Choosing between luxury SUVs often boils down to personal preferences and specific needs. For those in the market considering the Mercedes GLE and the BMW X5, real-world owner experiences offer invaluable insights. This detailed comparison draws upon the experiences of a driver who owns both a 2020 Mercedes GLE 350 and a 2023 BMW X5 sDrive 40i, providing a side-by-side look at these popular vehicles. Having driven the GLE for 30,000 miles and the X5 for 3,000 miles, this review dives deep into the nuances of each SUV, helping you determine which might be the better fit for your lifestyle.
Interior and Comfort: Upscale but Distinct
Both the Mercedes GLE and BMW X5 present upscale and attractive interiors, befitting their luxury SUV status. The GLE immediately impresses with its modern and sophisticated design language. Stepping inside the GLE, you’re greeted with a contemporary aesthetic that emphasizes luxury and technology. In contrast, while still premium, the X5’s interior incorporates some non-premium plastic panels, particularly noticeable near the door and footwell areas.
The durability of materials also differs. The GLE boasts a highly durable door threshold material, withstanding daily wear and tear effectively. Rear seat passengers in the GLE will appreciate the impressive comfort and spaciousness. The seat ergonomics and synthetic coverings in the GLE, even the MB TEX option, are noted for being soft, durable, and visually appealing.
However, the BMW X5 excels in driver-centric design. The shallower dash depth in the X5 makes cleaning the inside of the windshield easier, a small but practical advantage. More significantly, the X5 offers a superior driving position, enhanced by better front sight lines due to a lower side glass belt line. These design choices contribute to enhanced visibility, making the X5 feel more connected to the road. The GLE, with its higher hood, can impart a slightly more truck-like feel from behind the wheel.
Dashboard and Displays: Clarity vs. Dimness
When it comes to dashboards, the Mercedes GLE prioritizes clarity and legibility. The instrument fonts are larger and easier to read at a glance. The GLE’s displays consistently offer brightness and high contrast, ensuring they remain legible in various lighting conditions.
The BMW X5’s dashboard illumination, however, can be a point of disappointment for some drivers. The displays can appear dimmer, and some owners have noted a cyclic dimming/brightening issue. While adjusting window tint can mitigate this to some extent, it suggests a less refined display system compared to the GLE. The X5’s flat screen design also contributes to a feeling of crowded data, potentially reducing legibility compared to the GLE’s more spacious display layout.
Lighting: Ambient Sophistication in the GLE
Ambient lighting is another area where the GLE distinguishes itself. Mercedes-Benz’s ambient lighting system in the GLE is notably more sophisticated, offering a wider array of colors, illuminated areas, and nuanced tonalities. This creates a more customizable and luxurious cabin ambiance.
In contrast, the BMW X5’s lighting system is less comprehensive. A notable omission is the lack of backlighting on the steering wheel controls in the X5. Furthermore, the cruise and media control actuators in the X5 are described as feeling small and less premium compared to the GLE’s controls.
Road Noise and Ride Comfort: Quieter Cabin in the GLE
Both SUVs perform well in noise isolation, but the GLE edges out the X5 in overall road noise reduction. The BMW X5 is commendably quiet, even when equipped with 19-inch Bridgestone run-flat tires. However, it can struggle with un-grooved concrete surfaces.
The Mercedes GLE, in this comparison equipped with 19-inch Dunlop tires, provides a quieter cabin experience overall. Run-flat tires, like those sometimes found on the X5, tend to become louder as they wear compared to non-run-flat tires. For X5 owners prioritizing noise and ride comfort, switching to non-run-flat tires could be beneficial. However, the firmness of the X5’s sport seats, if equipped, is a more significant factor in overall ride comfort and cannot be addressed by tire changes alone. The GLE generally offers a more plush and comfortable ride, particularly for longer journeys.
Environmental Controls: Cooling Efficiency and Draft-Free Comfort
Both vehicles have sophisticated climate control systems, but user experience can vary. One owner’s experience highlights that the Mercedes GLE’s air conditioning system cools faster and more evenly. Once the desired temperature is reached, the GLE maintains a consistent temperature without noticeable drafts. The fan noise in the GLE is also reported to be quieter.
The BMW X5’s cooling system required some initial adjustment to optimize performance. Discovering the “temperature of ventilation” setting in the owner’s manual and setting it to “blue” (cold) significantly improved cooling effectiveness. Syncing the rear air conditioning with the front also helped. While ultimately effective, achieving optimal cooling in the X5 required more user intervention compared to the GLE’s seemingly more intuitive system.
Voice Assistance: MBUX Leads in Functionality
In terms of voice assistance, Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX system demonstrates greater robustness and control over vehicle functions compared to BMW’s iDrive 7.0. MBUX is capable of managing a broader range of features and generally operates effectively. However, a minor drawback of MBUX is its tendency to activate unintentionally at times. Despite this, MBUX is considered more comprehensive and functional than iDrive 7.0.
Ride Quality and Handling: Highway Cruiser vs. Suburban Agility
The driving dynamics of the GLE and X5 reveal distinct personalities. The Mercedes GLE, while a superb highway cruiser with minimal vibration, noise, and harshness (NVH), can feel somewhat large and cumbersome in suburban driving. It has a larger turning radius and a more substantial feel overall.
The BMW X5, despite having similar size specifications to the GLE, feels smaller and more agile, particularly in urban environments. It excels on curvy roads and in mountainous terrain, offering a more engaging and nimble driving experience. However, the X5’s ride, especially when combined with sport seats, can be firmer than the GLE. While some drivers may acclimate to the firmer ride, the GLE prioritizes comfort, especially for long-distance travel. For extended road trips, the GLE’s lower NVH and instrument legibility make it the preferred choice. But for daily suburban commutes and more dynamic driving scenarios, the X5’s agility is advantageous.
Engine and Drivetrain: Smoothness and Fuel Efficiency
The engine and drivetrain are key areas where the BMW X5 shines. While newer Mercedes GLE 350 models (like the 2024) are reported to have undetectable idle and start, the older 4-cylinder turbo engine in the 2020 GLE 350, as experienced by the owner, is not as seamlessly smooth as the X5’s engine. The transmission in the X5 is also noted for its superior smoothness compared to the GLE, which occasionally exhibits a clunkiness, although not frequently enough to detract significantly from the driving experience.
In terms of fuel economy, the BMW X5 demonstrates an advantage. The owner reports achieving 32-34 MPG at 68 mph in the X5, which is 2 MPG better than the GLE 350. This represents a notable improvement in fuel efficiency for the X5.
Other Considerations: Tech Interface, Reliability, and Value
Both the GLE and X5 have a learning curve associated with their technology interfaces. The demographic of GLE buyers, potentially including a higher proportion of older drivers, might contribute to reported tech interface challenges and, consequently, reliability perceptions. However, the owner’s experience with a 2020 GLE 350 with 50,000 miles indicates reasonable reliability, with only two warranty-covered repairs. The BMW X5, in this owner’s experience, had a minor hatch rattle, suggesting that both brands can have minor quality issues.
When considering the 2024 BMW X5, the redesigned dashboard raised concerns about ventilation airflow compared to the 2023 model. This, along with a preference for physical switches and the 2023 X5’s front-end styling, led the owner to choose the 2023 X5. Price is also a factor, with the 2023 X5 being less expensive than a 2024 GLE 450 in this specific comparison.
Conclusion: Personal Priorities Dictate the Choice
The choice between the Mercedes GLE and BMW X5 ultimately depends on individual priorities. The Mercedes GLE excels in long-distance comfort, interior sophistication, display clarity, ambient lighting, and a quieter cabin. It’s an ideal choice for those prioritizing a plush ride and a luxurious, technology-forward interior experience, particularly for highway driving.
The BMW X5 counters with superior driving dynamics, a more agile feel, a smoother engine and transmission, and better fuel economy. It appeals to drivers who value a more engaging driving experience, suburban maneuverability, and a sportier character. Both are excellent luxury SUVs, but their distinct strengths cater to different preferences and driving styles. This detailed owner comparison underscores that the “better” vehicle is subjective and depends on what characteristics are most important to the buyer.
