2021 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE was an adequate-looking vehicle, though it didn't quite match the aesthetic appeal of its competitors. The exterior design, with its aggressive nose and sloping hood, promised something great but fell short past the A-pillar, making it almost indistinguishable from older models. The flat taillights and contoured rear helped mitigate its minivan-like tendencies, but it still lacked the pitch-perfect proportions seen in BMW, Audi, or Jaguar SUVs. Even in AMG trim, the GLE struggled to compete visually with the likes of the BMW X5 M or Porsche Cayenne Turbo. However, the interior was a different story. The 2021 redesign brought a more streamlined and cohesive look, with a masterpiece of quality, layout, colors, and textures. The red and black interior was both loud and palatial, featuring twin arching grab handles outlined with LED lighting, and a mix of wood, metal, leather, suede, and plastic that was delightful to touch and operate.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for the 2020 model year, maintained a familiar and comfortable feel reminiscent of older models. The analog gauges, steering wheel design, and seat forms were similar to previous generations, but the interior was fresher, especially if you skipped the base trim. The Premium and above trims featured an 11.6-inch portrait display that was bright, sharp, and surrounded by polished black plastic and chrome trim. Quality was evident throughout, with substantial window switches, dash padding, and surface materials. The Onyx Edition XT, with its gray and black StarTex upholstery and lime green contrast stitching, added a touch of wildness to the otherwise practical and comfortable interior. The exterior styling remained smooth and plain, with high gray cladding on the wheel arches, sills, and bumpers, and a few chrome flourishes. The Outback's design was functional and balanced, making it a great alternative to typical crossovers or SUVs.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE excelled as a multi-purpose vehicle, thanks to its complex suspension and engine setup. The base GLE 350 featured a coil-sprung setup for reliability and comfort, while the GLE 450 offered self-leveling air springs with adaptive dampers. The AMG Ride Control+ and E-Active Body Control systems provided advanced handling capabilities, allowing the GLE to lean into turns and adjust the spring rate, damping, and height for each wheel independently. 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 setup, with a 48-volt battery, provided additional horsepower and torque, seamless auto stop-start, and improved fuel efficiency. The GLE 350 had 255 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, while the GLE 450 offered 362 hp and 369 lb-ft. The AMG GLE 53 had 429 hp and 384 lb-ft, the GLE 580 had 483 hp and 516 lb-ft, and the GLE 63 S boasted 603 hp and 627 lb-ft. The GLE's driving experience was exceptional, with a towing capacity of up to 7,700 pounds and impressive ride quality and steering.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's base 2.5-liter flat-four engine, with 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque, struggled to move the vehicle efficiently, especially when loaded with passengers and cargo. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) further hampered performance, making the Outback slow and noisy. However, the XT models, with a 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four engine, offered a significant improvement with 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. This engine provided better acceleration, smoother operation, and improved fuel economy compared to the base engine. The Outback's handling was squishy and imprecise, but its ride comfort and off-road capability were excellent. The electronically-variable AWD system provided proactive torque distribution, and the X-Mode optimized performance for tough road conditions. The Outback's ground clearance of 8.7 inches allowed it to tackle rough terrain with ease, making it more proficient off-road than many competitors.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a spacious interior with optional third-row seating, allowing for up to seven passengers. The second-row seats featured power controls for recline, fore-aft, and headrest adjustments, and could slide and fold for easier access to the third row. The GLE Coupe, however, was limited to five passengers and had a more constricted rear space due to its sloping roofline and large rear tires. Cargo capacity in the standard GLE 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 with a single touchpad and simplified interface, while seat controls, rocker switches, and steering wheel shortcuts were easy to use. The GLE required some setup time to familiarize with its features, but it was less complicated than previous models.

The 2021 Subaru Outback offered ample interior space, with 76 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide, flat, and free of intrusive elements, making it highly practical. Headroom and legroom were generous in all four outboard seating positions, and outward visibility was excellent thanks to thin pillars and large windows. Storage options included large map pockets, bottle holders, and handy pockets in the front center console and passenger-side dash. However, some features like push-button start and rear climate vents were only available on higher trims. The Outback's best feature was its standard roof rails with integrated crossbars, which could be easily swiveled and locked in place. The 11.6-inch touchscreen complicated climate controls, but its large icons and responsive interface made it easier to adjust settings and scroll through presets.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured a 12-inch touchscreen with Interior Assistant, which could read hand gestures and magnify icons on the home screen. The system could be controlled with a touchpad or thumbpad, and it became easier to use with practice. The AMG models included 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 car could set the seat, mirrors, and steering wheel based on your height. Additional features included perfume canisters, Energizing Comfort with spa music, heated armrests, and bolsters that inflated when you steered. The head-up display and instrument panel could be reconfigured in various layouts, and the ambient lighting offered 64 colors. The navigation system projected the front camera feed with overlay arrows and street names. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a natural voice assistant, and semi-automated functionality were also included.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system looked dated, with graphics and typefaces reminiscent of older gaming consoles. The central screen in the instrument panel was even worse. Despite this, the Outback's adaptive cruise control had four settings for traffic speed adjustments, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The optional navigation system was more modern-looking. Subaru EyeSight, standard on all trims, included adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. The system offered good semi-automated control on marked highways but relied solely on forward-looking cameras, which could be impeded in certain conditions.

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 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, lane-keeping, evasive steering assist, front cross-traffic braking, and semi-automated control. Pre-Safe Sound and Pre-Safe Impulse Side were also available, along with advanced braking and stability control systems.

The 2021 Subaru Outback rode on a stronger and stiffer chassis than previous models. Standard safety features included a driver’s knee airbag and passenger seat-cushion airbag. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional on Premium and standard on higher trims. Rear emergency braking was optional on the Onyx Edition XT and standard on the Limited 2.5 and Touring trims. A driver-attention monitor was standard on the Limited XT and Touring trims. The 2020 Outback, identical to the 2021 model, earned the Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for top ratings in all crash tests and forward emergency braking. The NHTSA awarded the 2021 Outback an overall five-star rating, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and four stars for the rollover test.