Welcome back to Fabulous Auto Club, and today we’re comparing the Volvo XC90 and Mercedes GLE. They are premium 7-seat SUVs to carry everyone in your family while arriving to a place in style.
Price
The XC90 starts at $59750 CAD ($45058 USD) while the GLE starts at $64000 CAD ($48263 USD). That may not seem like a lot, but once you equip them with all the options, they can go to $80000!
Engines
Both come with a 2.0L inline-4 (a bit under-powered in my opinion). However, you can upgrade to an inline-6 or a V6, depending on which model you get. The GLE is turbocharged with 255 horsepower, while the XC90 is turbocharged and supercharged with 316 horsepower. That’s a really big difference! Acceleration for the XC90 is 6.6 seconds with the T6 trim and the GLE’s 0-60 time is 7.1 seconds on the GLE450.
Exterior
The XC90’s exterior looks very elegant, and its design is much improved compared to the last generation. They’re using Volvo’s new design philosophy for the exterior. I would prefer the R-Design trim; it makes the XC90 look somewhat sportier. The GLE hasn’t really changed since it came out in 1998 as the M-Class. But even with almost the same body structure, Mercedes has made it look modern for it to keep up with its rivals.
Interior
The XC90 and GLE are extremely practical since you can fold down the third row seats for a large cargo area, or carry six to seven people. The interiors are luxurious, as they are available with a panoramic sunroof and extended climate control for the second row and third row seats. The Mercedes comes with leather seats and wood trims as standard, however you have to pay extra for leather in the Volvo.
Verdict
I think that the XC90 wins this comparison due to its price and power. It’s a much more exciting car to drive and you can save more on fuel with the turbocharged and supercharged engine. Volvo is also a very premium brand with long-lasting cars.
For more information, watch the videos from Doug DeMuro about the XC90 and GLE.
