the GLE is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the XC90. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

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 XC90 has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The GLE’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The XC90’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLE to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The XC90 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its optional heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The GLE’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the XC90’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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 XC90 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the GLE has standard extendable sun visors. The XC90 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The GLE’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The XC90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The GLE is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The XC90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the GLE owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the GLE with a number “8” insurance rate while the XC90 is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the GLE is less expensive to operate than the XC90 because typical repairs cost less on the GLE than the XC90, including $116 less for a water pump, $153 less for a fuel pump and $171 less for a timing belt/chain.

The Mercedes GLE outsold the Volvo XC90 by 45% during 2023.