2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2024 Honda Prologue

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class carried subtle yet impactful aesthetic changes. Its sharper headlights and taillights, alongside the black fender flares over the wheel arches, gave it a more refined look. The grille now boasted chrome inserts, adding to its elegance. The optional AMG Line package brought a sportier edge to the exterior, featuring a distinct grille, while the 19-inch standard wheels could be upgraded to 21-inch ones for an even bolder stance. For those seeking a sleeker profile, the Mercedes-Benz GLE coupe offered a stylish alternative, albeit at the expense of some interior space.

Inside, the GLE-Class embodied Mercedes-Benz’s signature luxury. Although it wasn’t as futuristic as the newer all-electric EQ cars, it still featured plenty of leather and soft-touch surfaces. The open-pore walnut trim was a standout, although paired with Bahia Brown seating surfaces, it created a somewhat dated aesthetic reminiscent of a 1970s wood-paneled room. Opting for a lighter leather color could remedy this design clash.

The 2024 Honda Prologue, in contrast, embraced a more conventional EV design. Its EX trim offered five basic colors, while the Touring and Elite trims introduced Sonic Grey and the striking North Shore Pearl, a vibrant turquoise that stood out as the most eye-catching feature. The front-end displayed the traditional Honda “H” logo on a smooth black panel, hinting at its all-electric nature. Personalization options included skid plates and side cladding, which added a rugged touch if desired.

The side profile of the Prologue revealed its elongated design, resembling more of a classic car than a typical SUV. It was three inches longer than the Honda Passport but eight inches shorter, creating a low, stretched appearance accentuated by its large wheels. The new Honda font across the back signaled Honda's foray into electric vehicles.

Inside the Prologue Elite trim, the brown and black interior color scheme felt luxurious but was exclusive to this trim. Other trims offered a gray and black two-tone option. The EX featured cloth seating, while the higher trims came with leather. The dash layout was familiar, aligning with Honda’s recent redesigns, but notably absent were concealed air vents, replaced by piano black plastic topped with upholstery material, adding to the vehicle's upscale yet familiar feel.

In terms of performance, the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class offered multiple engine choices. Buyers could opt for the entry-level GLE 350 with 255 horsepower, the mid-line GLE 450 powered by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, or the top-tier 4.0-liter V8 in the GLE 580. All engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Our test vehicle, however, was the new 450e, featuring a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

The GLE 450e combined a 2.0-liter turbo inline four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, delivering a total output of 381 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque in hybrid mode. This made it more powerful than the GLE 350 and GLE 450, though it was about half a second slower to 60 mph due to the added weight of its 23.3-kWh battery. The battery was capable of storing enough energy for up to 48 miles of all-electric driving, though our test showed a surprising 55 miles. The GLE 450e defaulted to all-electric mode on startup if the battery had sufficient charge but offered Hybrid and Battery Hold modes for different driving preferences.

The Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e's performance was comfortable but not exhilarating. It featured light steering and noticeable body roll, making it more suited for a relaxed commute than sporty driving. Charging the 450e was efficient, thanks to an 11-kW onboard charger that achieved a full charge in under three hours on a Level 2 home charger and a 60-kW DC fast-charging capability for quicker top-ups during long trips.

The 2024 Honda Prologue came with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The FWD version packed a single motor with 212 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque, offering an impressive 296 miles of range on the EX and Touring trims with 19-inch wheels. The AWD models featured a dual-motor setup delivering 288 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque, with varying ranges depending on trim and wheel size – 273 miles on the Elite trim’s 21-inch wheels, and 281 miles on the EX and Touring trims with 19-inch wheels.

The Prologue’s 296-mile base range outperformed many of its competitors. It offered familiar Honda driving dynamics, with a choice of three regenerative braking settings, including a one-pedal drive option. The Prologue's long wheelbase contributed to a comfortable ride, though the cabin wasn’t as quiet as advertised. Steering, throttle, and brake responses could be sharpened in Sport mode, making the Prologue surprisingly agile for its size.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class excelled in interior luxury. Standard heated front seats were enhanced in our tester with added ventilation and a massage function. Heated and cooled cup holders kept beverages at the perfect temperature, while customizable ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, soft-close doors, and a high-end Burmester stereo system created a plush travel environment. The only drawback was the non-extending sun visors, which could be frustrating for drivers.

The GLE-Class had an impressive towing capacity of 7,700 pounds and featured new Trailer Maneuvering Assist technology. Cargo space totaled 31.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 74.9 cubic feet when the second row was folded.

The 2024 Honda Prologue showcased practical and user-friendly features. Traditional door handles eased the transition to EV ownership. The cabin offered an ample 111.7 cubic feet of passenger volume, with generous legroom–39.4 inches in the second row and 41.4 inches in the front. Headroom was decent, with the reclining rear seats and panoramic moonroof enhancing the feeling of space.

The Prologue came with standard heated front seats and dual-zone climate control, with front seat ventilation and a heated steering wheel added on the Elite trim. The cabin featured two-tier storage in the center console and ample space for devices. Touring and Elite trims had a hands-free power liftgate, revealing a 25.2-cubic-foot cargo area, expandable to 57.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Prologue lacked frunk storage but included a deep compartment below the cargo floor.

The GLE-Class came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and the latest MBUX infotainment system, displayed on a 12.3-inch screen. Though smaller than screens in some Mercedes models, it was user-friendly with options for voice commands, touchpad control, or steering wheel touchpads. The augmented reality navigation system was particularly noteworthy for its clear guidance. An off-road page provided detailed vehicle stats, but wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto had connectivity issues.

The 2024 Honda Prologue featured keyless access, with the Elite trim using a card-format key. A wireless charger and four USB-C ports offered ample charging options, and the 11.3-inch infotainment screen housed wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An 11-inch digital driver-information display and an optional head-up display added to the tech experience. Google Built-In, standard across all trims, included native Google Maps and EV route planning, with the Touring and Elite trims boasting a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system and Active Sound Control for enhanced driving sounds.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class came with excellent advanced driver aids, though many were optional. Standard features included blind-spot monitoring, while the Driver Assistance Package Plus added active blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and lane-change assist. NHTSA ratings were incomplete, but the GLE earned top marks from the IIHS in several categories.

The 2024 Honda Prologue came standard with the Honda Sensing suite and introduced features like rear cross-traffic braking and blind-zone steering assist. Higher trims included additional safety features like front-park assist and a surround-view system. Although it had not been rated by IIHS or NHTSA at the time of writing, Honda aimed for top safety ratings.