Compare the2025 Mercedes GLE CoupeVS 2025 Acura RDX

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLE Coupe 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 Acura RDX doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The GLE Coupe’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The RDX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the GLE Coupe are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The RDX doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The GLE Coupe 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 RDX 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The GLE Coupe has a standard Maneuvering Assistant that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The RDX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

Both the GLE Coupe and RDX have rear cross-traffic warning, but the GLE Coupe has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The RDX’s Rear Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

The GLE Coupe’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The RDX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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

The Mercedes GLE Coupe weighs 1057 to 1101 pounds more than the Acura RDX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

Warranty

There are over 41 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Acura dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the GLE Coupe’s warranty.

Engine

The GLE Coupe’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 103 more horsepower (375 vs. 272) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 280) than the RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the GLE Coupe’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The RDX doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The GLE Coupe has 5.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the RDX (22.5 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	GLE Coupe	RDX
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	12.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	12.2 inches

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

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLE Coupe has larger standard tires than the RDX (275/50R20 vs. 235/55R19). The GLE Coupe’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RDX (F:285/40R22 & R:325/35R22 vs. 255/45R20).

The GLE Coupe’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 RDX’s standard 55 series tires. The GLE Coupe’s optional 285/40R22 front and 325/35R22 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the RDX A-Spec’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLE Coupe has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the RDX. The GLE Coupe’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the RDX A-Spec.

Suspension and Handling

The GLE Coupe has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GLE Coupe’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 RDX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The GLE Coupe’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 RDX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLE Coupe’s wheelbase is 7.3 inches longer than on the RDX (115.6 inches vs. 108.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLE Coupe is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 3.3 inches wider in the rear than on the RDX.

Passenger Space

The GLE Coupe has .9 inches more front headroom, 5.8 inches more front hip room, 10.1 inches more rear hip room and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the RDX.

Cargo Capacity

The GLE Coupe has a larger cargo volume than the RDX with its rear seat up (31.6 vs. 31.1 cubic feet).

Towing

The GLE Coupe’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RDX’s (7700 vs. 1500 pounds).

Optional Trailer Stability Assist on the GLE Coupe uses the Electronic Stability Program sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The RDX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

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

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the RDX, the GLE Coupe has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLE Coupe’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 RDX does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The GLE Coupe’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Entry standard on the RDX 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 Coupe’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The RDX’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLE Coupe to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The RDX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GLE Coupe offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The RDX doesn’t offer cornering lights. The GLE Coupe also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLE Coupe has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The RDX doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

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

The GLE Coupe’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The RDX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Mercedes GLE Coupe has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the RDX Advance.

The GLE Coupe offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RDX.

The GLE Coupe offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The RDX doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

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

Recommendations

The Mercedes GLE Coupe outsold the Acura RDX by 47% during 2023.

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