2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2023 Toyota Sienna

For many shoppers, the minivan aesthetic of the 2023 Toyota Sienna was a challenging sell. The memories of sliding doors and slab-sided designs often evoked childhood road trips with parents consulting massive paper road maps. The rise of family-oriented SUVs in the 1990s did no favors for minivans, pushing them into the realm of uncool. However, those gigantic SUVs eventually morphed into car-based crossovers, which, for aerodynamic efficiency, adopted designs that were essentially high-riding minivans minus the sliding doors.

Toyota undertook a valiant effort to rid the Sienna of its traditional minivan style. The front-end styling resembled that of a sleek Japanese bullet train, a nod to modern engineering. While most trims fitted 18-inch wheels, the XSE and Platinum trims in their front-wheel-drive iterations featured 20-inch wheels, adding a touch of athleticism.

The 2023 Sienna offered various trims: base LE, XLE, sporty XSE, luxurious Limited, and top-of-the-line Platinum. Additionally, the 25th Anniversary Special Edition trim joined the lineup, positioned just below the Limited in pricing.

Value-conscious shoppers were likely drawn to the XLE trim. The standard features—LED fog lights, power-sliding doors, and a power liftgate—enhanced convenience, particularly for those managing a full load of children.

The interior of the Sienna was thoughtfully designed. The Platinum trim we tested won us over with its high-quality brown leather upholstery and elegant wood-grain accents on the center console, providing an upscale feel. The Sienna could be configured with seating for seven or eight passengers, with the latter option available in the LE or XLE trims, featuring a middle bench seat that could secure three car seats with LATCH anchors.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, while subtle in its aesthetic changes, boasted enhancements that made a noticeable difference. The sharper headlights and taillights, along with black fender flares over the wheel arches and chrome inserts on the grille, modernized its appearance. The AMG Line package on our tester added a distinct grille and 21-inch optional wheels, elevating its sporty look.

The GLE coupe, though only available in the robust AMG configuration, offered a sleek, elegant design but at the expense of interior space. Inside the GLE, the luxurious Mercedes-Benz feel was evident with abundant leather and soft-touch surfaces. However, our tester’s open-pore walnut trim paired with Bahia Brown seating resulted in a dated, wood-paneled 1970s vibe. Opting for a lighter leather color could remedy this design misstep.

When Toyota unveiled the fourth-generation Sienna in 2020, it transitioned exclusively to a hybrid powertrain, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two front-mounted electric motors and an additional rear motor for the AWD variants. This configuration produced a combined 245 horsepower, which was less impressive compared to competitors. The vehicle's size and weight overtaxed the powertrain, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) struggled noisily up the rev band, leading to less-than-stellar acceleration compared to rivals like the Honda Odyssey.

On a positive note, the Sienna's chassis and steering impressed with their nimbleness for a minivan. The light steering feel facilitated city driving and the sound chassis provided a smooth highway ride, making it surprisingly fun to drive. Although Toyota offered multiple drive modes—EV, Normal, Eco, and Sport—Normal mode was the most practical. Eco mode stretched the CVT's simulated gears excessively, while EV mode failed to deliver electric-only driving consistently. Sport mode, meanwhile, lacked the excitement some might hope for.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class offered a variety of engines, from the entry-level GLE 350 with 255 horsepower to the robust GLE 580 with a 4.0-liter V8. Our test vehicle featured the new 450e plug-in hybrid powertrain, balancing performance and efficiency. The 450e's 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine, combined with an electric motor, produced 381 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. Despite its impressive power, the additional weight of the 23.3-kWh battery made it about half a second slower to 60 mph than the GLE 450.

The 450e shined with an electric-only range of 48 miles, with our tests occasionally exceeding this to 55 miles. The transition between electric and gas modes was seamless, and multiple drive modes—electric, hybrid, and battery hold—offered flexibility. The brake regeneration settings required adjustment with each start, as the default was no regeneration. Sport mode fell short of transforming the hybrid into a sporty ride, with the car exhibiting light steering and significant body roll.

Charging the 450e was efficient, thanks to its 11-kW onboard charger, which fully recharged it in under three hours on a Level 2 charger. It also supported 60-kW DC fast charging, perfect for road trips.

The Sienna excelled in interior storage solutions, offering a myriad of cubbies, nooks, shelves, and bins. A large open cubby beneath the center console, a long shelf extending across the dash, and a center console bin provided ample space for personal belongings. Multiple cupholders ensured everyone could keep hydrated.

Stretching over 200 inches long with a 120.5-inch wheelbase, the Sienna’s design maximized interior space. It boasted 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and 75.2 cubic feet with the third row folded, amounting to a total of 101 cubic feet. However, it fell short compared to other minivans as its second row couldn’t be removed or folded into the floor, unlike competitors.

The second row in our test model featured captain’s chairs with extending ottomans and long-track slides, allowing third-row access with generous legroom for adult passengers—an edge over most three-row crossovers.

The GLE 450e’s interior luxuries compensated for its less sporty performance. Standard heated front seats with optional ventilation and massage functions, heated and cooled cupholders, customizable ambient lighting, and a panoramic sunroof made for a comfortable ride. The cabin remained tranquil even on noisy highways, aided further by the premium Burmester stereo system.

A glaring omission—the non-extending sun visors—was frustrating, particularly for a luxury SUV. The GLE-Class excelled in towing, with a 7,700-pound capacity and features like Trailer Maneuvering Assist. Cargo capacity was ample, with 31.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 74.9 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The Sienna lagged behind newer Toyotas in technology. Its infotainment system, though functional with essentials like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, felt outdated. The 9-inch touchscreen, physical buttons, and quirks in software integration left much to be desired. For instance, Android Auto required a wired connection and cumbersome navigation through menus.

The GLE-Class featured a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and MBUX infotainment system, albeit with a smaller screen compared to other Mercedes models. The system was user-friendly, with touchpad controls and voice commands. Augmented reality navigation was a highlight, offering clear turn-by-turn directions.

Mercedes included off-road informational pages, albeit of limited use, and features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though our tester experienced connectivity issues. Multiple USB-C ports ensured devices stayed charged.

The Sienna’s safety features were robust. Standard equipment included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with steering assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. The Sienna earned 5 stars from the NHTSA and the previous year’s model was an IIHS Top Safety Pick+.

Mercedes provided numerous advanced driver aids, standardizing blind-spot monitoring and offering a Driver Assistance Package Plus, which added active features for around $2,000. The 2024 GLE had not been fully rated by the NHTSA but scored well in side crash and rollover tests. The IIHS gave it top marks in crashworthiness and crash avoidance, with acceptable headlight ratings for models with the Digital Light package.