Comparison: Mercedes GLE vs BMW X5

The luxury SUV segment in the ballpark of Rs 1 crore sees specific buyers who know very well what they want and do not compromise on their desired standards. This is what makes the competition tough and dominant brands like Mercedes and BMW give their best to get an edge over each other. In India as well as in foreign markets, the Mercedes GLE and BMW X5 have long been in a hot contest and with their recent facelifts the rivalry has become even more interesting. If you have narrowed your options down to Mercedes GLE and X5, join us as we compare the two on decisive grounds and find out which one you should put your hard-earned money on.

Mercedes GLE vs BMW X5: Dimensions

There is no doubt, both these luxury SUVs are huge. To give you a perspective, these 5-seater SUVs are more spacious than mass-market 7-seater SUVs like the Mahindra XUV700 and Tata Safari, which are widely popular for their spaciousness. Circling back to this comparison, while there are some dimension differences, they are not big enough to make a big impact on the overall space on offer. Still, on paper, the X5 is 61 mm wider than the GLE and this can translate into a bit more shoulder room for the rear passengers, and its cavernous 650-litre boot is slightly more attractive than the 630-litre boot of the GLE. Meanwhile, the GLE is 52 mm taller than the X5, which can translate into a bit more headroom, while its 20 mm longer wheelbase should not make much of a difference.

As we know, cars are a lot about style-statement and this is even more prevalent when it comes to luxury cars. Both GLE and X5 are very much in line with the respective brands’ design languages. With the nice blend of clean and curved panels, the GLE is more on the sophisticated side and looks relatively calm yet elegant, while the X5 looks sportier and has a muscular air about it with the huge kidney grille, sharper front bumper, and shaper silhouette.

To sum it up, both Mercedes GLE and BMW  X5 can comfortably accommodate 5 occupants, and space should be the least of concerns when considering either.

Mercedes GLE vs BMW X5: Engine & Transmission

These big burly luxurious machines are driven by powerful engines that, at the same time, do their job with minimum NVH levels to deliver a refined drive experience. Moreover, both GLE and X5 offer diesel engines while diesel engines are on the verge of extinction all around the globe, so if you are fond of diesel-powered luxury cars, this is the time to shake a leg.

Both GLE and X5 are equipped with mild-hybrid 48V integrated starter-generator (ISG) as standard. This adds 20 PS and 200 Nm to GLE’s peak output, and 12 PS and 200 Nm X5’s peak output. Moreover, both these SUVs come with paddle shifters and all-wheel-drive as standard.

As the table suggests, the petrol engines of both these SUVs are similarly powerful, while the X5 does have some extra bit of torque. Meanwhile, the GLE’s 3-litre turbo diesel engine is more powerful than the 3-litre turbo diesel engine of the X5. The GLE’s 2-litre turbo diesel engine sure seems an advantage of being an extra option for buyers.

While we have already seen the power and torque figures, things are not quite the same in the real world. While the Mercedes GLE packs a lot of power, it gets delivered linearly, and the drive feels more relaxed and luxurious rather than sporty. Focused more towards comfort, the air suspension adjusts well with drive modes and the steering which despite not being as engaging as that of the BMW X5, is light and facilitates a lot of ease while turning this huge heavy SUV.

As expected of a BMW, the X5 is sportier to drive. Its immaculately engaging handling balances the SUV relatively better around the corners and the air suspensions do not let jerks filter through to the cabin. In the comfort mode, the SUV delivers cloud-like floating drives that somewhat emulate the experience of its distant relative, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

To conclude, the Mercedes GLE is angled more towards luxurious drives, while the BMW X5 can give you the best of both worlds – a sporty drive as well as a plush ride experience.

Mercedes GLE vs BMW X5: Features & Comfort

Cabins are where you enjoy all that these luxury SUVs have to offer you, and surroundings which in this case are the interiors of these SUVs, affect our experience a great deal. Doubtlessly, both GLE and X5 pack top-tier luxury interiors but have a large distinction between them in terms of overall feel. 

With a suave layout of interiors, the GLE feels rich and sophisticated. The wood inlay on the bottom of the dashboard as well as on the centre console and door panels, the metallic surrounds of the AC vents, and the generous use of top-shelf materials make the cabin feel plush. What goes under the radar is a calm vibe that comes from the curved design of interiors – whether it is the AC vents or the dashboard’s outline, nothing is sharp-edged.

If you get to sit GLE and X5 back-to-back, you will find a lot of minimalism and sharpness in the X5’s cabin. The rectangular display that incorporates the touchscreen infotainment and the digital instrument cluster, is propped nicely on the dashboard and is curved from side to side. With this curved design, the screen is focused on the driver’s position and does not let any reflection hamper the view. Like the GLE, there is a wood finish on the dashboard and sharp-edged AC vents and the corners are merged with a chromed section like that of the BMW 7-series and BMW i7. Overall, the interiors of the X5 invoke a sportier feel while maintaining plushness with soft-touch materials all around.

On the feature front, the GLE is slightly ahead of the BMW X5. For instance, while both GLE and X5 feature powered front seats with memory function, the GLE features powered rear seats as well, adding to the comfort of the rear passengers. Moreover, unlike the X5 which features manual rear sunshades, the GLE features powered rear sunshades. Lastly, yet the most attractive feature of the GLE is the ‘Transparent Bonnet.’ With this functionality, the infotainment displays the live video feed of the ground under the bonnet on which the car is being driven and a view of the exact tyre position. This comes in extremely handy while crossing bumpy rough patches.

Neither Mercedes GLE nor BMW X5 will disappoint you in terms of comfort, but being more feature-rich, the Mercedes GLE offers more convenience, especially to the rear passengers. 

Mercedes GLE vs BMW X5: Safety Features

Both Mercedes and BMW are famous for making rock-solid cars, therefore, as far as the body is concerned, both these SUVs are solidly built. Moreover, while both cars come with some ADAS features, these are not as expansive as we expect from a full-fledged ADAS safety suite. The GLE comes with auto high beam assist, auto emergency braking, and blind spot monitor, but misses the adaptive cruise control. The X5 features lane-keep assist, auto emergency braking and driver drowsiness detection, drive recording, and adaptive cruise control.

An important aspect to note here is that the Mahindra XUV700 which priced almost one-fourth of the prices of these luxury SUVs, is equipped with comparatively more ADAS features. The XUV700 features Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Autonomous Emergency Brakes, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, smart pilot assist, traffic sign recognition and driver drowsiness detection.

While the robustness of both Mercedes GLE and BMW X5 is reassuring enough, the availability of more ADAS features, especially adaptive cruise control make the BMW X5 a safer car.

Mercedes GLE vs BMW X5: Price comparison

Price-wise, both these SUVs do not differ as much, making the choice simpler. The X5 is available in four variants: xDrive40i xLine, xDrive30d xLine, xDrive40i M Sport, xDrive30d M Sport, and the GLE is available in three variants: 300d 4Matic, 450 4Matic, and 450d 4Matic.

There is not as much difference in the prices of Mercedes GLE and BMW X5, and both justify their prices. The GLE offers more features while the X5 is sportier to drive with no compromise on the ride quality.

Mercedes GLE vs BMW X5: Summary

With all the characteristics compared above, choosing between GLE and X5 should not be confusing. 

The Mercedes GLE is an excellent pick for those who want the top-notch luxury for both front and rear passengers and as many high-end features as possible.

On the other hand, if you want a luxury SUV that is exciting to drive and serves the luxury that commensurates with its price, then the BMW X5 is your car.

Mercedes GLE vs BMW X5: FAQs