2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan, following its 2022 updates, remained largely unchanged. Volkswagen offered a complimentary five-year Car-Net Safe & Secure connected services plan to Tiguan owners, enhancing its appeal. The Tiguan was available in S, SE, SE R-Line Black, and SEL R-Line trims, with prices ranging from $26,950 to $37,680, plus a $1,295 destination charge. The SEL R-Line trim, priced at $38,975, featured sporty styling and 20-inch machined-finish wheels. Despite its conservative design, the Tiguan aged gracefully, offering adaptive front lighting and a light bar across the grille. Inside, the cabin was upscale, with quality leather upholstery, artificial wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof, though some materials reflected its base price.

In contrast, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured subtle aesthetic changes, including sharper headlights and taillights, black fender flares, and chrome grille inserts. The optional AMG Line package added sportiness with a distinct grille and 21-inch wheels. The GLE coupe, available in the sporty Mercedes-AMG guise, offered similar features with reduced interior space. Inside, the GLE maintained a luxurious feel with leather and soft-touch surfaces, though not as futuristic as the EQ models. The open-pore walnut trim paired with Bahia Brown seating gave a retro vibe, but lighter leather options were available to enhance the cabin's appeal.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan was equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with an optional 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. The SEL R-Line trim included AWD as standard, offering various driving modes like Eco, Normal, Sport, and Individual. The Tiguan's turbo-four engine provided adequate power, though it struggled at higher revs and exhibited turbo lag from a stop. The automatic transmission occasionally stumbled with delayed downshifts, but Sport mode improved responsiveness. The Tiguan's dynamic qualities were commendable, with excellent tire grip and stable handling, though the brake pedal required more effort than expected. The ride was compliant, offering a good balance between road feel and comfort.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered multiple powertrain options, including the entry-level GLE 350 with 255 horsepower, the mid-line GLE 450 with a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, and the top-tier GLE 580 with a 4.0-liter V8. The new 450e plug-in hybrid, however, was the focus, combining a 2.0-liter turbo inline four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 381 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. Despite its power, the 450e was slower to 60 mph than the GLE 450 due to its 23.3-kWh battery. The 450e could travel up to 55 miles on electric power, with seamless transitions between electric and gas modes. While the Sport mode didn't enhance driving dynamics significantly, the 450e offered a comfortable ride with light steering and body roll. The 11-kW onboard charger allowed for quick charging, and the GLE could accept a 60-kW DC fast charge for road trips.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan offered a spacious interior, with FWD models featuring a standard third-row seat. However, the third row reduced cargo space, making AWD models with larger cargo areas more appealing. The SEL R-Line trim had comfortable front seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. Storage space was generous, though the center armrest bin was small. The dashboard's touch-sensing controls were a drawback, with reflective gloss black plastic hampering usability. The Tiguan excelled in passenger and cargo space, with large rear door openings and a spacious back seat. The hands-free power liftgate revealed a cavernous cargo area, with 37.6 cubic feet of space behind the second row and 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE compensated for its lack of driving dynamics with interior luxuries. Heated front seats were standard, with options for ventilation and massage functions. Heated and cooled cup holders, customizable ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and soft-close doors added to the luxury experience. The GLE could tow 7,700 pounds and featured Trailer Maneuvering Assist technology. Cargo space was ample, with 31.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 74.9 cubic feet with the second row folded. The only drawback was the non-extending sun visors, which were fixed in place.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan featured digital instrumentation, with an 8-inch display on most trims and a 10.25-inch display on the SEL R-Line. The larger display offered a sophisticated appearance and a full-panel navigation map. The infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a nine-speaker Fender premium sound system. However, the system's user interface was complex, with multi-layer processes for simple tasks. The voice-recognition system underperformed, likely due to inactive Car-Net Hotspot subscription.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE came with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and the latest MBUX infotainment system. While the screen was smaller than those in other Mercedes models, the menu structure was easy to learn. The augmented reality navigation system was a highlight, overlaying numerical addresses and turn arrows on a video feed. The MBUX system included an off-road page with detailed information, though the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto had connectivity issues. USB-C ports provided ample charging options.

The 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan excelled in safety features, offering tech often found in luxury models. Standard features included Front Assist with forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, and Side Assist with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The IQ.Drive package added adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and more. The Tiguan's safety technology worked well, though NHTSA testing was incomplete, and the driver's door unlatched during a side-impact test. The IIHS gave the 2023 Tiguan a Top Safety Pick+ rating for 2022, but not for 2023.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered advanced driver aids, with blind-spot monitoring as standard. The Driver Assistance Package Plus added active blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and lane-change assist. The GLE earned a five-star side crash rating and a four-star rollover rating from NHTSA. The IIHS gave the GLE top scores in crashworthiness and crash avoidance, with an "Acceptable" headlight rating for models with the Digital Light package.