2021 BMW X5 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE

With three rows of space, you can gather your whole crew for a new adventure around Hilton Head. Maybe you’ll head to the beach—or to brunch? Whether exploring sandy shores or the nearby communities of Hardeeville and Bluffton, premium convenience, efficiency, and performance are a must.

The 2021 BMW X5 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE are two of the most popular luxury SUVs on the market today. Which one is the right fit for your lifestyle? The Hilton Head BMW team is here to help you decide.

A Variety of Trim Options: X5 vs GLE

With both these SUVs, you’ll have a range of trim levels to choose from. To start, there are the base options that—offering superior power in their own right—set new standards of performance. Each SUV also offers sport trims for drivers harboring high-octane racetrack fantasies.

The 2021 BMW X5 sets itself apart by offering a trim option you won’t find in the Mercedes-Benz GLE: a plug-in hybrid.

The X5 xDrive45e is a plug-in hybrid you can charge at home or on the go with the increasing number of charging stations across the nation. With a 30-mile all-electric range, it’s a titan in its class, allowing drivers to coast for miles on a single charge alone.

When it comes to efficient electric models, the Mercedes-Benz GLE has some catching up to do.

Stay in Control From a Distance

From the driver’s seat, you’ll have full control of your vehicle. However, you can stay in control even from a distance with the help of the connected phone apps available in each model.

The GLE has the Mercedes me connect app, while the X5 has the BMW Connected app. Using these apps with select trims, drivers have features such as Remote Engine Start in the BMW as well as the ability to lock and unlock doors or locate their car in a parking lot.

Additionally, the X5 has a standard BMW Digital Key feature. Your key is now replaced by your smartphone, and you can even grant access to your friends via this function.

A Car That Gets to Know What You Like

You know exactly what you like in a car. But have you ever driven a car that knew what you like? You may finally have the opportunity thanks to the artificial intelligence (AI) employed by both the X5 and the GLE.

For the X5, we have the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, and for the GLE, the Mercedes-Benz User Experience. Each of these AI systems has an understanding of human language, so if you tell it you’re hot, it can turn on the air conditioning for you. It’s that simple.

Machine learning allows the AI to get a sense of what you like and how you speak, and with the BMW X5, this ability is taken to the next level.

In the X5, you’ll have the Advanced Vehicle & Key Memory feature. Advanced Vehicle & Key Memory can remember driver preferences for audio tone, cabin climate, power seat and mirror settings, and much more! Unfortunately, this level of AI customization isn’t found in the GLE.

Roll Out in the Lap of Luxury With BMW

At Hilton Head BMW, we’re proud to pair Hilton Head, Bluffton, and Hardeeville drivers with cars that thrill them. The Mercedes-Benz GLE certainly has a lot to offer in its own right, but if you want optimal convenience and performance, the BMW X5 is the better choice.

Now that you’ve done your reading, it’s time to get behind the wheel! Come visit our dealership to test drive the X5 today.