2025 Lexus GX vs 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2025 Lexus GX underwent a significant redesign, presenting a striking exterior that drew inspiration from classic Land Rover models. Its boxy shape, LED headlights, and a well-proportioned grille contributed to its robust appearance. The GX 550 Overtrail+ model featured 33-inch tires on matte grey 18-inch wheels, a raised ride height, and rock rails, all accentuated by a unique brown colour called Earth. Inside, the GX offered a luxurious and elegant cabin with high-quality switchgear and chic design elements. The seats, upholstered in stitched black and tan faux leather, provided ample headroom and comfort, with heating, ventilation, and massaging functions. The vehicle's elevated ride height and tall windows ensured excellent visibility.

In contrast, the 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a more conservative exterior design, with a standard GLE body style that some found bland. However, the GLE Coupe variant, with its swoopy roofline, was an exception, enhancing the overall design. Inside, the GLE 450 boasted a luxurious cabin with matte-finish wood, metallic accents, ambient lighting, and sophisticated digital displays. The steering wheel featured touch-sensing controls, although the touch slider for volume adjustment was less intuitive. The GLE's interior was elegantly detailed, providing a comfortable and upscale environment for passengers.

The 2025 Lexus GX was powered by a twin-turbo 3.4-litre V6 engine, delivering 349 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque. This power was distributed to all four wheels through a full-time 4WD system and a 10-speed automatic transmission. The GX could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in approximately 6.5 seconds, a second faster than its V8 predecessor. Despite its weight, the GX offered impressive performance, with strong acceleration and seamless highway merges. However, its fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 19.0 L/100 km during testing. The GX excelled in off-road conditions, with features like a locking centre differential and downhill assist control enhancing its capabilities.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 375 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. It offered multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Sport, Off-Road, and Individual. The GLE's towing capacity was a notable 3,500 kilograms. However, the standard suspension allowed excessive body motion, affecting its performance in city and mountain driving. The steering felt numb, and the brakes were grabby in typical driving situations. Despite these issues, the GLE provided a quiet cabin and decent fuel economy, with a combined rating of 11.2 L/100 km.

The 2025 Lexus GX offered generous interior space, with front headroom measuring 1,001 mm and rear headroom at 1,095 mm. Legroom was ample, with 1,047 mm in the front and 933 mm in the second row. The GX's cargo space was impressive, with up to 2,563 litres available with the second row folded. Its towing capacity was 4,111 kilograms. Despite its size, the GX was easy to manoeuvre and park, with an overall width of 1,999 mm and a length of 5,005 mm.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE provided comfortable front seats with heating and "energizing seat kinetics." The back seat was roomy, though the seating position felt low. A third-row seat was available as an option. The GLE offered 943 litres of cargo space behind the back seat, expanding to 2,120 litres with the seats folded. The cargo area included thoughtful storage features, such as a netted compartment and robust hooks.

The 2025 Lexus GX featured a user-friendly infotainment system with a 12.3-inch gauge cluster and a 14-inch touchscreen. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity. A Mark Levinson Premium Audio system was available with certain packages, providing good audio quality. The GX also included six USB-C ports for connectivity and charging.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE utilized the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, with a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The system offered lush graphics and a biometric authentication system. The Exclusive Package added a Burmester surround-sound audio system and augmented-reality navigation. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with SiriusXM satellite radio and Mercedes Digital Extras.

The 2025 Lexus GX came equipped with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assistance, road sign assist, and more. The Overtrail+ model added pedestrian detection. A 360-degree camera system and trail-viewing cameras enhanced visibility. The GX had not been rated by safety organizations at the time of writing but featured 10 airbags for occupant protection.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered standard safety features like forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot monitoring. The Driver Assistance Package added adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and more. The GLE's Active Emergency Stop Assist was a notable feature. However, some driver aids, like the route-based speed-adjustment feature, were inconsistent. The GLE had not been rated by the NHTSA, but the IIHS awarded it a "Top Safety Pick+" for 2025.