2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Ford had been teasing the new Bronco for years, and it recently revealed that the resurrected off-roader would be preceded by a smaller sibling: the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The Bronco Sport captured some of the same styling cues as its bigger brother but was a frameless (unibody) crossover with a more suburban focus—an everyday driver ready for weekend adventures. It had a modern retro look that wouldn’t be out of place in the Land Rover lineup, with short front and rear overhangs designed for trail driving. The front end echoed the Bronco, tying the Sport to its big brother, while bold white lettering on the grille and tailgate announced the vehicle’s name as “BRONCO,” with a smaller “SPORT” postscript.

The Bronco Sport’s wheels played a significant role in its off-road and on-road ability. The Base model came with 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels, while the Big Bend model got 17-inch Carbonized Gray-painted high-gloss aluminum wheels. Outer Banks stepped up to 18-inch machined-face aluminum Ebony Black-painted wheels with all-season tires, and the Badlands model used the same wheels but with 28.5-inch all-terrain tires. The First Edition model featured 17-inch Ebony Black-painted wheels and 29-inch all-terrain tires. The interior was tastefully rugged, with an uncluttered design and several convenient storage cubbies. The center stack was crowned by an 8-inch infotainment screen, and the rotary gear selector lived in the center console. Interior trim stepped up from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats, and Navy Pier Leather power front seats on the First Edition.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe, with its Selenite Gray paint, 22-inch forged aluminum wheels, and generous polished brightwork, looked like an athletic sneaker from a front three-quarter perspective. Mercedes shelved many of its V8-powered models for 2022, including the AMG GLE 63 S Coupe variant. The AMG GLE 53 Coupe, with a base price of $77,800, had a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine making 429 hp and 384 pound-feet of torque. Inside, the AMG GLE 53 Coupe was as sumptuous as expected, with high-end materials and a high-tech appearance thanks to its dual-screen instrumentation and infotainment design. The cabin featured Nappa premium leather, a Dinamica simulated suede headliner and steering wheel, and brushed aluminum trim. Ambient lighting made the AMG GLE 53 Coupe more pleasurable to drive at night.

From an interior design standpoint, a facade of simplicity masked the vehicle’s evident complexity. A lack of traditional controls or white-on-black control markings made it challenging for newcomers to determine how to use the vehicle and its technology. However, with time, drivers acclimated and found a way to operate the AMG GLE 53 Coupe with minimal distraction.

Ford set up a media drive at Holly Oaks ORV Park in Holly, Michigan, where several variants of the Bronco Sport were driven on groomed trails, designed obstacles, and public roads. The Bronco Sport had two engine choices tied to trim levels. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims featured a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands and First Edition models had a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine putting out 245 hp and 275 lb-ft. All Bronco Sport models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD), along with a terrain management system with up to seven available G.O.A.T. modes (Go Over Any Type of Terrain).

The Bronco Sport was a pleasant surprise off-road, with its short wheelbase (105.1 inches), four-wheel independent suspension, generous suspension travel, and decent ground clearance making for drama-free crawls around the ORV park. On pavement, the crossover had good manners, with the 2.0-liter engine in the Badlands and First Edition trims better suited to the Bronco Sport’s character.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe was equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine making 429 hp at 6,100 rpm and 384 pound-feet of torque from 1,800 rpm to 5,800 rpm. The engine featured EQ Boost, a 48-volt mild-hybrid system designed to add extra power when needed and help conserve fuel. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated a combined fuel economy of 19 mpg, with our test vehicle returning 18.5 mpg.

The AMG GLE 53 Coupe had a SpeedShift nine-speed automatic transmission and an AMG Performance 4Matic+ AWD system with fully variable torque distribution. The AMG Dynamic Select system offered Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Slippery, Individual, and Off-road driving modes. The SUV also featured an AMG sport exhaust system, AMG Active Ride Control suspension with active roll stabilization, and AMG Performance brakes. The GLE Coupe’s speed-sensitive variable-ratio power steering made it easy to turn at low speeds and helped with parking. However, the optional AMG Performance braking system made the brake pedal difficult to modulate for smooth stops in traffic.

The AMG Active Ride Control suspension effectively ignored speed humps at 30-35 mph, but the 22-inch wheels and low-profile tires were less forgiving on sharper bumps. Overall, the GLE Coupe felt taut, nimble, and composed in the city and suburbs, and was reasonably comfortable and quiet on the highway. In Sport+ mode, the SUV rocketed up Deer Creek Canyon Road, with the AWD powertrain proving its mettle. The upgraded brakes and performance-oriented tires made quick work of descending the mountainside, with grip and braking performance remaining strong.

The Bronco Sport delivered fun, clever features beyond the usual compact crossover mold. The cargo space was designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes, and Ford launched a catalog of over 100 factory and aftermarket accessories for transporting kayaks, surfboards, skis, and camping equipment. The roof could hold up to 150 pounds (100 with moonroof), and the 2.0-liter engine could tow up to 2,200 pounds, while the 1.5-liter could tow 2,000 pounds. The cargo hold featured a flip-up rear glass, an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin had ample storage compartments, including big door pockets and multiple cubbies.

However, taller drivers might have found it challenging to see past the roof overhang to spot traffic lights, and a taller seating position would have been beneficial for off-road visibility.

The Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupe technically held up to five people, but it was more comfortable for four. The sport-bolstered, multi-contour front seats had numerous power adjustments, heating, ventilation, and massage, making them comfortable on the highway and supportive on winding back roads. Forward visibility was fine, but rear visibility was challenging, necessitating the use of available cameras. The back seat provided ample room for adult legs and feet, and the 27.5 cubic-foot cargo hold was generously sized. Folding the second-row seats expanded the cargo volume to 63.2 cubic feet.

Available comfort upgrades included a four-zone automatic climate control system, a Warmth and Comfort Package with heated armrests and rapid-heating front seats, and an Air Balance in-cabin fragrance system.

Ford equipped the Bronco Sport with the latest versions of its infotainment systems. The 8-inch infotainment touchscreen connected to SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and had available Ford+Alexa and SiriusXM capability. FordConnect with 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard. The base audio system was an AM/FM stereo with six speakers, with a Bang & Olufsen sound system available on Outer Banks and above trims. The terrain management system on the Bronco Sport included five drive modes on Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims, and seven modes on Badlands and First Edition models. Trail control technology added a cruise-control-like feature for off-roading.

Intelligent access with push-button start was included on all trims except Base, and heated and leather-wrapped steering wheels were available on Outer Banks and above. A 6.5-inch digital instrument panel replaced the analog one on Base and Big Bend trims.

The Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system was standard on the GLE Coupe, featuring dual 12.3-inch screens under a single piece of glass. Standard features included a navigation system, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Mercedes Me connected services. Wireless smartphone charging and a Burmester surround-sound audio system were also standard. MBUX was easy to use, with natural voice recognition technology activated by saying “Hey Mercedes.” However, the touchpad on the center console was easy to activate inadvertently.

Options included an MBUX Interior Assistant with gesture recognition, an augmented video feature for navigation, a head-up display, a surround-view camera system, and an upgraded Burmester 3D high-end surround-sound system.

Each trim level of the Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera. Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ was available on all trims except Base, adding adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, evasive steering assist, a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system, and road-sign recognition. Trailer sway control was included in the tow package, and AWD was standard on all Bronco models.

Mercedes equipped the 2022 GLE Coupe with numerous safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. Pre Safe Sound emitted a “pink noise” tone before a collision to protect hearing. The Emergency Call Service was free and available for the vehicle’s lifetime. The Driver Assistance Package added 15 additional systems, including Traffic Jam Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, and Active Emergency Stop Assist. The lane-keeping assistance technology was fine-tuned to operate transparently until needed.

Crash-test results for the GLE Coupe were unavailable, but the standard GLE received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.