2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport showcased a refreshed design that mirrored the updates seen in its three-row counterpart, the Atlas. It featured new lighting elements at both the front and rear, with the Volkswagen logos on the grille and tailgate now illuminated in white and red, respectively. This lighting innovation was first introduced in the all-electric Volkswagen ID.4. The front of the Cross Sport was enhanced with a light bar connecting the daytime running lights, part of the new standard LED headlights, giving it a contemporary appearance. The rear of the vehicle, with its reshaped taillights blending into a rear light bar, was particularly distinctive. The Cross Sport's lower roofline and shorter length compared to the standard Atlas gave it a silhouette reminiscent of the "crossover coupes" from German luxury brands. New wheel designs were introduced across all trim levels, with options ranging from 18-inch to 21-inch wheels, although the rugged Peak Edition package was not available for the Cross Sport.

The interior of the Cross Sport received similar updates to the standard Atlas, with a central touchscreen now standing upright and a raised centre console providing additional storage space. The interior trim carried over from the three-row Atlas models, featuring standard leatherette upholstery, leather seats on the Highline, and quilted leather upholstery with a diamond pattern on the top Execline trim level. Despite efforts to improve the simulated wood and carbon-fibre-facsimile trim, the materials remained predominantly plastic. The cabin's design was functional, with a new electronic shifter allowing for more storage space, and the highest-level option included blue seat inserts, adding a touch of style to the interior.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE, last redesigned for the 2020 model year and facelifted for 2024, stood out with its unique design that wasn't a mere replica of other Mercedes-Benz SUVs. It shared some visual bulk with models like the GLS, GLC, and GLB, but its more rounded profile paid homage to previous generations and its M-Class predecessor. The GLE's design featured squared-off wheel arches and a horizontal grille and headlights, giving it a wide stance. However, the sharply tapering side glass, windshield, and back window created odd proportions, especially on the GLE Coupe models. While not the most visually appealing model in the Mercedes lineup, the GLE's styling adhered closely to the brand's design language, ensuring it was unmistakably a Mercedes.

Inside, the GLE offered a range of interior colours beyond the typical black, grey, and tan. The U.S. test car featured a Yacht Blue interior, although this option wasn't available in Canada. The interior exuded an upscale and special feel, with chunky air vents, mesh speaker grilles for the optional Burmester audio system, and 64-colour ambient lighting that transformed the cabin into a vibrant space at night. The GLE's interior was designed to provide a luxurious and distinctive experience, setting it apart from its competitors.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport was equipped with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4Motion all-wheel drive in Canada. This marked the end of an era for VW, as the Atlas and Cross Sport were the last models to use the automaker's 3.6-litre VR6 engine. The new turbo-four engine delivered 269 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque on regular fuel, offering slightly less horsepower but more torque than the previous VR6 engine. The peak torque arrived earlier, enhancing performance. While VW didn't provide specific acceleration figures, the automaker expected the 2024 Cross Sport to be quicker from zero to 100 km/h than the 2023 model with the VR6. The new engine was an upgrade for many buyers, as the previous standard engine was a less-powerful 2.0-litre turbo-four. However, the engine note was not particularly pleasing, and the noise-to-power ratio was a concern. The Cross Sport's ride quality was also lacking, partly due to the test car's 21-inch wheels. The maximum towing capacity remained at 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds), which was standard for a midsize crossover.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a diverse range of powertrain options, including a plug-in hybrid and two sporty AMG variants. The lineup began with the GLE 350, featuring a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a mild hybrid system, producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The GLE 450 4Matic boasted a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six engine with a mild hybrid system, delivering 375 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The GLE 450e 4Matic combined a turbo-four engine with electric assist, providing 381 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque, along with an 80-kilometre electric range. The AMG GLE 53 4Matic+ featured an uprated inline-six powertrain, generating 429 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, achieving a 0-100 km/h time of 5.0 seconds. The AMG GLE 63 S 4Matic+ was equipped with a hand-assembled twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine, producing 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of torque, achieving a 0-100 km/h time of 3.9 seconds. The GLE's performance was impressive, with the AMG GLE 63 S offering exhilarating stoplight launches and a classic V8 soundtrack. However, even in AMG spec, the GLE felt larger than it was, and maneuvering in tight spaces was challenging.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received additional standard equipment for 2024, including heated side mirrors, two-zone automatic climate control, a power liftgate, a tow hitch, and a heated steering wheel. The front seats were now ventilated and heated as standard, while heated second-row seats and leather upholstery were standard on the Highline trim. The Cross Sport's roofline affected rear-seat headroom, creating a more cramped feeling in the back seats compared to other vehicles of similar size. However, legroom was competitive, and the Cross Sport offered decent first-row legroom. The cargo space was not significantly impacted by the styling, with 1,141 litres of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 2,197 litres with the rear seats folded. The cabin was functional, with ample storage space in the centre console and door pockets.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE was available in two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations, although Mercedes did not publish specifications for third-row space. The GLE offered similar headroom to most rivals, but the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, and Genesis GV80 had slightly more legroom. The GLE's high seating position provided an SUV-like feel, but outward visibility was limited. The front seats in the AMG test car were heavily bolstered for sporty driving, making entry and exit more challenging. Second-row passengers enjoyed slightly more space than in most competitor SUVs, with headroom comparable to the BMW X5 and additional legroom compared to the BMW, Land Rover Range Rover Sport, and Lexus RX. The GLE offered 894 litres of cargo space behind the second-row seats, competitive but not as much as the GV80 or MDX. With all seats folded, the GLE provided 1,790 litres of cargo space, the most among its competitors. The centre console offered reasonable storage space for small items, and the GLE's maximum towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms (7,700 pounds) was impressive.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport featured a 12-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging as standard. The infotainment setup was user-friendly, with intuitive layouts and well-designed graphics. However, the haptic touchpads used in place of conventional buttons were less convenient, requiring precise pressing and visual confirmation. Six USB-C ports were standard, and the Execline trim included a head-up display and a premium Harman Kardon audio system with 12 speakers.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured a pair of 12.3-inch screens, one serving as a digital instrument cluster and the other as an infotainment touchscreen, creating the impression of a continuous horizontal screen. The Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as built-in navigation. The interface could be accessed through a centre console touchpad, numerous buttons, touchpads on the steering wheel spokes, and the central touchscreen. The native voice recognition system was effective, allowing for easy access to functions. The AMG GLE 63 S Coupe test car included additional settings, such as six drive modes and adjustable damper firmness, stability control intervention, and exhaust noise. Some GLE models offered an off-road display and a "transparent hood" function for the 360-degree camera system, enhancing off-road capabilities.

The 2024 Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport earned a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side-impact crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not released ratings for the 2024 Cross Sport, but the structurally similar 2023 model received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests. Standard driver assistance features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and Travel Assist. The Execline trim added park assist and a surround-view camera system, while all models featured post-collision braking, VW's crash response system, and an emergency assist feature.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a comprehensive suite of driver-assist features, although some were not standard. Standard features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring with exit assist, crosswind assist, parking assist, a driver attention monitor, and a 360-degree camera system. The Pre-Safe system was also standard, automatically tightening seatbelts, closing windows and the sunroof, and emitting a sound to protect against hearing loss in the event of a collision. The optional Driver Assistance Package included adaptive cruise control with automatic speed-limit and curve adaptation, stop-and-go functionality, and lane-change assist. The package also added evasive steering assist, a cross-traffic function for automatic emergency braking, and an expanded driver-monitoring system. The GLE received a 2025 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, although its front-crash prevention tech received "Marginal" and "Acceptable" ratings in standard and optional forms, respectively.