2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2023 Volvo XC40

A subtle refresh for the 2024 model year keeps Mercedes’ popular sport-utility competitive against a wide roster of rivals which include the BMW X5, Genesis GV70, Cadillac XT6, Acura MDX, and Volvo XC90, to name just a few.

Changes between the previous GLE-Class and the 2024 model year consist primarily of a subtle redesign of the front grille (look closely and you’ll see it's now filled with tiny Mercedes-Benz star logos), reprofiled headlights and taillights, an updated infotainment system, and optional off-road-themed air suspension system that can raise the GLE 1.2 inches to clear obstacles. It can also shimmy this Mercedes sport-ute back and forth to help get it unstuck over tricky terrain.

Specific to our testing purposes, the 2024 GLE-Class also ushers in a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant called the GLE 450e 4Matic. As the last part of the name suggests, like every 2024 GLE, all-wheel drive is fitted as standard. Yet the big news is what’s under the hood of this new model, namely a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder paired with an electric motor and 23.3-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

While fully-electrified vehicles presently grab the most automotive headlines, a week spent with the GLE 450e highlighted how easily this luxurious PHEV sport-utility adapts to all sorts of driving situations.

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In Volvo speak, “40” denotes an entry-level model. While the Swedish automaker no longer rosters the S40 sedan or V40 wagon in the United States, the XC40 subcompact crossover remains to compete with the likes of the Audi Q3, BMW X1, Lexus UX, and Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class for aspiring luxury-car owners’ dollars.

The XC40 was unveiled in 2017, arriving in the U.S. as a 2019 model, and hasn’t undergone a redesign since. An all-electric Volvo XC40 Recharge variant joined the lineup as a 2021 model. Volvo’s other current EV, the C40 Recharge, is also broadly similar to the XC40 models, but with a coupe-like body style.

For 2023, Volvo gave the XC40 several notable updates, including new mild-hybrid powertrains, revised styling, and the Android-based infotainment system previously seen on the XC40 Recharge and other Volvo models.

The mild-hybrid lineup includes base Core, mid-level Plus, and top Ultimate trim levels, with B4 front-wheel drive (FWD) and B5 all-wheel drive (AWD) drivetrains. This Volvo XC40 review is based on the Ultimate trim in B5 AWD spec.