Toyota Highlander vs Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2022 Toyota Highlander had a modern, somewhat aggressive front-end design. Its flared fender arches and the third-row window's upward kick made the spacious Highlander appear smaller to the eye. However, once inside, the cabin offered ample space and clever storage solutions for items like iPads and juice boxes. The XSE trim, in particular, stood out with its bold red leather interior, unique exterior styling, ambient interior lighting, and sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander’s trim lineup included L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum, each adding more features and luxury as you moved up.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE received a subtle exterior makeover that was hard to notice at first glance. The front grille featured clever Mercedes star logos, and the headlights and taillights had minor updates. The GLE 450e test vehicle, finished in Twilight Blue metallic and equipped with 21-inch AMG multi-spoke alloy wheels, looked particularly handsome. The interior of the GLE 450e exuded class and luxury with Macchiato beige and black leather upholstery, complemented by natural grain brown walnut trim. The GLE offered a variety of interior color choices and trims, making it one of the highest quality cabins in its segment.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. This power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to either standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD). The transmission featured a tap-shift function and certain trims had steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The Highlander also offered drive modes including Sport, Normal, and Eco, as well as AWD modes like Mud/Sand and Rock. The V6 engine provided good pickup, especially at highway speeds, and the sport-tuned suspension in the XSE trim reduced body roll while maintaining a comfortable ride. The Highlander could tow up to 5,000 pounds and had a max payload of 1,685 pounds in the FWD L and LE trims.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a range of powertrains, including turbocharged four- and six-cylinder engines, and a twin-turbo V8 in the AMG GLE 63 S, which produced 603 horsepower. The GLE 450e, with its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor, delivered a combined output of 381 hp and 479 pound-feet of torque. This power was sent to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission. The GLE 450e could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds and offered an estimated electric-only driving range of 40 miles. The transition between gas and electric power was seamless, and the suspension provided a smooth ride even on rough roads. The GLE 450e’s sophisticated steering made it feel maneuverable despite its size.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander provided up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded. With the second-row seats in use, there was 48.4 cubic feet of cargo space, and with all seats deployed, 16 cubic feet behind the third row. The seats were easy to lower and lift, and trims above the base L came with a power liftgate. The interior featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, deep cargo pockets, and various storage compartments. The second-row captain’s chairs in the XSE trim provided a center aisle to the third row, which was spacious enough for adults, though the third row was best suited for short trips.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered 33 cubic feet of cargo space behind the 40/20/40 split-folding second row. While this was comparable to the BMW X5, it was less than the Cadillac XT6 and Volvo XC90. The GLE’s optional third-row seat was limited to the GLE 350 and GLE 450 and was suitable only for young children. The GLE 450e came with power-adjustable heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a power sunroof, and a power liftgate. The Exclusive and Pinnacle trim levels added features like a Burmester surround-sound audio system, ventilated front seats, massaging front seats, and a head-up display. Additional options included a panoramic sunroof, illuminated running boards, and heated rear seats.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. The infotainment system had a straightforward layout with hard buttons for easy operation. The XSE trim featured a wireless charging pad and additional USB ports. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system were available as options.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured the Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with two 12.3-inch screens serving as the digital instrument panel and main infotainment screen. The system could be controlled via touch commands, a control pad on the center console, or touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with an improved “Hey Mercedes” voice command system. The head-up display and augmented reality navigation were praised for their clarity and convenience. However, the touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel could be overly sensitive, leading to occasional issues.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view parking monitor, a head-up display, and adaptive headlights. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were very active, sometimes overly so.

The 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE came with a comprehensive lineup of active safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, pedestrian detection, hands-free park assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver attention monitor. The optional Driver Assistance package added active blind-spot assist, active lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, traffic sign recognition, and evasive steering assist. These features were unobtrusive during everyday driving and provided an extra layer of safety.