2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2024 Subaru Outback

The 2024 Subaru Outback maintained its rugged charm with minor updates to the Wilderness trim, featuring a new front fascia and LED fog lights. The dark grey cladding provided a striking contrast to the Autumn Green Metallic paint of the Premier XT model, a colour that was both unique and appealing. The Outback's various trims offered different levels of black and chrome exterior fittings, with the Premier XT showcasing the most chrome, which was tastefully executed. Wheel designs varied across trims, with the Wilderness trim sporting matte black 17-inch alloy wheels, while the Onyx and Limited trims featured larger 18-inch wheels with a machine finish. Inside, the Premier XT impressed with its Java Brown Nappa leather upholstery, offering a level of luxury unexpected from Subaru, which traditionally focused on capability over opulence.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE, last redesigned in 2020 and facelifted in 2024, stood out with its unique design that deviated from other Mercedes SUVs. It featured a rounded profile reminiscent of its predecessors, with squared-off wheel arches and a horizontal grille and headlights that gave it a wide stance. The GLE Coupe models, including the test vehicle, had a fastback-style roofline that created unusual proportions, yet the styling remained unmistakably Mercedes. Inside, the GLE offered a variety of interior colours, with the U.S. test car showcasing a Yacht Blue interior. The upscale cabin featured chunky air vents, mesh speaker grilles for the optional Burmester audio system, and 64-colour ambient lighting, creating a luxurious and special atmosphere.

The 2024 Subaru Outback was powered by a "Boxer" horizontally opposed engine, with the base model featuring a 2.5-litre flat-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. The XT trims, including the Wilderness, were equipped with a more powerful 2.4-litre turbocharged boxer four-cylinder engine, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. This turbo setup increased the towing capacity from 1,225 to 1,587 kilograms. The Premier XT test car, with its turbo engine, provided a well-suited powertrain for the vehicle's weight, and the CVT mimicked the sound and feel of eight distinct gears. The Outback's suspension and reasonably sized wheels contributed to a comfortable ride, while the Wilderness trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities with increased ground clearance and all-terrain tires.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a range of powertrain options, starting with the GLE 350's 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 255 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The GLE 450 4Matic featured a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine with 375 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The GLE 450e 4Matic combined a turbo-four engine with electric assist, delivering 381 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque, along with 80 kilometres of electric range. The AMG GLE 53 4Matic+ and AMG GLE 63 S 4Matic+ performance models offered even more power, with the latter's twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine producing 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. Despite its impressive powertrains, the GLE felt larger than it was, and maneuvering in tight spaces proved challenging.

The 2024 Subaru Outback, despite its sleek design, offered ample interior space. It provided more front-row headroom than competitors like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, and it excelled in front-row legroom. The cargo area measured 923 litres with all seats in place and expanded to 2,141 litres with the rear seats folded. While the RAV4 and CR-V offered more cargo space with all seats occupied, the Outback surpassed the RAV4 when the rear seats were folded. The Outback featured dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a power-adjustable driver's seat as standard. The Premier XT trim added ventilated front seats, and the hands-free power liftgate and power moonroof were standard from the Touring trim.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE was available in two-row and three-row configurations, although third-row space specs were not published. The GLE offered a high seating position, but outward visibility was limited. The front seats in the AMG test car were heavily bolstered, making entry and exit slightly challenging. Second-row passengers enjoyed more space than in most competitors, with additional legroom compared to the BMW X5, Land Rover Range Rover Sport, and Lexus RX. The GLE provided 894 litres of cargo space behind the second-row seats, and with all seats folded, it offered 1,790 litres. The GLE's towing capacity reached 3,500 kilograms when properly equipped, matching the Audi Q7.

The 2024 Subaru Outback Premier XT featured an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented infotainment screen, with the Subaru Starlink multimedia platform offering standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Wireless connectivity was available from the Touring trim. The climate controls were integrated into the touchscreen, with hard buttons for defoggers and temperature adjustments. Bluetooth and SiriusXM connectivity were standard, and most trims included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured a pair of 12.3-inch screens, creating a continuous horizontal display. The Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with built-in navigation. The interface could be accessed through various methods, including a centre console touchpad and steering wheel controls. The native voice recognition system was effective in accessing functions. The AMG GLE 63 S Coupe test car offered additional settings, including six drive modes and adjustable damper firmness, stability control, and exhaust noise. Some GLE models featured an off-road display and a "transparent hood" function for the 360-degree camera system.

The 2024 Subaru Outback earned a Top Safety Pick award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies was standard, including adaptive cruise control, automatic pre-collision braking, and lane-keep assist. Reverse automatic braking became standard from the Touring trim, and a wide-angle camera was added for better detection of cyclists and pedestrians. The Premier XT trim included a digital rearview mirror and a driver-attention monitor.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a range of driver-assist features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera system. The Pre-Safe system was standard, while adaptive cruise control was part of the optional Driver Assistance Package. The IIHS named the GLE a 2025 Top Safety Pick+, although its front-crash prevention tech received "Marginal" and "Acceptable" ratings. The NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the 2025 model year at the time of writing.