Compare the2025 Toyota Grand HighlanderVS 2025 Mercedes GLE

With its standard Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the Toyota Grand Highlander is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Mercedes GLE, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

The Grand Highlander’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.

Both the Grand Highlander 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, plastic fuel tanks, 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.

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 Toyota Grand Highlander is safer than the GLE:

Toyota’s powertrain warranty covers the Grand Highlander 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLE. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the GLE ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Grand Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLE.

There are over 3 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Grand Highlander’s warranty.

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 Grand Highlander’s reliability 33 points higher than the GLE.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 14 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 Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 71 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 29th.

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

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

The Grand Highlander 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.

The Grand Highlander’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the GLE’s (53.5% to 46.5%). This gives the Grand Highlander more stable handling and braking.

The Grand Highlander Platinum AWD handles at .80 G’s, while the GLE 350 4MATIC pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Grand Highlander Limited AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GLE 350 4MATIC (27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Grand Highlander’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the GLE’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Highlander has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GLE (8 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Grand Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Toyota Grand Highlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 850 pounds less than the Mercedes GLE.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Grand Highlander Platinum AWD is quieter than the GLE 450 (31 vs. 38 dB).

The Grand Highlander offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the GLE can only carry up to 7.

The Grand Highlander has 1 inch more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 3.3 inches more rear headroom and .5 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLE.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Grand Highlander’s middle and third row seats recline. The GLE’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Grand Highlander’s cargo area provides more volume than the GLE.

A Trailer Sway Control (TSC) is standard on the Grand Highlander, using the Enhanced 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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Grand Highlander 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.

The Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade has standard front air conditioned seats and the Grand Highlander Platinum also has them in the second row. 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.

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

The Grand Highlander was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The GLE has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.