2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2024 Lincoln Nautilus

In 2024, finding the aesthetic changes in the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class required a discerning eye, yet those minor tweaks made a significant impact. The sharper headlights and taillights lent a more refined look, while black fender flares added a touch of rugged charm. The grille showcased nifty chrome inserts, and when paired with the optional AMG Line package, it provided an additional layer of sportiness to the SUV’s exterior. The GLE-Class came standard with 19-inch wheels, but buyers had the option to upgrade to striking 21-inch wheels for a bolder appearance.

The GLE coupe, available exclusively in the dynamic Mercedes-AMG guise, offered a sleek design with many similar features, although with slightly reduced interior space compared to its SUV sibling.

Inside the 2024 GLE-Class, the cabin bore the hallmarks of Mercedes-Benz luxury, albeit without the ultra-futuristic feel of the newer electric EQ models. Leather and soft-touch surfaces abounded, and the available open-pore walnut trim exuded elegance. However, the combination with Bahia Brown seating surfaces in the test model invoked a retro, 1970s woody rec room aesthetic. Opting for lighter leather colors could easily remedy this design misstep.

Conversely, the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus embraced a more sophisticated and streamlined exterior across its trims - Premiere, Reserve, and Black Label. The new grille, reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz's bifurcated design, featured LED lighting extending through it, illuminating the Lincoln star logo, which was nothing short of stunning.

The rear continued the horizontal theme with a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports that added to its allure. Lincoln added a unique profile twist by integrating door handles into the high beltline.

The Nautilus’s interior was truly exceptional, with a full-width screen that we’ll delve into later. Every material was of premium quality, and the ambient lighting and polished metal accents contributed to a luxurious ambiance. The inclusion of open-pore wood and fine leather elevated the vehicle further, though the piano key shifter style might not have been everyone’s favorite.

For an extra $3,000, the Jet Appearance Package added two-tone paint, black exterior trim, black 20- or 22-inch wheels, and unique interior elements, enhancing the Nautilus's already sophisticated demeanor.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class offered a variety of powertrains to cater to diverse preferences, from the entry-level GLE 350 with 255 horsepower to the sporty GLE 450 with a robust 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine. The top-tier GLE 580 boasted an impressive 4.0-liter V8. Each of these engines paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission for seamless power delivery.

Our test vehicle, the GLE 450e plug-in hybrid, aimed to balance performance and efficiency, integrating a 2.0-liter turbo inline four-cylinder engine with an electric motor for a combined output of 381 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. This setup provided more power than both the GLE 350 and GLE 450. However, the added weight of the 23.3-kWh battery rendered the GLE 450e about a half-second slower to 60 miles per hour compared to the GLE 450.

Mercedes claimed the GLE 450e could cover 48 miles purely on electric power. In practice, our test vehicle indicated an optimistic 55 miles. The car defaulted to all-electric mode on startup, providing drivers the option to switch to Hybrid mode or Battery Hold mode as needed.

While the Sport mode didn’t significantly enhance the driving dynamics, the transition between electric and gas power remained almost imperceptible. The GLE 450e excelled as a comfortable commuter despite its lackluster sporty handling compared to competitors like the BMW X5 xDrive50e. Charging was efficient, with an 11-kW onboard charger achieving full charge in under three hours on a Level 2 home charger. Importantly, it also supported a 60-kW DC fast charge for speedy recharging on the go.

In contrast, the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that operated smoothly. The hybrid option, costing an additional $1,500, combined a bit of electric assist to yield 310 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, and provided an EPA estimated 30 mpg in combined driving. The gas-only model offered 24 mpg.

With the hybrid, drivers enjoyed a remarkable range exceeding 600 miles per tank — enough to journey from San Francisco to the Oregon border and back. Every Nautilus featured all-wheel drive (AWD) and five drive modes. The adaptive suspension, available as an upgrade, significantly improved driving experiences in different modes such as Normal, Excite, Conserve, Slippery, and Deep Conditions.

The hybrid incorporated a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that maintained a pleasant driving experience by avoiding the typical droning associated with CVTs. While the Nautilus might not be a driver’s pick for thrilling drives, it certainly catered effectively to those needing a reliable boost of speed now and then.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class focused on interior comfort and luxury. Standard heated front seats could be upgraded to include ventilation and a massage function. The heated and cooled cup holders, customizable ambient lighting, and a panoramic sunroof combined to enhance comfort further. Soft-close doors and an exceptionally quiet cabin made even noisy highway drives serene. The inclusion of a premium Burmester sound system elevated the ride quality.

A minor drawback was the fixed sun visors that did not extend, a surprising oversight for a luxury SUV.

In terms of utility, the GLE-Class impressed with its towing capacity of 7,700 pounds and innovative Trailer Maneuvering Assist technology. The cargo space offered 31.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats — with a bit more available in non-PHEV models — and expanded to 74.9 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus, on the other hand, prioritized comfort and space. All trims included power-adjustable, heated, and cooled front seats. The Black Label trim featured Lincoln’s 24-way Perfect Position front seats with a continuous massage function, likely the most comfortable in the mid-size luxury SUV segment, exceeding even the offerings from Mercedes-Benz and Genesis.

The rear seats, although heated only in the top trim, boasted a generous 43 inches of legroom, which was nearly six inches more than the BMW X5 and two inches more than the GLE. Taller passengers would find the rear seats quite accommodating.

The Lincoln Rejuvenate feature, akin to Mercedes-Benz’s Energizing Comfort, combined massage, lighting, and screen images to create various moods, perfect for relaxing at home or in the driveway after a commute. The available scented cabin feature with options like Mystic Forest and Ozonic Azure added a unique touch.

Cargo capacity in the Nautilus was competitive, offering 36 cubic feet of space behind the second row and 71 cubic feet with the seats folded in the Premiere trim. However, the Reserve and Black Label trims had slightly less space. Unlike some competitors, the Nautilus wasn't available with three-row seating, but it preferred providing ample cargo space over cramped third-row seating.

The GLE-Class came with a 12.3-inch digital customizable gauge cluster and the latest MBUX infotainment system, although not featuring the massive touchscreens found in other Mercedes models like the EQS or S-Class PHEV. The 12.3-inch screen was smaller but functional, with a fairly intuitive menu. The touchpad on the center console and touchpad controls on the steering wheel provided alternative ways to navigate the system, though some found them finicky.

The available augmented reality navigation system was a highlight, overlaying addresses and turn indicators on a video feed, assisting drivers in navigating effectively. Additionally, the off-road page in the MBUX system provided useful information for adventure seekers, including a transparent hood feature showing what lay beneath the vehicle.

Unfortunately, our test noted problems with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, citing frequent disconnections, but there were sufficient USB-C ports to keep devices charged.

The Lincoln Nautilus stood out with its jaw-dropping 48-inch curved display. This encompassed a digital dash on the left for the driver and customizable sections for displaying various data like weather and fuel economy. Graphics were crisp and vibrant, enhancing usability.

The center console housed a smaller 11.1-inch touchscreen handling basic infotainment and wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. However, adjusting vents through touchscreen menus proved distracting. The unlabelled steering wheel controls could be another distraction, requiring visual confirmation for precise functions.

Despite these quirks, the system included Google maps, Alexa Built-in for voice controls, and options for gaming and web browsing when stopped. Over-the-air updates ensured the technology remained current, and wireless charging along with USB-A and USB-C ports provided ample device connectivity.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class came equipped with numerous advanced drivers aids, enhancing both safety and convenience. While blind-spot monitoring was 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 adaptive cruise control stood out for its reliability. However, adding this comprehensive package increased the vehicle cost by nearly $2,000.

The GLE received impressive safety ratings. While it awaited overall and frontal crash ratings, it earned a five-star rating for side crashes and four out of five stars for rollovers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded it the highest marks for crashworthiness, crash avoidance and mitigation, and seatbelts and child restraints. GLE’s Digital Light-equipped models received an “Acceptable” headlight rating.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus excelled in providing ample safety features, seamlessly integrated within the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite. This included lane-keeping assist, park assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and emergency braking. A noteworthy inclusion was the Blue Cruise 1.2, Lincoln’s hands-free/eyes-up driving technology, available as a trial on lower trims and standard for four years on the Black Label trim. Post-trial, the service required a subscription costing $75 monthly or $800 yearly.

Blue Cruise effectively combined adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, adding automatic lane-change assist and in-lane repositioning for enhanced safety on highways. It was a reassuring feature, especially on longer drives where semi-trucks loomed large at high speeds.

The Nautilus was yet to be rated by the NHTSA for 2024, but its 2023 model earned five out of five stars for frontal and side crash protection, and four out of five stars for rollovers. The IIHS rated the 2024 model top scores for crashworthiness, although the latest assessments for front crash prevention and child restraints were pending.