2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, despite being a crossover SUV, was often seen as a glorified minivan due to its conventional rear doors instead of sliding ones. It was a practical choice for those who needed an SUV but didn't want to spend on a larger, more expensive, and less fuel-efficient vehicle. The base model started at $33,700, with the top-tier High Country trim costing $53,400. All-wheel drive was optional, though its 7.5-inch ground clearance limited its off-road capabilities.

For 2022, the Traverse received a light restyle with new headlights, taillights, and grille designs. The RS trim, which we tested, featured blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels. The interior of the RS trim included black leather upholstery with red and light gray stitching, though hard plastic surfaces were prevalent. The design was simple and logical, with matte-finish black switchgear reducing glare. The Traverse's interior was spacious, but the use of hard plastic on upper door panels was a downside.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE received a subtle exterior makeover that was hard to notice at first glance. The front grille featured Mercedes star logos, and LED headlights were standard, with multi-beam LED headlights as an option. The GLE 450e test vehicle was finished in Twilight Blue metallic and rode on 21-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels, which added to its appeal.

Inside, the GLE 450e exuded luxury with Macchiato beige and black leather upholstery and natural grain brown walnut trim. The cabin offered 10 interior color choices and five trims, including brushed aluminum and black piano lacquer. The GLE's interior was one of the highest quality and most robust-looking cabins in its segment, providing a comfortable and luxurious experience for occupants.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came with a single engine option: a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It had a tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped and offered various driving modes, including Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road. The V6 engine provided adequate power, and the Traverse returned an EPA fuel economy rating of 20 mpg in combined driving.

The Traverse offered a firm yet compliant ride, absorbing smaller road imperfections well. However, it struggled with larger road anomalies, and the front air dam could scrape the pavement if driven too fast over dips and humps. On the highway, the Traverse was comfortable but had noticeable road and wind noise. In mountainous terrain, it felt more athletic than some rivals, with good steering and braking performance. However, the RS trim's all-season tires and the vehicle's tendency to feel disconnected from the road at higher speeds were drawbacks.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a range of powertrains, including turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines and a twin-turbo V8 producing 603 horsepower in the AMG GLE 63 S. The GLE 450e, our test vehicle, featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor, producing a combined 381 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. It accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds and had an estimated electric-only range of 40 miles.

The GLE 450e's transition from gas to electric power was seamless, and the nine-speed automatic transmission performed smoothly. The suspension absorbed bumps and ruts effortlessly, providing a comfortable ride even on rough roads. Despite its size, the GLE felt maneuverable and easy to handle, with sophisticated steering. The GLE 450e's performance exceeded expectations, offering a quiet and refined driving experience.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse's RS, Premier, and High Country trims featured captain's chairs in the second row, reducing seating capacity to seven. The RS trim included power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row Smart Slide function and long rear doors made accessing the third-row seat easier.

The Traverse's interior was spacious, with generous legroom and headroom in the second row. However, the captain's chairs lacked leg support and were too reclined for some adults. The third-row seat was suitable for adults if the second-row seats were slid forward. The Traverse offered ample storage space, including a hidden compartment behind the infotainment screen and another under the cargo floor. Cargo space measured 23 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 98.2 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE provided ample space for adults in the first and second rows, with a light and airy cabin feel. The GLE 450e offered 33 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, comparable to rivals like the BMW X5 but less than the Cadillac XT6 and Volvo XC90. The optional third-row seat was limited to the GLE 350 and GLE 450 and was suitable only for young children.

The GLE 450e came with power-adjustable heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a power tilt/sliding sunroof, and MX-Tex faux leather upholstery. The Exclusive and Pinnacle trim levels added features like a Burmester surround-sound audio system, ventilated front seats, massaging front seats, and a head-up display. Additional options included a panoramic sunroof, illuminated running boards, soft-close doors, and heated rear seats.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the LS and LT Cloth models, while other trims had an 8-inch high-definition display. The Premier and High Country trims included an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel. The infotainment system offered Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch system also had an integrated navigation system, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and Alexa Built-in. A Bose premium sound system was standard on the RS trim.

The Traverse's voice recognition system was responsive and accurate, making it easy to use. The digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera were helpful features, especially in parking lots. However, the 8-inch touchscreen felt small compared to modern standards.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured the Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with two 12.3-inch screens serving as the digital instrument panel and main infotainment screen. The system could be controlled via touch commands, a control pad on the center console, or touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with an improved "Hey Mercedes" voice command system.

The head-up display and augmented reality navigation were praised for their clarity and convenience. However, the touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel could be accidentally activated, causing issues like sudden volume changes. Overall, the GLE's infotainment system was feature-rich but had a learning curve.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following-distance indicator. The optional Safety Package for the LS trim added rear parking assist sensors, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims included adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and a rear pedestrian alert system.

The Traverse's safety features were generally accurate and refined, though it lacked advanced systems like lane-centering assist. The IIHS had not rated the Traverse's headlight or driving-assistance systems, but it received top "Good" ratings in collision tests except for an "Acceptable" rating in a new side-impact test. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 Traverse.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE came with a comprehensive lineup of active safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, hands-free park assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver attention monitor. The optional Driver Assistance package added active blind-spot assist, active lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, traffic sign recognition, and evasive steering assist.

These safety features were unobtrusive and did not overreact to everyday driving situations. The Driver Assistance package was highly recommended for its added safety benefits.