Compare the2025 Lexus RXVS 2025 Mercedes GLE

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Lexus RX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GLE doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Lexus RX is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Mercedes GLE, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	RX	GLE
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-23 MPH
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-24 MPH
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-22 MPH
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
Warning Issued-Brights	2.5 sec	1.8 sec
37 MPH Low beams	-32 MPH	-8 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.5 sec	.9 sec

The RX’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLE.

The Lexus RX’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Mercedes GLE does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the RX and the GLE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Lexus RX is safer than the Mercedes GLE:

	RX	GLE
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.3 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	99 lbs.	151 lbs.
Hip Force	206 lbs.	287 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	63	103
Hip Force	640 lbs.	677 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Lexus RX is safer than the GLE:

	RX	GLE
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.67 in	.87 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	6 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	90	232
Neck Tension	45 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	469 lbs.	1116 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Warranty

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the RX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLE. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the GLE ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The RX’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the GLE’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Lexus RX’s reliability 11 points higher than the GLE and the Lexus RX Hybrid is rated 37 points higher than the GLE.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the RX second among midsize premium suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The GLE isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in reliability, above the industry average. With 83 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 21st.

Engine

As tested in Motor Trend the RX 350h 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the GLE 350 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

	RX	GLE
Zero to 60 MPH	7.4 sec	7.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.7 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89.2 MPH	87.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the RX 450h+ running on electricity gets better mileage than the GLE 450e running on electricity (91 city/75 hwy vs. 57 city/63 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the RX running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the GLE running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
RX
	FWD	350 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	350h 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	37 city/34 hwy
		450h+ 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	36 city/33 hwy
		500h 2.4 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	27 city/28 hwy
		350 2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
GLE
	RWD	350 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/28 hwy
	AWD	450e 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/26 hwy
		350 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/26 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/25 hwy
		4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	15 city/20 hwy

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lexus RX higher (6 out of 10) than the Mercedes GLE (4 to 6). This means the RX produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GLE every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The RX offers an available continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The GLE doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the RX 500h’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the GLE:

	RX 500h	GLE
Front Rotors	15.7 inches	14.8 inches

Suspension and Handling

The RX 450h+ Luxury handles at .81 G’s, while the GLE 350 4MATIC pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The RX 450h+ Luxury executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the GLE 350 4MATIC (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the RX 500h F Sport Performance’s turning circle is 4 feet tighter than the GLE’s (35.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet). The RX’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the GLE’s (38.8 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the RX 350 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GLE (8.1 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the RX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Lexus RX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 950 pounds less than the Mercedes GLE.

Passenger Space

The RX has .8 inches more front legroom and 1.7 inches more rear headroom than the GLE.

Towing

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the RX, using the Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the GLE.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Lexus second in service department satisfaction. With a 26% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 14th.

Ergonomics

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the RX has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLE only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the RX’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the GLE’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RX Luxury/500h F Sport offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The GLE doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The RX Premium/Luxury/F Sport has standard front air conditioned seats and the RX offers them optionally in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The GLE doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The RX Premium+/Luxury/F Sport’s optional Advanced Park can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Advanced Park will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The GLE’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lexus RX, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes GLE isn't recommended.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the RX first among midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The GLE isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Lexus RX outsold the Mercedes GLE by 88% during 2024.

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