2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2024 Chevrolet Traverse

A subtle refresh for the 2024 model year (launched in 2023) keeps the popular Mercedes sport-utility competitive against a wide roster of rivals, which include the BMW X5, Genesis GV70, Cadillac XT6, Acura MDX, and Volvo XC90, to name just a few.

Changes between the previous GLE and the 2024 model year consist primarily of a subtle redesign of the front grille (look closely and you’ll see it's now filled with tiny Mercedes-Benz star logos), reprofiled headlights and taillights, an updated infotainment system, and optional off-road-themed air suspension system that can raise the GLE 3 centimetres to clear obstacles. It can also shimmy this Mercedes sport-ute back and forth to help get it unstuck over tricky terrain.

Specific to our testing purposes, the 2024 GLE also ushers in a new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variant called the GLE 450e 4Matic. As the last part of the name suggests, like every 2024 GLE, all-wheel drive (AWD) is fitted as standard. Yet the big news is what’s under the hood of this new model, namely a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder paired with an electric motor and 23.3-kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

While fully electrified vehicles presently grab the most automotive headlines, a week spent on a test drive of the GLE 450e highlighted how easily this luxurious PHEV sport-utility adapts to all sorts of driving situations.

The 2024 Chevrolet Traverse has gone from being something of a wallflower to becoming one of the more stand-out choices among midsize SUVs with three rows of seating. That’s because Chevrolet’s design and engineering team did its homework when it came time to update this third generation of the Traverse, a model that has featured in the brand’s lineup since its introduction back for the 2009 model year.

The 2024 Chevy Traverse is taller, wider, and longer than the outgoing variant. It’s also much more memorable to look at; following current SUV trends, Chevrolet gave the Traverse a more rugged appearance that borrows from both the full-size Tahoe SUV and Sierra pickup truck. Styling is always subjective, but in this instance, we think it’s fair to say Chevy got things right.

Verdict: More important than any additional visual bravado is that the 2024 Traverse has been improved in countless other ways. It has more standard driver aids, such as blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. There is more space for passengers, particularly those seated in the third row. And the infotainment system gets a much larger touchscreen.