2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2021 Lexus GX

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE had a mixed reception regarding its exterior design. While it showed promise with an aggressive nose and sloping hood, the design seemed to lose its edge past the A-pillar, making it almost indistinguishable from its predecessors. The flat taillights and contoured rear helped mitigate its minivan-like appearance, but it still lacked the pitch-perfect proportions seen in competitors like BMW, Audi, and Jaguar. Even in AMG trim, the GLE struggled to match the visual appeal of rivals such as the BMW X5 M and Porsche Cayenne Turbo. However, the interior was a different story. The redesigned GLE Coupe boasted a streamlined and cohesive look, with an interior that was a masterpiece of quality, layout, colors, and textures. The red and black interior of the test car was both loud and luxurious, surpassing even Porsche and Audi in opulence. The twin arching grab handles, LED lighting, and a mix of materials like wood, metal, leather, and suede made the interior a delight to experience.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460's styling reflected its long tenure on the market, retaining the same basic body shell from a decade ago with a few updates. The GX received Lexus' spindle grille in 2014, which was updated again in 2020 with a new textured insert and triple-beam LED headlights. The 2021 model didn't see any significant styling changes, but it did come with standard silver 18-inch wheels on the Premium trim level. Despite its age, the GX's styling remained coherent, with a tough and aggressive look that appealed to SUV shoppers. However, the interior didn't meet modern luxury SUV standards. The wood trim felt like molded plastic, and there was an abundance of actual plastic. While leather upholstery was standard, the overall interior quality lagged behind competitors.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE excelled as a multi-purpose vehicle, offering a range of advanced suspension and engine setups. The base GLE 350 featured a reliable coil-sprung setup, while the GLE 450 came with AIRMATIC self-leveling air springs. The AMG Ride Control+ and E-Active Body Control systems provided exceptional handling, allowing the GLE to lean into turns like a motorcyclist. The AMG GLE 53 Coupe featured an electric supercharger for instant throttle response, while the GLE 580 and AMG GLE 63 S offered powerful twin-turbo V8 engines. The GLE's hybrid system, available on all models except the base GLE 350, provided additional horsepower and torque, seamless auto stop-start, and improved fuel efficiency. The GLE 350 had a 255 hp engine, while the GLE 450 offered 362 hp. The AMG GLE 53 had 429 hp, the GLE 580 had 483 hp, and the AMG GLE 63 S boasted 603 hp. All GLE models could tow up to 7,700 pounds, and the driving experience was exceptional, with perfect steering and amazing ride quality.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 kept things simple with a single 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX's performance was a throwback to an earlier generation of SUVs, with plenty of grunt at low speeds but sluggish acceleration at higher speeds due to its 5,130-pound weight. The GX took 7.8 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph, and merging and overtaking required careful planning. The ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, with noticeable body roll and low grip in corners. However, the GX excelled in off-road capability, featuring a Torsen center differential, low-range 4WD, and several driver aids like hill-descent control and hill-start assist. The optional Off-Road Package added features like a transmission cooler, fuel-tank protector, and Crawl Control. The GX had 8.1 inches of ground clearance and respectable approach, departure, and break-over angles. It could tow up to 6,500 pounds and included trailer-sway control.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a spacious interior, with most models being roomy two-row SUVs. An optional third row allowed seating for seven, with power controls for the second-row seats to facilitate access to the third row. The GLE Coupe, however, was limited to five seats, and the sloping roofline made the rear space feel smaller. Cargo capacity was 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 75 cubic feet with all rows folded. The Coupe had 23 and 61 cubic feet, respectively. The new MBUX infotainment system improved usability, eliminating the clunky rotary/touchpad combo for a single touchpad and a simplified interface. Seat controls on the doors, rocker switches for the suspension, and shortcuts for driving modes on the steering wheel were easy to use. However, the thumbpads on the steering wheel were fussier and required some getting used to.

The 2021 Lexus GX's interior ergonomics showed its age, with an upright dashboard and high center console that limited legroom. The steering wheel was positioned at an odd angle, making the driving experience feel like operating a bus. The dashboard shape and boxy profile provided excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was limited by the tall hood. The center-console storage bin, cupholders, and in-door bottle holders were all small, and the second-row cupholders took up a lot of space in the fold-down armrest. The GX came standard with three rows and seating for seven, but accessing the third row was difficult, and it was best reserved for children. The GX had more first-row legroom on paper, but it wasn't generous. Cargo space was limited, with only 64.7 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded, compared to the Land Rover Discovery's 73.0 cubic feet. With the third row up, cargo space was almost nonexistent.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE was packed with advanced technology. The main 12-inch touchscreen display featured Interior Assistant, which could read hand gestures to activate shortcuts. The system could be controlled via a touchpad or thumbpad, and it became easier to use with time. The AMG models had a Track Pace app for virtual pit crew functions and GPS lap timing. The Seat Kinetics system made small adjustments to the seat as you drove, and the head-up display and instrument panel could be reconfigured in dozens of layouts. The ambient lighting had 64 colors, and the navigation system projected arrows and street names onto the front camera feed. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a natural voice assistant. The GLE could be equipped with numerous electronic features, making it one of the most technologically advanced SUVs on the market.

The 2021 Lexus GX was light on tech features, reflecting its decade-old design. While Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity were standard, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not available. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functionality. Below the main screen was a seven-segment display for time and temperature, reminiscent of a digital clock. However, the GX included analog controls for nearly everything, making it easy to use without relying on the touchscreen. This primitive interface was a refreshing change from the screen-centric approaches of other luxury SUVs.

The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE, identical to the 2021 model, earned the Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for its top ratings in six crash tests, headlights, and standard forward emergency braking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not rated the GLE. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and a driver attention monitor. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, evasive steering assist, front cross-traffic braking, and semi-automated control. The GLE also had Pre-Safe Sound, which played "pink noise" to reduce hearing damage in a crash, and Pre-Safe Impulse Side, which inflated the side bolsters of the front seats to better position occupants in a side impact.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. However, it came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, which included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The GX missed out on some safety features available in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist.