For those navigating the luxury SUV market, the Mercedes GLE SUV and BMW X5 often emerge as top contenders. As owners of both a 2020 Mercedes GLE 350 and a 2023 BMW X5 sDrive 40i, we offer a real-world comparison to aid your decision. Having clocked 30,000 miles in the GLE and 3,000 in the X5, this review dives deep into the nuances of each vehicle, focusing on key aspects that matter to drivers. While our GLE is the 350 model and not the more powerful 450, many interior and comfort characteristics remain consistent across the GLE range, making this a relevant comparison against the X5.
Interior and Comfort: Sophistication vs. Practicality
Both the Mercedes GLE SUV and BMW X5 boast upscale and inviting interiors, yet they present distinct philosophies. The GLE immediately impresses with its modern and sophisticated cabin. The design language speaks of contemporary luxury, creating an ambiance that feels genuinely premium. In contrast, the BMW X5, while luxurious, incorporates some non-premium plastic panels, particularly noticeable in the door and footwell areas. This subtle difference in material choices impacts the overall feel of the interior.
Durability is another key differentiator. The door threshold material in the GLE proves exceptionally robust, resisting scuffs and wear effectively. Passenger comfort, especially in the rear seats, is where the GLE truly shines. The generous back seat space and thoughtful ergonomics make it a haven for passengers. The synthetic seat coverings in our GLE, the MB TEX, are a highlight, offering a soft, durable, and visually appealing surface with a refined sheen. This contrasts with the X5’s Sensafin sport seats, which, in our experience, are firmer and possess a slightly rubbery look and feel, detracting from the overall premium experience.
Windshield design significantly impacts the interior environment. The GLE’s windscreen is positioned further away from front occupants, and the roofline effectively shades passengers, enhancing comfort during sunny drives. However, the X5’s shallower dash depth offers a practical advantage: cleaning the inside of the windshield becomes noticeably easier. Furthermore, the X5’s design contributes to a superior driving position. The lower side glass beltline in the X5 translates to better front sight lines and enhanced overall visibility for the driver, creating a more commanding feel behind the wheel. The GLE, with its higher hood, can impart a slight “truck-like” sensation, which may be a matter of personal preference.
Alt text: Mercedes GLE SUV interior showcasing sophisticated design and spacious cabin.
Dashboard and Technology: Readability and Illumination
When it comes to dashboards, the Mercedes GLE SUV prioritizes clarity. The instrument fonts are larger and inherently more readable, a boon for quick glances while driving. The GLE’s displays consistently exhibit brightness, high contrast, and excellent legibility across various lighting conditions. The BMW X5’s dash illumination, in comparison, can be a point of disappointment. We found it to be dimmer, and noted a cyclic dimming and brightening issue. While removing dark window tint and opting for a more translucent option (25%) improved matters, the underlying issue remained. We suspect BMW’s Dynamic Efficiency software may influence dashboard brightness, potentially contributing to this behavior.
The X5’s flat screen design also feels less expansive than the GLE’s, leading to a more crowded display of information and potentially reduced legibility at a glance.
Ambient lighting further distinguishes the two SUVs. The GLE’s ambient lighting system is notably more sophisticated, offering a wider array of colors, illuminating more areas within the cabin, and employing varied light tones to create a richer and more customizable atmosphere. The X5’s system feels less comprehensive in this regard. Moreover, the X5’s steering wheel controls lack backlighting, and the cruise control and media buttons feel smaller and less premium to the touch compared to the GLE’s controls.
Alt text: BMW X5 dashboard highlighting digital display and driver-focused layout.
Ride Quality and Noise: Cruiser vs. Agile Performer
In terms of ride quality, the Mercedes GLE SUV and BMW X5 cater to different driving preferences. The GLE, characterized by its larger body movements, can feel somewhat truck-like. However, this translates into a superb highway cruising experience. The GLE excels at minimizing vibration, noise, and harshness (NVH), making long journeys exceptionally comfortable. However, its size can feel less manageable in suburban driving environments.
Despite similar size specifications on paper, the BMW X5 feels and appears smaller than the GLE, especially when maneuvering in tight spaces or parked in a garage. For extended road trips of 3-8 hours, the GLE’s superior NVH and instrument legibility make it the preferred choice. Conversely, for navigating suburban streets, winding roads, or mountainous terrain, the X5 takes the lead. The X5’s ride is firmer, particularly when paired with sport seats. While one might acclimate to this firmness over time, the taut ride is noticeable, especially on less-than-perfect road surfaces. For shorter trips or smooth roads, the firmness is less of an issue.
Road noise levels reveal another facet of their character. The BMW X5, even with 19-inch Bridgestone run-flat tires, is generally a quiet vehicle. However, it struggles to suppress noise on un-grooved concrete surfaces. Our GLE, equipped with 19-inch Dunlop tires (non-run-flat), is quieter overall in most conditions. Run-flat tires, in general, tend to become noisier as they wear compared to non-run-flats. If we were to keep the X5 long-term, switching to non-run-flat tires would be considered to improve both noise levels and ride comfort. It’s important to note that the X5’s sport seats likely contribute significantly to the perception of a firmer, less optimized ride. Tire changes alone won’t fundamentally alter the seat firmness.
Alt text: Mercedes GLE SUV driving on highway, emphasizing its comfortable cruising capability.
Engine, Drivetrain, and Performance
The engine and drivetrain are areas where the BMW X5 gains ground on the GLE, particularly when comparing our 2020 GLE 350 to the newer X5. The 2024 GLE 350 and presumably the GLE 450 models boast incredibly smooth idle and start-up, potentially matching the X5’s refinement. However, our 2020 four-cylinder turbo GLE, with 50,000 miles, doesn’t quite achieve the same level of smoothness as the X5. As many reviews point out, the X5’s transmission operation is also noticeably smoother. While the GLE’s transmission is generally smooth, occasional clunkiness can be felt, though not frequently enough to detract significantly from the driving experience. Both transmissions are refined, but the BMW’s powertrain exhibits a more polished feel overall, especially compared to our older GLE 350.
Alt text: BMW X5 navigating a curve, highlighting its agile handling and driving dynamics.
Practical Considerations: Climate Control, Fuel Economy, and Reliability
Environmental controls present another area of comparison. Our certified pre-owned GLE had an initial AC issue, which was resolved under warranty, attributed to a known part failure. The X5’s cooling initially seemed challenged, but we discovered a digital air ventilation mixing control setting within the owner’s manual (“temperature of ventilation”). Setting this to “blue” (cold) and syncing the rear air to the front significantly improved cooling performance. Despite this adjustment, the GLE still cools down faster, more evenly, and with a quieter fan. Once the desired temperature is reached, the GLE maintains it without noticeable drafts.
Fuel economy is a clear win for the BMW X5. We consistently achieve 32-34 MPG at 68 mph in the X5, which is 2 MPG better than our GLE 350, an impressive difference for a vehicle in this class.
In terms of technology interface, both vehicles have a learning curve. Anecdotally, the GLE’s buyer demographic, potentially skewing older, might experience more tech interface challenges, which could contribute to some reliability perceptions. However, our GLE, with 50,000 miles, has proven reliable, with only two warranty-covered repairs. Our BMW X5 has developed a hatch rattle, which we intend to address, but suspect may be a recurring issue. The GLE has been rattle-free.
Regarding the 2024 X5 redesign, the new dashboard layout appears to restrict vent airflow compared to the 2023 model. This raised cooling concerns, which we couldn’t fully test. Ultimately, we chose the 2023 X5 partly due to these cooling concerns and a preference for the 2023 front-end styling, as well as a desire for physical switches, which are becoming less common in newer vehicles.
Conclusion: Choosing Your Luxury SUV
The choice between the Mercedes GLE SUV and BMW X5 boils down to personal priorities. The GLE excels in long-distance comfort, interior sophistication, and a quieter, more relaxed driving experience. It’s an ideal choice for those prioritizing a plush ride and a luxurious cabin ambiance, especially for highway cruising. The BMW X5, on the other hand, offers a more engaging and agile driving experience, a smoother powertrain (especially in newer models compared to older GLE 350s), and better fuel economy. It’s well-suited for drivers who value driving dynamics and a slightly more practical, albeit less overtly luxurious, approach to SUV ownership. Cost considerations also play a role, as the 2023 X5 was less expensive than a comparable 2024 GLE 450 at the time of purchase, further influencing our decision based on desired engine/transmission refinement and suburban driving dynamics versus ultimate long-distance comfort. Ultimately, the “better” vehicle is subjective and depends entirely on what characteristics matter most to the individual buyer.
