Compare the2025 Volvo XC60VS 2025 Mercedes GLE Coupe

Both the XC60 and GLE Coupe have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The XC60 Plus/Ultra/Polestar has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The GLE Coupe’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Volvo XC60 offers optional built in child booster seats. They’re more crash worthy than an added child seat because of their direct attachment to the seat. Mercedes doesn’t offer the convenience and security of a built-in child booster seat in the GLE Coupe. Their owners must carry a heavy booster seat in and out of the vehicle; XC60 owners can just fold their built-in child seat up or down.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the XC60 deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The XC60’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The GLE Coupe’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The XC60 has a standard Whiplash Protection System (WHIPS), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WHIPS allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. At the same time the pretensioning seatbelts fire, removing slack from the belts. The GLE Coupe doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The XC60’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 Coupe.

Both the XC60 and the GLE Coupe 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 around view monitors.

The XC60’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLE Coupe’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Volvo pays for scheduled maintenance on the XC60 for 3 years and 30,000 miles. Volvo will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLE Coupe.

The XC60 T8’s standard 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid produces 80 more horsepower (455 vs. 375) and 154 lbs.-ft. more torque (523 vs. 369) than the GLE Coupe’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the XC60 T8 2.0 turbo/supercharged 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Mercedes GLE Coupe:

On the EPA test cycle the XC60 T8 Extended Range running on electricity gets better mileage than the GLE 450 Coupe 4MATIC (66 city/60 hwy MPGe vs. 19 city/25 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the XC60 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the GLE Coupe:

The XC60 T8 Extended Range can travel with zero emissions for 35 miles. The GLE Coupe can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The XC60 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 Coupe doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the GLE Coupe:

The XC60’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLE Coupe’s optional 40 series front tires.

For better maneuverability, the XC60’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the GLE Coupe’s (37.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Volvo XC60 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 950 pounds less than the Mercedes GLE Coupe.

The XC60 is 9.1 inches shorter than the GLE Coupe, making the XC60 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

A Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) is standard on the XC60, using the Dynamic Stability and Traction 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 Coupe.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the XC60 has a standard rear wiper. The GLE Coupe doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The XC60 offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The GLE Coupe doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Volvo XC60, based on reliability, safety and performance.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the XC60 as the 2018 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The GLE Coupe has never been chosen.