2025 Ford Expedition vs 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The Ford Expedition isn’t for everyone, but for shoppers who need a combination of interior space and powerful towing capability, it’s one of only a few quality options on the current market. All-new for the 2025 model year, the Expedition retains subdued styling on the outside, but its tech-forward interior looks impressively futuristic. The addition of the new-for-2025 Ford Expedition Tremor means the Expedition is now prepared to travel further off-road than any before.

Verdict: The Tremor is undeniably cool, and for such a large vehicle, the Expedition is surprisingly easy to drive in everyday circumstances. With a starting price just over $82,000 before fees in Canada (or $85K for a Ford Expedition MAX), there’s no disputing that Ford’s selling an expensive vehicle. However, both the Expedition and Expedition MAX offer a ton of standard equipment, and given their capability, both are priced in line with the Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet Suburban.

Mercedes introduced the ML-Class in the late 1990s, a blobby-looking luxury SUV focused on on-road comfort. Almost 30 years later, the GLE — the ML’s replacement — follows that model’s founding formula but with modern powertrains and technology. The 2026 GLE is available in standard and “coupe” body styles equipped with four-, six-, and eight-cylinder engines. For the 2026 model year, the six-cylinder GLE 450 features a standard AMG Line exterior design.

Verdict: The midsize Mercedes GLE is the second most popular model the company sells in North America (behind the smaller GLC crossover SUV). That’s easy to understand given consumer preferences for SUVs and the GLE’s overall appeal. Still, it is time for Mercedes to redesign this model.