Compare the2026 Mercedes GLEVS 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes GLE have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Jeep Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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

The GLE offers optional Post-Collision Brake, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

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

Both the GLE and Grand Cherokee have rear cross-traffic warning, but the GLE has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Grand Cherokee’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the GLE and the Grand Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 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 is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee:

	GLE	Grand Cherokee
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	84	129
Neck Compression	17 lbs.	84 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	301/184 lbs.	482/259 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	125 lbs.	125 lbs.
Neck Compression	31 lbs.	41 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 is much safer than the Grand Cherokee:

	GLE	Grand Cherokee
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
Head/Neck Rating	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Chest Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE

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 is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee:

	GLE	Grand Cherokee
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	40	87
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	151 lbs.	192 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	103	164
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
HIC	264	458
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	41 G’s

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the GLE is 2.4% to 3.6% less likely to roll over than the Grand Cherokee.

The Mercedes GLE (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 Grand Cherokee is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

The GLE comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Grand Cherokee’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Jeep With 32 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Jeep.

Engine

The GLE has more powerful engines than the Grand Cherokee:

	Horsepower	Torque
GLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	375 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
GLE 450e 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	381 HP	479 lbs.-ft.
GLE 580 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid	510 HP	538 lbs.-ft.
Grand Cherokee 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	324 HP	332 lbs.-ft.
Grand Cherokee 4xe 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	375 HP	470 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes GLE is faster than the Grand Cherokee 4xe 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid:

	GLE 450	GLE 450e	Grand Cherokee
Zero to 60 MPH	5.6 sec	5.5 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.2 sec	14 sec	15 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.4 MPH	98.2 MPH	91.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the GLE 450e running on electricity gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee 4xe running on electricity (57 city/63 hwy vs. 57 city/56 hwy MPGe).

The GLE 450e can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 49 miles. The Grand Cherokee 4xe has to start its internal combustion engine after only 26 miles.

Both the GLE and the Grand Cherokee have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All GLEs have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch for start/stop is only offered on the Grand Cherokee V6.

The GLE has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port on the 350e which lock and unlock with the power locks. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a locking fuel filler door. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

Transmission

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

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GLE’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Grand Cherokee:

	GLE	Grand Cherokee
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	13.9 inches

The GLE stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee:

	GLE	Grand Cherokee
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	189 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	142 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLE has larger standard tires than the Grand Cherokee (255/50R19 vs. 245/70R17). The GLE 450/580’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Grand Cherokee (F:285/40R22 & R:325/35R22 vs. 275/45R21).

The GLE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grand Cherokee Laredo Altitude’s standard 70 series tires. The GLE 450/580’s optional 285/40R22 front and 325/35R22 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLE has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Grand Cherokee Laredo Altitude. The GLE 450/580’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels on the Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the GLE can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The GLE 450/580 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Jeep doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Grand Cherokee.

The GLE’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 Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLE’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Grand Cherokee (117.9 inches vs. 116.7 inches).

The GLE 450 handles at .84 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee 4x4 pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLE 450 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 (27 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

Chassis

The design of the Mercedes GLE amounts to more than styling. The GLE has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Grand Cherokee (.357) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GLE get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The GLE offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Grand Cherokee can only carry 5.

The GLE has .6 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee.

The front step up height for the GLE is .2 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee (20” vs. 20.2”). The GLE’s rear step up height is 1.5 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee’s (20” vs. 21.5”).

Cargo Capacity

The GLE has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Grand Cherokee with its rear seat folded (74.9 vs. 70.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the GLE easier. The GLE’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.7 inches, while the Grand Cherokee’s liftover is 33 inches.

The GLE’s cargo area is larger than the Grand Cherokee’s in almost every dimension:

	GLE	Grand Cherokee
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	40”/76.5”	41”/73.8”
Min Width	43.7”	43”
Height	35.5”	32”

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the GLE’s optional second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The GLE’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Cherokee’s (7700 vs. 3500 pounds).

Ergonomics

The GLE’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Grand Cherokee’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully. The Grand Cherokee Overland/Summit’s .

If the windows are left open on the GLE the driver can close all of them at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote (remote must be aimed at door sensor). On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Grand Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The GLE’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Enter-N-Go standard on the Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The GLE’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Grand Cherokee’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

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

The Grand Cherokee Summit’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The GLE’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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

The Mercedes GLE has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors are only offered on the Grand Cherokee Summit.

The Mercedes GLE has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Homelink® is only available on the Grand Cherokee Limited/4xe/Overland/Summit.

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 Grand Cherokee.

The GLE’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Grand Cherokee Summit’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Model Availability

and e Mercedes GLE comes in four door bodystyles; the Jeep Grand Cherokee isn’t available as a .

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