[vasi_M3]

my vote on

exterior front: BMW
exterior back: Merc
interior: Merc(no contest)

[BH1969]

Will be interesting to see pricing. Looks like X5 40i will have more power and compete more with the GLE 450. The GLE 350 will probably be less expensive than the 40i, but won't have the performance I would be looking for, but will probably get a lot of business from those wanting a lower priced luxury suv. Betting the pricing and engine performance will be from lowest to highest GLE 350, X5 40i, X5 50i, GLE 450.

It's a great time to be buying a luxury SUV, with a new Range Rover Sport already out, and the Cayenne, X5, GLE, and Q8 all coming out soon. I have no desire for 3 rows, so won't consider the Q7. Looking forward to getting some reviews soon from media or people who have actually driven these cars. Hoping the competition puts some pressure on pricing!

[Influence]

Originally Posted by BH1969

Will be interesting to see pricing. Looks like X5 40i will have more power and compete more with the GLE 450. The GLE 350 will probably be less expensive than the 40i, but won't have the performance I would be looking for, but will probably get a lot of business from those wanting a lower priced luxury suv. Betting the pricing and engine performance will be from lowest to highest GLE 350, X5 40i, X5 50i, GLE 450.

It's a great time to be buying a luxury SUV, with a new Range Rover Sport already out, and the Cayenne, X5, GLE, and Q8 all coming out soon. I have no desire for 3 rows, so won't consider the Q7. Looking forward to getting some reviews soon from media or people who have actually driven these cars. Hoping the competition puts some pressure on pricing!

GLE 450 will compete on pricing with the X5 4.0. GLE53 AMG will be north of GLE450/X5 40i, but should be priced lower than X5 50i (I6 vs V8 after all)

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by BH1969

Betting the pricing and engine performance will be from lowest to highest GLE 350, X5 40i, X5 50i, GLE 450.

I don't think it would make any sense at all for Mercedes to price the GLE450 above the X5 50i. I don't think the marketplace would respond positively to such a strategy, and I strongly suspect Mercedes knows that.

Originally Posted by Influence

GLE 450 will compete on pricing with the X5 4.0. GLE53 AMG will be north of GLE450/X5 40i, but should be priced lower than X5 50i (I6 vs V8 after all)

Agree that the GLE53, once it is available, will be the model that is positioned competitively against the X5 50i. I would not necessarily bet that the Mercedes will cost less than the BMW though. As a basis for comparison, the E43 is indeed priced less than (but within a couple thousand dollars of) the M550i, however it is about to be replaced by the E53 and will more than likely see an increase in MSRP. And remember, that's comparing against a loftier M550i which is an M Performance model, rather than the more pedestrian X5 50i that the GLE53 will match up against. Though, admittedly, that's really a technicality since the X5 50i has roughly the same power as the M550i even without the M Performance badge.

Of course, next year when both the M550i and the X5 50i -> X5 M50i get the 530hp V8, it will be interesting to see where that leaves Mercedes. Surely their I6 can eventually climb to around 500hp and even more, but probably not soon. In the meantime they'll be 100hp down on the BMW equivalent while doubtfully priced 100hp cheaper.

[bjcarls]

Originally Posted by vasi_M3

my vote on

exterior front: BMW
exterior back: Merc
interior: Merc(no contest)

and that's why being a designer is so hard. I'm the complete opposite from you

[BH1969]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I don't think it would make any sense at all for Mercedes to price the GLE450 above the X5 50i. I don't think the marketplace would respond positively to such a strategy, and I strongly suspect Mercedes knows that.

Rereading my post, I agree with you. Seems like on performance (on paper at least) MB is positioning itself as a little lower than the respective BMW, and I would expect pricing to reflect that. Engine choice seems a bit more like the Q7 with 4 and 6 than BMW with 6 and 8. Seems a similar strategy as the comparison of BMW vs Porsche. Every time I look at the Cayenne, I just can't get over the pricing difference with the BMW where the BMW seems to have better engines and options for the pricing.

[PARTS@STBMW]

[Influence]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I don't think it would make any sense at all for Mercedes to price the GLE450 above the X5 50i. I don't think the marketplace would respond positively to such a strategy, and I strongly suspect Mercedes knows that.



Agree that the GLE53, once it is available, will be the model that is positioned competitively against the X5 50i. I would not necessarily bet that the Mercedes will cost less than the BMW though. As a basis for comparison, the E43 is indeed priced less than (but within a couple thousand dollars of) the M550i, however it is about to be replaced by the E53 and will more than likely see an increase in MSRP. And remember, that's comparing against a loftier M550i which is an M Performance model, rather than the more pedestrian X5 50i that the GLE53 will match up against. Though, admittedly, that's really a technicality since the X5 50i has roughly the same power as the M550i even without the M Performance badge.

Of course, next year when both the M550i and the X5 50i -> X5 M50i get the 530hp V8, it will be interesting to see where that leaves Mercedes. Surely their I6 can eventually climb to around 500hp and even more, but probably not soon. In the meantime they'll be 100hp down on the BMW equivalent while doubtfully priced 100hp cheaper.

Don't forget about the GLE63 and GLE63S. Though they will probably end up competing with the as yet to be announced X5M and possibly X5M Competition models.

The GLE53 should always remain cheaper than the X5 M50 because of one key factor - V8 engine versus Inline 6. Look at current GLE43 pricing too. Slightly more than X5 35i but less than 50i. Odds are that will stay the same. I hope so, because I'm seriously considering the upcoming GLE53, especially since BMW won't offer the Dynamic Handling Package on the 40i (at least for the 2019 model year).

[rockymtnpilot]

Originally Posted by Mo@BMWofFairfax

Americans are fat. The seats need to fit their love handles.

Our women are (11th in the world). Us dudes are just struggling to maintain unrealistic body expectations at 21st in the world.

[Falafel Combo]

Mercedes all the way!!!! Bring back Karim Habib!!!

[akhter]

Originally Posted by vasi_M3

my vote on

exterior front: BMW
exterior back: Merc
interior: Merc(no contest)

I feel exactly the opposite

Exterior Benz (both front and back)
Interior x5 (no contest!)

The grain on the leather is like jumbo Dakota grain and the seats are 90s fat and those disco lights like a cheap bowling alley!

[akhter]

Originally Posted by BH1969

Every time I look at the Cayenne, I just can't get over the pricing difference with the BMW where the BMW seems to have better engines and options for the pricing.

Yeah I crossshopped g05 with cayenne and to configure a base cayenne like a g05 m sport (20in wheels stereo some option like surround view comfort accesss sunroof]the cayenne is like 25k more. And uglier outside although better handling and nicer interior. Couldn't make myself do it although I can afford it.

[Zirenz2006]

I hate everything about the Merc, including that over-blingy dog s**t interior

[akhter]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

I found it interesting the entry GLE350 now has a turbocharged 4 cylinder (the old model had an aging naturally aspirated V6). It has 255hp which is similar to BMW's B48. Audi similarly offers the Q7 with their turbocharged 4 cylinder making about the same amount of power.

These large SUVs aren't ideally suited for small displacement gasoline engines, but there seems to be some market for them nevertheless. It will be interesting to see if BMW finds it necessary to add a four cylinder X5 to compete. They previously had the 40e PHEV model which made over 300hp and was quite adequate by most accounts. However, its replacement will be the 45e which uses a B58 for the combustion engine part of the drivetrain instead of a B48.

Don't underestimate the power of the badge. A lot of people here are looking at g05 45e to just use pure electric so the 4cyl gle350 is almost too much power for the 100k car soccer moms.

[SW19]

Originally Posted by maze446

That combined instrument cluster and infotainment screen is terrible. It looks like somebody bought an aftermarket monitor and just bolted it on. Also, somebody tell Mercedes that the Porsche Cayenne called and wants its center console grab handles back.

Not sure when the Porsche Cayenne got center console grab handles but my 2010 Mercedes GL450 has them.

[akhter]

Originally Posted by Nantucket

Not sure when the Porsche Cayenne got center console grab handles but my 2010 Mercedes GL450 has them.

Since they came out in 2003

[ljb]

That base model Merc is just uGLE (ugly)

[M3 Number 86]

X5 looks so good in the rear. The front though....

[Zeroblade]

Think I'm siding with Merc this time. GLE with the AMG package looks much better to me than the X5. I don't like the interior on neither much from the pictures. Would have to sit in both to decide. I'll likely like iDrive for it's usability though.

[motex]

Originally Posted by akhter

Are you sure gle has enough air vents? I think it needs some more.

Gle looks nice from outside as do almost all new Benz. I just don't like their disco interiors.

That's an ugly dashboard.....

[FastF30]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Anyhow. The ML/GLE has always been an Asian mom or senior citizen car. I'll stick with the youthful driver's car of the segment.

Lol....Lol....LOl....Lol....Lol...Lol..... did you see my post a few back and I said my wife likes the MB.... yep she's an Asian Mom.... Lol.......


I also agree with the senior citizen part... every MB in my parking garage is owned by a senior citizen.... lol....

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by FastF30

Lol....Lol....LOl....Lol....Lol...Lol..... did you see my post a few back and I said my wife likes the MB.... yep she's an Asian Mom.... Lol.......

Loll I didn't! That's hilarious.

I'm Indian and the Lexus RX is an Indian mom car. Needless to say, my mom won't be caught dead in it.

X5 is actually very common amongst the Asian crowd in Vancouver. These are mega rich people from Hong Kong and other nearby cities.