Compare the2027 BMW X5 VS 2026 Mercedes GLE

The BMW X5 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GLE doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The X5 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The GLE doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the X5. But it costs extra on the GLE.

The X5’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.

Both the X5 and the GLE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, 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 X5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLE’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X5 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLE.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. With 14 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Mercedes.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW above average in long-term dependability. With 54 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 14 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The X5’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 139 more horsepower (394 vs. 255) and 133 lbs.-ft. more torque (428 vs. 295) than the GLE 350’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The X5’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 19 more horsepower (394 vs. 375) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (428 vs. 369) than the GLE 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid. The X5’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 13 more horsepower (394 vs. 381) than the GLE 450e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the X5 gets better mileage than the GLE running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
X5
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	24 city/28 hwy
GLE
	RWD	350 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/28 hwy
	AWD	450e 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/26 hwy
		350 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/26 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/25 hwy
		4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	15 city/20 hwy

The X5 has 4.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLE 450e’s standard fuel tank (21.9 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the BMW X5 higher (6 out of 10) than the Mercedes GLE (4 to 6). This means the X5 produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GLE every 15,000 miles.

The X5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The GLE doesn’t offer launch control.

For better traction and acceleration, the X5 has larger rear tires than the GLE (284/45R21 vs. 255/50R19).

The X5’s 255/50R21 front and 284/45R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series front and 45 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLE’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X5 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the GLE. The X5’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the GLE 450/580.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X5’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the GLE (119.5 inches vs. 117.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the X5 is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than on the GLE.

The X5 has .2 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room and 2.5 inches more rear headroom than the GLE.

The X5’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the tailgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The GLE’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

A Trailer Stabilization Control is standard on the X5, using the Dynamic Stability 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.

The X5’s optional power side swing out doors make it much easier to load and unload kids and cargo. One touch opens the door, before you even get to the sport utility. The GLE doesn’t offer a power rear door.

The X5 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the GLE.

Both the BMW X5 and the Mercedes GLE have a standard Qi wireless phone charging system in the front seat. To easily keep personal devices charged in the rear seat, without cables tangling and wearing out, the X5 also has a standard wireless charging system in the rear seat. The GLE does not.

The BMW X5 outsold the Mercedes GLE by 7% during 2025.