Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class vs Jaguar F-PACE

This midsize Mercedes SUV gets a facelift for 2024 that includes an upgraded interior and infotainment system as well as some new styling cues. Mercedes’ 4matic all-wheel drive system is standard across the lineup, as is seating for five, though a small third row is an option. Models include the GLE 350, GLE 450, and GLE 580, all with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. Also on tap are the AMG GLE 53 and AMG GLE 63 S. However, new for this year, and the primary tester for this review, is the GLE 450e with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Verdict: A new plug-in hybrid powertrain helps the GLE hit a sweet spot between performance and efficiency. Elsewhere, this is classic Mercedes: big and beautiful with plenty of luxury touches and great space. These aren’t inexpensive SUVs, but then again, Mercedes is one of the principal faces of the pricey luxury market.

There was a time when the notion of a Jaguar SUV would cause much harrumphing and the displacement of monocles. The stalwart British automaker has traditionally been known for sports cars and fast-yet-luxurious sedans, but market trends demanded an SUV. So the 2022 Jaguar F-Pace tries to channel the spirit of previous Jags into a high-riding utility vehicle package.

The Jaguar F-Pace arrived for the 2016 model year as Jaguar’s first SUV (it’s since been joined by the smaller E-Pace and all-electric I-Pace). It thus introduced Jaguar’s “Pace” naming convention for SUVs, derived from the brand’s old marketing tagline “grace, pace, and space.” That’s fitting because, to succeed and keep star-crossed Jag alive, the F-Pace needs all three.

This crossover SUV has done wonders for Jaguar’s bottom line, but it still faces tough competition from rivals like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, and Volvo XC60, as well as the newcomer Genesis GV70. To help distinguish it from the wares of sibling brand Land Rover, the F-Pace focuses more on sporty driving dynamics than off-road capability.

Following a major update for the 2021 model year, the F-Pace rolls into 2022 essentially unchanged. The F-Pace lineup includes a base four-cylinder powertrain (in P250 and P250 S configurations), a V6 mild-hybrid powertrain, (available in the F-Pace P340 S and P400 R-Dynamic S variants) and the V8-powered Jaguar F-Pace SVR performance model. We tested a mid-level F-Pace P340 S model.