2022 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE had a somewhat underwhelming exterior design. Despite its aggressive nose and sloping hood, the vehicle's styling seemed to lose its edge past the A-pillar, making it almost indistinguishable from its predecessors. The flat taillights and contoured rear did help to mitigate its minivan-like appearance, but it still lacked the pitch-perfect proportions seen in competitors like BMW, Audi, and Jaguar. Even in AMG trim, the GLE struggled to match the visual appeal of rivals such as the BMW X5 M and Porsche Cayenne Turbo. However, the interior was a different story. The 2021 GLE featured a redesigned, streamlined cabin that was a masterpiece of quality, layout, colors, and textures. The red and black interior was both loud and luxurious, with twin arching grab handles and LED lighting adding to its opulent feel. Despite some flimsy gear selectors and turn signal stalks, the GLE's interior exuded a sense of pampering that required high-end options to fully appreciate.

The 2022 Volvo XC90, on the other hand, showcased a significant evolution from its boxy predecessors. The vehicle's stance and profile were impressive, with a sleek roofline and pronounced wheel arches that emphasized its athleticism. The "Thor's Hammer" LED headlights added a touch of Swedish heritage, while the superior fit and finish conveyed a sense of quality. Inside, the XC90's interior was a blend of "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury," featuring natural wood and metal trim. Exquisite details like the sliding wood tambor cover and clear crystal gear selector handle highlighted its luxury status. Volvo's commitment to going leather-free by 2030 was evident, with options for Nappa leather or a tailored wool blend upholstery. The XC90's interior was both comfortable and stylish, making it a standout in its class.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE excelled as a multi-purpose vehicle, offering a range of advanced suspension and engine setups. The base GLE 350 featured a coil-sprung setup, while the GLE 450 introduced self-leveling air springs with adaptive dampers. The AMG Ride Control+ system in the AMG GLE 53 Coupe included Roll Stabilization and Active Curve systems, allowing the vehicle to lean into turns like a motorcyclist. The E-Active Body Control system could independently adjust the spring rate, damping, and height for each wheel, even allowing the vehicle to bounce to free itself from sand. The AMG GLE 53 Coupe also featured an electric supercharger for instant throttle response, although it wasn't as thrilling as expected. The GLE 450's turbo 3.0-liter inline-six produced 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, while the AMG GLE 53 increased this to 429 hp and 384 lb-ft. The GLE 580's twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 delivered 483 hp and 516 lb-ft, and the GLE 63 S topped the range with 603 hp and 627 lb-ft. All models except the base GLE 350 were hybrids, featuring a 48-volt battery system that provided additional power and improved efficiency. The GLE's driving experience was exceptional, with a towing capacity of up to 7,700 pounds and impressive ride quality and steering.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrain options: the T5, T6, and T8. The T5 featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, while the T6 added a supercharger to increase output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 plug-in hybrid combined a supercharged/turbocharged engine with an electric motor, delivering a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. The T5 models were available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the T6 and T8 were all-wheel drive only. The T8's electric motor drove the rear wheels, providing smooth and spirited acceleration. The XC90's driving experience was superb, with minimal body roll and controlled handling. The T8's electric motor eliminated turbo lag, making the vehicle fun to drive. The T5 FWD models achieved 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, while the T6 AWD models were rated at 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. The T8 had a combined rating of 27 mpg on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range, while the extended range variant offered 26 mpg combined and up to 36 miles of EV range.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE was available as a roomy two-row SUV with an optional third row, allowing seating for up to seven passengers. The second-row seats featured power controls for recline, fore-aft, and headrest adjustments, and could slide and fold for easier access to the third row. The GLE Coupe, however, was limited to five passengers, with a sloping roofline and slimmer windows that made the rear space feel smaller. Cargo capacity behind the second row was 34 cubic feet, expanding to 75 cubic feet with all rows folded. The Coupe offered 23 and 61 cubic feet, respectively. The new MBUX infotainment system improved usability with a single touchpad and simplified interface, although some controls were still fussy. The GLE's interior was luxurious and well-appointed, but required high-end options to fully appreciate its potential.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with captain's chairs or three-across seating in the second row. The third row was suitable for children, but lacked legroom and thigh support for adults. The XC90 could carry up to 15.9 cubic feet of luggage behind the third row, expanding to 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 85.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The XC90's towing capacity ranged from 4,000 to 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration. The interior featured ample storage space, comfortable seating, and a spacious cabin with a standard laminated panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well during a heat wave, providing a comfortable environment even in extreme conditions.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured a 12-inch touchscreen display with Interior Assistant, which could read hand gestures for certain functions. The system included a touchpad and thumbpad controls, with a simplified interface and search bars for easier navigation. The AMG models had a Track Pace app for virtual pit crew functions and GPS lap timing. The Seat Kinetics system made small adjustments to the seat position based on the driver's height. Additional features included perfume canisters, Energizing Comfort with spa music, heated armrests, and bolsters that inflated during steering. The head-up display and instrument panel were highly configurable, with sharp graphics and ambient lighting in 64 colors. The navigation system projected front camera feed with overlay arrows and street names. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a natural voice assistant, enhanced the infotainment experience. The GLE's semi-automated functionality included lane changes and curve slowing, making it one of the most technologically advanced vehicles in its class.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a nine-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen interface. The system supported familiar smartphone gestures like pinch, pull, and swipe, but could be glitchy and slow to respond. Apple CarPlay functionality improved the system's performance, while Android Auto was also available. The 12.3-inch digital instrument panel offered easy configuration and crisp graphics. The $1,650 Advanced package included a head-up display, 360-degree surround view camera system, and advanced air cleaner. The standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound system could be upgraded to a $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins system, which offered exceptional surround sound staging. The XC90 included two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app for remote vehicle controls.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE earned the Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for its performance in six crash tests, headlights, and standard forward emergency braking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not rated the GLE. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and a driver attention monitor. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, evasive steering assist, front cross-traffic braking, and semi-automated control. The Pre-Safe Sound system played "pink noise" to reduce hearing damage in a crash, while the optional Pre-Safe Impulse Side system inflated the side bolsters of the front seats to better position occupants during a side impact. The brakes primed the calipers closer to the discs if the driver suddenly lifted off the accelerator, and the stability control compensated for crosswinds.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 continued Volvo's commitment to safety, with a long list of standard features including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, rain-sensing wipers, slippery road alert, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, and road-sign recognition. The Pilot Assist system combined several safety features to keep the car in its lane and at a set speed or following distance with minimal driver intervention. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, making it one of the safest vehicles in its class.