Compare the2025 Lexus NXVS 2025 Mercedes GLB

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 NX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The GLB doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Lexus NX achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Mercedes GLB has not been tested.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The NX has standard Intuitive Parking Assist with Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The GLB doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The NX’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 GLB.

Both the NX and the GLB have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 around view monitors.

The Lexus NX has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The GLB has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the NX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLB. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the GLB ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The NX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the GLB’s (6 vs. 5 years).

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 Lexus NX Plug-In Hybrid’s reliability 28 points higher than the GLB and the Lexus NX is rated 47 points higher than the GLB.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 83 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 21st.

The NX 350h AWD’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 19 more horsepower (240 vs. 221) than the GLB’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The NX 350 AWD’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 54 more horsepower (275 vs. 221) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (317 vs. 258) than the GLB’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The NX 450h+ AWD’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 83 more horsepower (304 vs. 221) than the GLB’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the NX 450h+ AWD 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Mercedes GLB:

On the EPA test cycle the NX running on electricity gets better mileage than the GLB:

On the EPA test cycle the NX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the GLB:

The NX 450h can travel with zero emissions for 37 miles. The GLB can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The NX offers an available continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The GLB doesn’t offer a CVT.

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

The NX stops shorter than the GLB:

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the NX can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. Run-flat tires aren’t available on some tire packages on the GLB.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the NX is .7 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the GLB.

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

The NX has a much larger cargo volume than the GLB with its rear seat up (22.7 vs. 12.4 cubic feet).

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the NX’s optional rear seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The GLB doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The NX offers up to a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The GLB has no towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the NX uses the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The GLB doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 39% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 17th.

The NX’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 GLB does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The NX offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The GLB doesn’t offer headlight washers.

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

Both the NX and the GLB have standard heated front seats. The NX 350/350h also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the GLB.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the NX keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The GLB doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The NX 350/350h/450h+’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The GLB’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus NX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Lexus NX outsold the Mercedes GLB by over four to one during 2024.