Ford Edge vs Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2021 Ford Edge had a design that remained largely unchanged since its 2019 refresh, which successfully aligned its exterior with Ford's more recent designs. This refresh gave the Edge a cleaner look compared to the more elaborate styling of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured extra chrome accents, while the ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line offered the same exterior styling as the ST but without the performance upgrades and higher price tag. However, the interior of the Edge began to show its age, with a design that seemed less fresh and awkwardly modified over the years to fit new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models had leather upholstery, and the ST models included sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe, despite the SUV coupe trend, was not offensively styled. The test vehicle's Selenite Gray paint, 22-inch forged aluminum wheels, and polished brightwork gave it an athletic sneaker-like appearance from a front three-quarter perspective. Mercedes discontinued many V8-powered models for 2022, including the AMG GLE 63 S Coupe variant, leaving the AMG GLE 53 Coupe with a base price of $77,800. The test vehicle, loaded with options, pushed the MSRP to over $100,000. Inside, the AMG GLE 53 Coupe was luxurious, featuring high-end materials and a high-tech appearance with dual-screen instrumentation and infotainment design. The test vehicle included Nappa premium leather, a Dinamica simulated suede headliner and steering wheel, and brushed aluminum trim. Ambient lighting enhanced the driving experience at night. The interior design masked the vehicle's complexity, and while the lack of traditional controls could be confusing initially, users acclimated over time.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Edge ST performance model featured an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel, with standard AWD, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and model-specific suspension tuning. An optional package added upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires. The Edge ST, introduced in 2019, faced skepticism from enthusiasts who were used to the ST badge on hot hatchbacks like the Focus ST and Fiesta ST. Ford claimed the Edge ST was benchmarked against performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan. While the comparison to Porsche might have been a stretch, the Edge ST was enjoyable to drive, especially since its competitors did not emphasize performance. The Edge had respectable towing capacities: 3,958 pounds for the base FWD four-cylinder, 4,122 pounds for four-cylinder AWD models, and 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST. However, competitors like the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport offered higher towing capacities of 5,000 pounds with AWD.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine producing 429 hp at 6,100 rpm and 384 pound-feet of torque from 1,800 rpm to 5,800 rpm. The engine included EQ Boost, a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that added extra power when needed and helped conserve fuel. The EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 19 mpg, with the test vehicle achieving 18.5 mpg. The AMG GLE 53 Coupe had a SpeedShift nine-speed automatic transmission and an AMG Performance 4Matic+ AWD system with fully variable torque distribution. The AMG Dynamic Select system offered multiple driving modes, and the engine breathed through an AMG sport exhaust system. Performance upgrades included an AMG Active Ride Control suspension with active roll stabilization and AMG Performance brakes. The GLE Coupe's speed-sensitive variable-ratio power steering made it easy to maneuver in urban settings, and the turning radius was tighter than expected. However, the optional AMG Performance braking system made smooth stops challenging. The AMG Active Ride Control suspension handled speed humps well but was less forgiving on rougher surfaces. The GLE Coupe felt nimble and composed in various driving conditions, with a reserve of performance available. In Sport+ mode, the SUV excelled on challenging roads, with impressive grip and brake performance. However, its size and weight were drawbacks on tight roads, and the loud exhaust note in Sport+ mode could be intrusive. In Sport mode, the GLE Coupe was more enjoyable to drive on less demanding roads.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows, second only to the Hyundai Santa Fe. Standard features included dual-zone automatic climate control. The Edge provided 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Higher trim levels offered a foot-activated power liftgate. The rotary shift knob on the center console was designed to free up space, but the narrow console width limited its effectiveness. The raised console provided a storage nook below, but its location made it difficult to reach and easy to forget items placed there.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupe technically seated up to five people, but it was more comfortable for four, especially if the rear passengers were adults. The test vehicle's sport-bolstered, multi-contour front seats offered numerous power adjustments, heating, ventilation, and massage, making them comfortable on highways and supportive on winding roads. Forward visibility was good, but rear visibility was challenging, necessitating the use of available cameras. The back seat provided ample legroom for adults, and the cargo hold offered 27.5 cubic feet of space, expanding to 63.2 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. While the GLE Coupe had less cargo space than the regular GLE, it was still generous. Additional comfort upgrades included heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, heated rear seats, a four-zone automatic climate control system, a Warmth and Comfort Package with heated armrests and rapid-heating front seats, and an Air Balance in-cabin fragrance system.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured the latest Sync 4 infotainment system with a standard 12-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST models included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge had four USB ports, with two rear USB ports, including one USB-C, added for the 2021 model year. While we hadn't driven a Sync 4-equipped Edge, our experiences with Sync 4 in other Ford models were positive, with simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts. Not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupe came standard with the Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, featuring dual 12.3-inch screens under a single piece of glass, including a digital instrument cluster and touchscreen. Standard features included a navigation system, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Mercedes Me connected services, wireless smartphone charging, and a Burmester surround-sound audio system. MBUX was user-friendly, with beautifully rendered graphics, logical menu structures, and multiple interaction methods. The natural voice recognition technology, activated by saying "Hey Mercedes," worked well, similar to Alexa, Google, or Siri. However, the touchpad on the center console was easy to activate inadvertently. Optional features included an MBUX Interior Assistant with gesture recognition, an augmented video feature for navigation, a head-up display, a surround-view camera system, and an upgraded Burmester 3D high-end surround-sound system.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," scoring top ratings in all crash tests and front crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. It received lower ratings for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention tech, LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and headlight ratings. The NHTSA gave the Edge a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash tests. Standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking (with pedestrian detection), post-collision braking, dynamic brake support, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control (with stop-and-go and lane centering) and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base Edge SE trim level.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupe came equipped with numerous safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. It also featured Pre Safe Sound, which emitted a "pink noise" tone through the stereo speakers before a collision to protect hearing. The Emergency Call Service, accessible via the SOS button on the overhead console, was free for the vehicle's lifetime. The Driver Assistance Package added 15 additional driver support and collision avoidance systems, including Traffic Jam Assist, which provided steering assistance in low-speed traffic. The test vehicle had the Driver Assistance Package, and the systems worked with remarkable refinement and accuracy. Active Lane Change Assist and Active Emergency Stop Assist were particularly impressive. The lane-keeping assistance technology was effective without being intrusive. The adaptive cruise control's route-based speed adaptation function, which automatically slowed the GLE for curves and other navigation recommendations, could be a source of irritation. Crash-test results for the GLE Coupe were unavailable, but the standard GLE received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.