BMW X5 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE

The BMW X5 starts from $137,600 before on-road costs, while the Mercedes-Benz GLE opens at $128,900. That makes the Mercedes-Benz GLE the more affordable entry point by $8,700.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $151,360 and $141,790 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BMW X5 by roughly $1,285 in fuel alone.

Both the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 89% for the BMW X5 and 91% for the Mercedes-Benz GLE.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. Both models are evenly matched with 7 out of 10 key ADAS systems.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 7 in the BMW X5 and 9 in the Mercedes-Benz GLE.

The BMW X5 features a 14.9-inch touchscreen, while the Mercedes-Benz GLE gets a 12.3-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW X5 stands out with ventilated seats and Harman Kardon audio that you will not find on the Mercedes-Benz GLE. The Mercedes-Benz GLE counters with Burmester audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

The BMW X5 uses a Diesel producing 210kW and 620Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 5.3 seconds.

The Mercedes-Benz GLE responds with a Diesel making 195kW and 500Nm, paired to a automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds.

The BMW X5 has the clear power advantage at 210kW vs 195kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW X5 is 2.0s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BMW X5 measures 4,922mm long on a 2,975mm wheelbase, 2mm shorter than the Mercedes-Benz GLE at 4,924mm (2,995mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Mercedes-Benz GLE generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 650L in the BMW X5 and 630L in the Mercedes-Benz GLE, giving the BMW X5 a 20L advantage. The Mercedes-Benz GLE seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Mercedes-Benz GLE leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 3,500kg. That 0kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,451/year for the BMW X5 and $2,708/year for the Mercedes-Benz GLE. That is a $257 annual difference in favour of the BMW X5.

Estimated annual total: $2,451 (BMW X5) vs $2,708 (Mercedes-Benz GLE). The BMW X5 saves you roughly $257 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (BMW X5) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Mercedes-Benz GLE). Both match on warranty length.