2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class vs 2016 Volkswagen Touareg

2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE Class

2016 Volkswagen Touareg

Select style

4MATIC 4-Door AMG GLE 63

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
GLE 4MATIC 4-Door AMG GLE 63	13	17	$92,954	$99,950
GLE 4MATIC 4-Door AMG GLE 63 S Coupe	14	18	$101,649	$109,300
GLE 4MATIC 4-Door AMG GLE 63 S-Model	13	17	$99,603	$107,100
GLE 4MATIC 4-Door GLE 300d	22	29	$48,825	$52,500
GLE 4MATIC 4-Door GLE 350	17	22	$49,848	$53,600
GLE 4MATIC 4-Door GLE 400	18	22	$60,078	$64,600
GLE 4MATIC 4-Door GLE 450 AMG Coupe	17	23	$60,543	$65,100
GLE 4MATIC 4-Door GLE 550e	18	22	$60,962	$65,550
GLE RWD 4-Door GLE 350	18	24	$47,523	$51,100

Select style

4-Door TDI Executive

Style	MPG City	MPG Hwy	Invoice	MSRP
Touareg 4-Door TDI Executive	21	28	$60,145	$63,245
Touareg 4-Door TDI Lux	21	28	$52,258	$54,950
Touareg 4-Door TDI Sport w/Technology	21	28	$47,782	$50,245
Touareg 4-Door V6 Executive	17	23	$56,817	$59,745
Touareg 4-Door V6 Lux	17	23	$48,930	$51,450
Touareg 4-Door V6 Sport	17	23	$40,613	$42,705
Touareg 4-Door V6 Sport w/Technology	17	23	$44,454	$46,745

Show Only Differences

Pricing

Invoice Price

$92,954

$60,145

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price

$99,950

$63,245

Monthly Payment Estimate

$1666 / month

$1054 / month

The Car Connection's Take

TCC Rating

8.4

Read Our Full Review

7.6

Read Our Full Review

TCC’s Bottom Line

The M-Class gets a new lease on luxury-crossover life as the 2016 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class—and it's joined by a swoopy new Coupe variant.

Expensive and fancy for a vehicle from a mainstream brand, the 2016 Volkswagen Touareg is also less expensive than some comparable luxury-SUV options.

TCC Likes

New four-door Coupe model offers more choice
Impressive safety set
Strong, fuel-efficient diesel

Quiet cabin
Luxury-level interior
Refined driving feel

TCC Dislikes

Coupe skimps on backseat space, versatility
Name change potentially confusing
Non-AMG V-8 option gone

Luxury price, mainstream brand
Few high-tech options
Lack of third-row seat option

Fuel Economy

City

13 mpg

21 mpg

Highway

17 mpg

28 mpg

Vehicle

EPA Classification

Standard Sport Utility Vehicles 4WD

Interior Dimensions

Second Leg Room (in)

38.4

36.7

Passenger Capacity

Front Leg Room (in)

40.3

41.4

Second Head Room (in)

38.5

38.9

Second Shoulder Room (in)

58.4

56.7

Front Head Room (in)

40.4

39.6

Front Shoulder Room (in)

58.5

59.8

Exterior Dimensions

Height, Overall (in)

69.4

68.2

Track Width, Rear (in)

67.1

Wheelbase (in)

114.8

113.9

Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)

75.8

76.4

Track Width, Front (in)

66.4

65.2

Length, Overall (in)

191

188.8

Cargo Area Dimensions

Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³)

38.2

32.1

Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³)

38.2

32.1

Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³)

80.3

Brakes

Disc - Rear (Yes or )

Yes

Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

13.6

Brake Type

4-Wheel Disc

Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)

Disc - Front (Yes or )

Yes

Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)

15.4

Drum - Rear (Yes or )

Brake ABS System

4-Wheel

Brake ABS System (Second Line)

4-Wheel

Fuel Tank

Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)

24.6

26.4

Steering

Steering Type

Rack-Pinion

Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)

38.7

Tires

Spare Tire Size

Compact

Front Tire Order Code

R01

Spare Tire Order Code

Rear Tire Size

P265/45ZR20

P275/45HR20

Rear Tire Order Code

R01

Front Tire Size

P265/45ZR20

P275/45HR20

Trailering

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

720

772

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

5000

7716

Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)

7200

7716

Maximum Trailering Capacity (lbs)

7200

7716

Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)

500

772

Weight Information

Base Curb Weight (lbs)

5238

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Cap (lbs)

6305

Wheels

Rear Wheel Size (in)

20 X 9

Front Wheel Material

Aluminum

Spare Wheel Material

Steel

Aluminum

Front Wheel Size (in)

20 X 9

Spare Wheel Size (in)

Compact

Rear Wheel Material

Aluminum

Electrical

Maximum Alternator Capacity (amps)

180

220

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (Primary)

600

450

Cold Cranking Amps @ 0° F (2nd)

450

Engine

SAE Net Torque @ RPM

516 @ 1750

406 @ 2000

Engine Order Code

Displacement

5.5 L/333

3.0 L/181

SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM

550 @ 5750

240 @ 3400

Engine Type

Twin Turbo Premium Unleaded V-8

Intercooled Turbo Diesel V-6

Fuel System

Gasoline Direct Injection

Diesel Direct Injection

Engine Oil Cooler

None

Mileage

EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)

Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)

EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)

Transmission

Drivetrain

All Wheel

Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.82

1.00

First Gear Ratio (:1)

4.34

4.97

Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)

3.67

Third Gear Ratio (:1)

1.92

1.86

Trans Type

Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.00

1.21

Trans Description Cont. Again

Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)

0.73

0.82

Reverse Ratio (:1)

3.42

4.07

Second Gear Ratio (:1)

2.89

2.84

Trans Order Code

427

Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)

1.37

1.44

Trans Description Cont.

Automatic w/OD

Transfer Case Power Take Off

Transfer Case Model

None

Trans PTO Access

Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)

0.69

Summary

Body Style

4MATIC Sport Utility

4MOTION

Vehicle Name

Mercedes-Benz GLE

Volkswagen Touareg

Body Code

Suspension

Suspension Type - Rear

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)

Multi-Link

Suspension Type - Front

Double Wishbone

Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)

Double Wishbone

Axle Ratio (:1) - Front

3.27

Axle Type - Rear

Independent

Axle Ratio (:1) - Rear

3.27

Axle Type - Front

Independent

Emissions

Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year

11.8

8.6

Crash Test Ratings

Overall Rating

Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger

Overall Side Crash Rating

Side Barrier Rating

Side Barrier Rating Driver

Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat

Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Front Seat

Combined Side Rating Rear Seat

Rollover Rating

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