2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE had a somewhat underwhelming exterior design. Despite its aggressive nose and sloping hood, the vehicle's styling seemed to lose its appeal 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 impact of rivals such as the BMW X5 M and Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

However, the interior of the GLE was a different story. The 2021 model featured a redesigned, streamlined, and cohesive interior that was a masterpiece in quality, layout, colors, and textures. The red and black interior of the tested GLE Coupe was both loud and luxurious, surpassing even Porsche and Audi in opulence. The twin arching grab handles, LED lighting, and a mix of wood, metal, leather, and suede made the interior a delight to touch and operate, despite some flimsy gear selectors and turn signal stalks.

The 2022 Kia EV6, on the other hand, was a sportier and more visually appealing vehicle compared to the Tesla Model Y. With its lower and wider stance, the EV6 featured a highback tail with a lip spoiler that doubled as a lightbar, and wheels stretched to the furthest corners of the chassis, giving it a muscular appearance. The voluptuous curves of the fenders, squinting headlights, and wedgy profile with an angled roofline and twin ducts in the rear spoiler added to its sporty aesthetic. The matte silver paint of the test car further enhanced its sleek and silken look.

The interior of the EV6 was equally impressive, featuring dual 12-inch screens on a linear dash, a floating center console, and black and white seats covered in faux suede and leather. Ambient lighting flowed around the dash and rear passengers, creating an airy and open space. The hockey-puck shifter and digital controls added a futuristic touch, making the EV6 enjoyable to drive. The combination of industrial design and practical features kept the EV6 engaging and functional.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE excelled as a multi-purpose vehicle with its complex suspension and engine setup. The base GLE 350 featured a coil-sprung setup, while the GLE 450 offered AIRMATIC 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 like a motorcyclist. The AMG GLE 53 Coupe featured an electric supercharger integrated with the powertrain, ensuring instant throttle response without lag. The GLE 450 had a turbo 3.0-liter inline-six engine with 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, while the AMG GLE 53 boosted this to 429 hp and 384 lb-ft. The GLE 580 had a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with 483 hp and 516 lb-ft, and the GLE 63 S topped the range with 603 hp and 627 lb-ft. All GLE models could tow up to 7700 pounds, and the driving experience was exceptional, with amazing ride quality and perfect steering.

The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line e-AWD, tested with two electric motors, produced 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque. With a 77-kWh battery, the EV6 could accelerate to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds and corner like a getaway car. The upcoming GT trim promised 576 hp and a 0-60 time of less than 3.5 seconds. The base EV6 Light had a smaller 58-kWh battery and a 167-hp motor, while the single-motor Wind and GT-Line models offered 225 hp. The dual-motor GT-Line provided quick and effective torque distribution, making it a joy to drive in various conditions. The regenerative braking system offered more than eight settings, allowing for one-pedal driving in the maximum I-Pedal setting. However, the EV6's driving range was disappointing in cold weather, with the car delivering only 65 percent of its 274-mile EPA estimate. Charging times varied, with the EV6 accepting up to 240 kW but often limited by available charging infrastructure.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE was a roomy two-row SUV with an optional third-row, allowing seating for seven. The second-row seats had power controls for recline, fore-aft, and headrest adjustments, and the third-row access was made easier with sliding and folding seats. The GLE Coupe, however, was limited to five passengers, with a sloping roofline and slimmer windows making the space feel smaller. Cargo capacity was 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 75 cubic feet with all rows folded, while the Coupe offered 23 and 61 cubic feet, respectively. The new MBUX infotainment system improved usability with a single touchpad and simplified interface, although some controls required getting used to.

The 2022 Kia EV6 featured innovative functions like pop-out door handles, paddle shifters, and a twisting rotary shifter. The climate controls and stereo shortcuts were combined in a thin touchscreen, which could be frustrating to use while driving. The low floor provided generous legroom and headroom in all seating positions, with reclining rear seats and optional heated cushions. However, the cargo space was limited to 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 cubic feet when folded. The RWD models offered a small front trunk, while the AWD models had an electric motor occupying the space. The EV6 had a towing capacity of 2,300 pounds and an onboard power generator for 120-volt equipment.

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 AMG models had a Track Pace app for virtual pit crew and GPS lap timing. The Seat Kinetics system made small adjustments to the seat, mirrors, and steering wheel based on the driver's height. The GLE also offered a head-up display with customizable layouts, sharp and crisp displays, and ambient lighting with 64 colors. The navigation system projected the front camera feed with overlay arrows and street names. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a natural voice assistant. The semi-automated functionality could change lanes and slow down for curves by itself.

The 2022 Kia EV6 infotainment system was simple, quick, and easy to adjust, with connectivity options except for wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The instrument panel showed live feeds of blind spots when changing lanes and had a 3D bar graph of power and speed. The 360-degree surround-view cameras were sharp and clear, with a 3D rendering of the car. The head-up display used augmented reality for directional arrows and adaptive cruise control tracking. Standard tech included HDA, blind-spot monitoring, fast-charging, dual 12-inch screens, and a wireless charger. Higher trims had a 14-speaker Meridian stereo and a remote parking system. However, Kia Connect features were disabled for Massachusetts residents due to compliance issues with state laws.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE earned the Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, scoring top ratings in six crash tests, for headlights, and for its standard forward emergency braking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 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. The Pre-Safe Sound system played "pink noise" to reduce hearing damage in a crash, and the Pre-Safe Impulse Side system could inflate the side bolsters of the front seats to better position occupants in a side impact.

The 2022 Kia EV6 had no published test results from any government or independent agency in the U.S. However, it came equipped with impressive safety tech, including HDA, lane-keeping, cyclist and pedestrian detection, front and rear cross-traffic alert, a driver attention monitor, rear parking sensors, safe exit warning, and rear occupant alert. The Wind RWD trim added front parking sensors, while the Wind AWD had automatic rear braking and 360 cameras. The GT-Line included evasive steering assist and adaptive cruise with "machine learning" to mimic the driver's behavior.