2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2023 Volvo XC90

The 2023 Volvo XC90 marked a significant departure from Volvo's past boxy designs. The front end appeared stout and solid without being overly aggressive, and the grille was assertive yet not flashy. The recognizable "Thor’s Hammer" headlights added a modern touch, while the overall dimensions and shape retained a rectilinear form without resembling the toasters of the past. The Platinum Gray paint with brown undertones added depth, and the interior was a blend of elegant materials, including two-tone leather, metal Bowers and Wilkins speaker covers, an Orrefors crystal shift knob, and luxurious Nappa leather upholstery. The minimalist design featured wood deco inlays and a clean look with few physical controls.

In contrast, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE had subtle aesthetic changes, including sharper headlights and taillights, black fender flares, and chrome inserts in the grille. The optional AMG Line package added sportiness with a distinct grille and 21-inch wheels. Inside, the cabin was luxurious with plenty of leather and soft-touch surfaces. The available open-pore walnut trim paired with Bahia Brown seating surfaces gave a retro feel, but lighter leather options were available. The GLE coupe offered a sportier look but with reduced interior space.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 introduced new B5 and B6 engines with mild-hybrid technology, replacing the older T5 and T6 engines. The B5 engine produced 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the B6 engine, which our test car had, delivered 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The mild-hybrid system improved fuel efficiency slightly and provided smoother operation. The XC90's driving experience was enjoyable, with quick acceleration, a responsive eight-speed automatic transmission, and minimal road and wind noise. The brakes were solid, and the fuel-saving auto stop-start technology was almost imperceptible. However, the XC90 lacked customizable driving dynamics and off-roader features, focusing instead on simplicity.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a range of engines, 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 4.0-liter V8 in the GLE 580. Our test vehicle, the 450e plug-in hybrid, combined a 2.0-liter turbo inline four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 381 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. The 450e could travel up to 55 miles on all-electric power and featured a smooth transition between electric and gas modes. The driving experience was comfortable but not sporty, with light steering and body roll. The 450e had an 11-kW onboard charger and could accept a 60-kW DC fast charge for quick recharging.

The 2023 Volvo XC90's interior was peaceful and pleasant, but Scandinavian minimalism led to some space and storage frustrations. There was no dedicated space for a cell phone, and the center console bin was small. The second row was comfortable but challenging to adjust, and accessing the third row was difficult with the standard seven-passenger seating. Cargo space was 12.5 cubic feet with the third row in place, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 65.5 cubic feet with all rear seats folded, falling short of competitors like the Audi Q7 and Acura MDX.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE excelled in interior luxuries, with heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, heated and cooled cup holders, customizable ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, and soft-close doors. The cabin remained quiet, and the Burmester stereo system provided excellent sound quality. However, the sun visors did not extend, which was a minor annoyance. The GLE could tow 7,700 pounds and featured Trailer Maneuvering Assist technology. Cargo space was 31.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 74.9 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display running Google OS, with Google Maps, Spotify, NPR, and Google Assistant as standard features. The 12.3-inch driver information display also showed Google Maps. While the natural-language recognition was excellent, many key functions were buried within the touchscreen interface, leading to some frustration. More physical buttons and redundant controls would have been appreciated.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE came with a 12.3-inch digital customizable gauge cluster and the latest MBUX infotainment system. The 12.3-inch screen was smaller than those in other Mercedes models but still functional. The menu structure was easy to learn, and a touchpad on the center console provided an alternative to touching the screen. The augmented reality navigation system and off-road page offered useful information. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were included, but our tester experienced frequent disengagements with an iPhone. Plenty of USB-C ports were available for charging.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 was renowned for its safety, carrying a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and Pilot Assist technology, which helped maintain distance and lane position.

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