2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2024 Volkswagen Atlas

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas underwent a styling refresh that heightened its American appeal while stepping away from European influences. New lighting elements included light-up VW logos at the front and rear—white for the front and red for the back. The daytime running lights were tied together with a front light bar, complementing new LED headlights reminiscent of those found on a Ford Expedition.

The rear end received a cohesive look with taillights integrated into a full-width light bar, all featuring the illuminated logo. New wheel designs were introduced for all trim levels. The base SE model sported 18-inch alloy wheels, while most other trims had 20-inch wheels. The SEL Premium R-Line donned 21-inch wheels and a slightly sportier aesthetic.

A highlight of the 2024 lineup was the Atlas Peak Edition, which catered to a more adventurous look. It showcased black 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, a unique front fascia, silver body cladding on the front and sides, and blacked-out exterior trim. Exclusive colors such as Avocado Green and Pure Gray set this edition apart. The interior updates focused around the center, with a free-standing infotainment touchscreen and a minimized shifter allowing for more storage space. The blending of minimalist interior and rugged exterior created a somewhat jarring contrast.

Volkswagen aimed to upscale the interior, introducing faux-wood trim with more noticeable grain and a new so-called carbon fiber-effect plastic trim. Standard leatherette seats could be upgraded to premium leather upholstery with contrast stitching in SEL models. The top-tier SEL Premium R-Line flaunted diamond stitching, but some stitching areas and material quality did not quite align with its high-end status.

Identifying the visual changes in the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE required a keen eye but proved noteworthy. Enhanced headlights and taillights and black fender flares lent a sharper look. The grille received stylish chrome inserts. The AMG Line package added a sporty grille that elevated the exterior’s athleticism. The GLE came standard with 19-inch wheels, optional 21-inch wheels provided a robust look.

The standout option within the GLE-Class family was the GLE coupe, exclusively available in the performance-oriented Mercedes-AMG guise, balancing sportiness with reduced interior space.

Inside, the cabin exuded a signature Mercedes-Benz charm, although not as futuristic as their newer EQ electric models. High-quality materials, leather, and soft-touch surfaces were abundant. The open-pore walnut trim paired with Bahia Brown seating offered a retro vibe, which might not appeal to everyone. Choosing lighter leather options would alter the look substantially.

The 2024 Atlas scaled down its powertrain options to a single 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, delivering 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque on regular fuel. This engine, an iteration of VW’s EA888, outperformed the prior VR6 and earlier turbo-four by a significant margin, drumming up a more robust and noticeably powerful driving experience.

Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Atlas offered front-wheel drive (FWD) as standard with optional all-wheel drive (AWD). This configuration enabled FWD models to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in an estimated eight seconds and 8.3 seconds for AWD models, both faster than the 2023 six-cylinder models. Despite these improvements, the Atlas retained its focus on comfort and efficiency over sporty performance, suitable for its family-oriented role. Most models continued to offer a 5,000-pound towing capacity, except for the base SE, which capped at 2,000 pounds.

The 2024 GLE-Class boasted diverse powertrain options. Buyers could choose from the entry-level GLE 350 with its 255-horsepower engine to the mid-range GLE 450 powered by a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine and the top-tier GLE 580’s 4.0-liter V8, all paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Our evaluation focused on the 450e plug-in hybrid model, positioned as the optimal blend of performance and efficiency.

The GLE 450e combined a 2.0-liter turbo inline four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing a combined 381 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. This setup supplied more power than the GLE 350 and GLE 450, although the added weight of a 23.3-kWh battery made it marginally slower to 60 mph. Notably, the 450e could run up to 48 miles on electric power alone, with real-world testing sometimes exceeding that estimate. Its transition between electric and gas modes was impressively seamless.

While the GLE 450e offered a Sport mode, it did not significantly enhance its driving dynamics, providing a quiet, comfortable ride rather than a sporty feel. Options like the BMW X5 xDrive50e would appeal more to drivers seeking an agile and performance-focused experience.

The 2024 Atlas embraced practicality with more standard features. The base SE trim level now included a heated steering wheel and ventilated front seats. The SE with Technology added a power liftgate, and leather upholstery, along with heated second-row seats, became standard on the SEL.

Standard seating accommodated seven passengers with a versatile second-row bench that could 60/40 split-fold, recline, and slide forward and back by 7.7 inches, even holding three child seats side by side. Second-row captain’s chairs were an option for SE with Technology and higher trims, lowering the seat count to six. The third-row bench remained 50/50 split-folding.

The Atlas upheld its class-leading interior space—competitive headroom and legroom across all three rows, surpassing even the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. Cargo capacity was equally impressive, offering 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up, expanding to 55.5 cubic feet with the third row down, and a substantial 96.6 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded.

The GLE 450e focused on luxury inside, with standard heated front seats enriched by optional ventilation and massage functions in our test model. Heated and cooled cup holders, sophisticated ambient lighting, a panoramic sunroof, soft-close doors, and top-notch noise insulation contributed to an exceptional cabin experience. An exemplary Burmester stereo system further enhanced the premium feel.

However, the fixed sun visors were a rare overlook in this luxurious interior. The GLE stood out in towing capacity—7,700 pounds, aided by newly introduced Trailer Maneuvering Assist technology for smoother trailer handling. Cargo space was generous, with 31.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats (slightly more in non-PHEV models) and a maximum of 74.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The Atlas received a tech boost for 2024. All models now featured a 12-inch touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, accompanied by wireless phone charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard USB-C ports remained at six but could extend to eight, including a handy dash cam port in higher trims.

Higher SEL trims and above got a standard head-up display and a premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon system, which was a noticeable upgrade from the base six-speaker setup. While the upgraded infotainment interface was user-friendly with crisp graphics, its reliance on haptic touchpads for key functions like audio volume and headlights was less intuitive and more cumbersome than traditional buttons.

The GLE featured a standard 12.3-inch digital customizable gauge cluster and the latest MBUX infotainment system, albeit on a more modest 12.3-inch screen compared to larger displays in other Mercedes models. MBUX’s menu was intuitive, supported by a center console touchpad and voice commands activated by “Hey, Mercedes.” However, the small touchpads on the steering wheel proved less reliable.

An augmented reality navigation system was a standout, overlaying directional arrows and addresses on a live video feed, facilitating more precise navigation. Mercedes added an off-road information page in MBUX, providing data like altitude and steering angle, complemented by a transparent hood feature displaying what's underneath the car. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were present but marred by connectivity issues in our test.

The NHTSA awarded the 2024 Atlas a five-star overall safety rating, with top scores in side crash tests and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The IIHS had not rated the 2024 model, but the structurally similar 2023 model earned high marks, except for a “Marginal” rating in the updated moderate overlap front test.

Volkswagen made its IQ.Drive driver-assist package standard across more trims in 2024. This package included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. The higher trims offered additional features like Travel Assist and predictive adaptive cruise control. The top SEL Premium R-Line added park assist and a surround-view camera system.

Mercedes’s GLE-Class equipped premium active safety tech, often requiring additional spend. Standard blind-spot monitoring could be upgraded to active with the Driver Assistance Package Plus, bundling lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with steering assist, and lane-change assist. These worked effectively, notably the adaptive cruise control, though the package came at a significant cost.

The GLE lacked an overall frontal crash rating from the NHTSA but received five stars for side crash safety and four stars for rollover. The IIHS rated it “Good” across various safety categories, with an “Acceptable” headlight rating for models with the Digital Light package.