Compare the2025 Mercedes GLE CoupeVS 2025 Lexus RX

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics

Safety

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The GLE Coupe’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The RX doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GLE Coupe. But it costs extra on the RX.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GLE Coupe’s standard Downhill Speed Regulation allows you to creep down safely. The RX doesn’t offer Downhill Speed Regulation.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLE Coupe has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The RX doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

Both the GLE Coupe and the RX 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 and available lane departure warning systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mercedes GLE Coupe is safer than the Lexus RX:

	GLE Coupe	RX
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	84	165
Neck Injury Risk	24%	29.8%
Neck Stress	208 lbs.	301 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	301/184 lbs.	353/469 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	209	472
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	125 lbs.	160 lbs.
Neck Compression	31 lbs.	114 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	401/438 lbs.	454/389 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the GLE Coupe is much safer than the RX:

	GLE Coupe	RX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Chest Rating
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	POOR

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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mercedes GLE Coupe is safer than the Lexus RX:

	GLE Coupe	RX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	40	58
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	43 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	15 inches
HIC	264	317
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	47 G’s
Hip Force	615 lbs.	919 lbs.

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

The Mercedes GLE Coupe (with optional crash prevention) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The RX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

There are over 57 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the GLE Coupe’s warranty.

Engine

The GLE Coupe’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 129 more horsepower (375 vs. 246) and 136 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 233) than the RX 350h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The GLE Coupe’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 100 more horsepower (375 vs. 275) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 317) than the RX 350’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder. The GLE Coupe’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 71 more horsepower (375 vs. 304) than the RX 450h+ Luxury’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The GLE Coupe’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 9 more horsepower (375 vs. 366) than the RX 500h F Sport Performance’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes GLE Coupe is faster than the Lexus RX:

	GLE Coupe	RX 350h	RX 350
Zero to 60 MPH	4.9 sec	7.4 sec	7.6 sec
Quarter Mile	13.5 sec	15.7 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	103 MPH	89.2 MPH	89.9 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the GLE Coupe and the RX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All GLE Coupes have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The RX 350h/500h doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

The GLE Coupe has 8 gallons more fuel capacity than the RX 450+’s standard fuel tank (22.5 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The GLE Coupe has 4.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the RX 350’s standard fuel tank (22.5 vs. 17.8 gallons).

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLE Coupe, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the RX.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GLE Coupe’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the RX:

	GLE Coupe	RX
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	13.4 inches
Rear Rotors	13.6 inches	13.4 inches

The GLE Coupe stops much shorter than the RX:

	GLE Coupe	RX
60 to 0 MPH	106 feet	139 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLE Coupe has larger standard tires than the RX (275/50R20 vs. 235/60R19). The GLE Coupe’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RX (F:285/40R22 & R:325/35R22 vs. 235/60R19).

The GLE Coupe’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RX’s standard 60 series tires. The GLE Coupe’s optional 285/40R22 front and 325/35R22 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the RX’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLE Coupe has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the RX. The GLE Coupe’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the RX.

Suspension and Handling

The GLE Coupe has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The RX base model’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks. The RX 350h suspension doesn’t offer rear gas-charged shocks.

The GLE Coupe has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GLE Coupe’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The RX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The GLE Coupe’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The RX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLE Coupe’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the RX (115.6 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLE Coupe is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the RX.

The GLE 450 4MATIC Coupe handles at .90 G’s, while the RX 350 AWD pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The GLE 450 4MATIC Coupe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.8 seconds quicker than the RX 350h (25.8 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 28.6 seconds @ .57 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The GLE Coupe has 1 inch more front headroom, 4.1 inches more front hip room, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 4 inches more rear hip room and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the RX.

Cargo Capacity

The GLE Coupe has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RX with its rear seat up (31.6 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The GLE Coupe has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RX with its rear seat folded (64.1 vs. 46.2 cubic feet).

The GLE Coupe’s cargo area is larger than the RX’s in almost every dimension:

	GLE Coupe	RX
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	44.8”/68”	40”/76.2”
Height	31.7”	30”

Towing

The GLE Coupe’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX’s (7700 vs. 0 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the GLE Coupe is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the RX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLE Coupe to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The RX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLE Coupe has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The RX doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the GLE Coupe to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The GLE Coupe offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RX.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLE has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the RX.

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