Luxury SUV Face-Off: BMW X5 vs. Mercedes-Benz GLE

A battle between premium suburban family vehicles

BMW v Mercedes CR

The BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE are two of the longest-running models in the luxury midsized SUV category. These two-row models have an established niche as five-seat SUVs rather than following the trend of packing in a cramped third row.

Clearly, the automakers have found their place; BMW and Mercedes-Benz sell a lot of the two-row SUV models. They also share a lot of similarities, including a German pedigree, incredibly well-appointed interiors, and a penchant for pushing the technological envelope. Both SUVs have generally performed well in our road tests, and they sell in similar numbers each year.

These two premium SUVs were recently redesigned. In addition to a crisp new look, they feature new infotainment systems, the latest safety equipment, and pampering luxury features that buyers expect from vehicles in this class.

More Luxury Midsize SUVs
Audi Q7
Lexus RX
Infiniti QX60
Lincoln Nautilus
Porsche Cayenne

Similarities aside, each SUV has a distinct personality. We'll take a deeper look at CR’s testing and our exclusive survey results for each model. Which has better fuel economy? Which has a more comfortable ride or superior handling? Does one have more standard safety features? We’ll tell you which one is tops in our book.

By clicking below to become a CR member, you can get access to our full face-off, which comes from hours of testing by our experts. We've run each SUV through a battery of tests at our track, which includes braking, acceleration measurements, and our own fuel-economy evaluations.

Members also have full access to exclusive ratings on all the products CR evaluates.

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We investigate, research, and test so you can choose with confidence.

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