Compare the2026 Mercedes GLEVS 2026 Mazda CX-90

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
Recommendations

Safety

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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 CX-90 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 CX-90 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from other vehicles.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the GLE has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert with Active Brake Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S offers Rear Cross Traffic Braking.

Both the GLE and the CX-90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, driver alert monitors 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 Mazda CX-90:

	GLE	CX-90
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	84	116
Neck Injury Risk	24%	37.5%
Neck Stress	208 lbs.	318 lbs.
Neck Compression	17 lbs.	133 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	301/184 lbs.	324/335 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	209	255
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	31%	42.3%
Neck Compression	31 lbs.	83 lbs.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mercedes GLE is safer than the Mazda CX-90:

	GLE	CX-90
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	12 inches
HIC	264	410

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

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 CX-90’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. With 15 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Mazda.

Engine

The GLE has more powerful engines than the CX-90:

	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.
CX-90 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	280 HP	332 lbs.-ft.
CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid	323 HP	369 lbs.-ft.
CX-90 Turbo S 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	340 HP	369 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes GLE is faster than the Mazda CX-90:

	GLE 450	GLE 450e	CX-90 PHEV	CX-90 Turbo S
Zero to 60 MPH	5.6 sec	5.5 sec	6.3 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.2 sec	14 sec	14.7 sec	14.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97.4 MPH	98.2 MPH	95.5 MPH	96.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the GLE 450e running on electricity gets better mileage than the CX-90 PHEV running on electricity (57 city/63 hwy vs. 53 city/61 hwy MPGe).

The GLE 450e can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 49 miles. The CX-90 PHEV has to start its internal combustion engine after only 27 miles.

The GLE’s standard fuel tank has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the CX-90 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank (22.5 vs. 19.6 gallons).

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 CX-90.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the GLE’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-90:

	GLE	CX-90	CX-90 Premium/PHEV
Front Rotors	14.8 inches	12.9 inches	13.7 inches

The GLE’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the CX-90 are solid, not vented.

The GLE stops much shorter than the CX-90:

	GLE	CX-90
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	129 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the GLE 450/580’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the CX-90 (F:285/40R22 & R:325/35R22 vs. 275/45R21).

The GLE 450/580’s optional 285/40R22 front and 325/35R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the CX-90 Preferred/Premium/Turbo S’ 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLE 450/580 offers optional 22-inch wheels. The CX-90’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

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 CX-90 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. Mazda doesn’t offer an active suspension on the CX-90.

The GLE offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The CX-90’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The GLE has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The GLE’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

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 CX-90 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The GLE 450 handles at .84 G’s, while the CX-90 Premium Plus pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The GLE 450 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the CX-90 Premium Plus (27 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.5 seconds @ .64 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the GLE Airmatic has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-90 PHEV Premium/Turbo S (9.2 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the GLE to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The GLE is 6.5 inches shorter than the CX-90, making the GLE easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the GLE 450 is quieter than the CX-90 Premium Plus:

	GLE	CX-90
At idle	38 dB	42 dB
Full-Throttle	70 dB	82 dB
70 MPH Cruising	63 dB	68 dB

Passenger Space

The GLE has .8 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear legroom and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the CX-90.

Cargo Capacity

The GLE has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the CX-90 with its rear seat up (33.3 vs. 14.9 cubic feet). The GLE has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the CX-90 with its rear seat folded (74.9 vs. 74.2 cubic feet).

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the GLE’s optional second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The CX-90 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the GLE. The CX-90 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The GLE’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the CX-90’s (7700 vs. 3500 pounds).

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the CX-90 Preferred/Premium, the GLE has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The GLE’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The CX-90 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

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 CX-90 can only close 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. Advanced Keyless Entry and Start standard on the CX-90 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 power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-90’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 CX-90 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

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 CX-90 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 CX-90 Premium/Turbo S.

The GLE offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the CX-90.

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 CX-90 Premium.

Compared to traditional radio, the Mercedes GLE’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the CX-90 Premium.

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. Only the CX-90 Preferred/Premium offers wireless charging.

The GLE’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The CX-90 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

and e Mercedes GLE comes in four door bodystyles; the Mazda CX-90 isn’t available as a .

The GLE is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

The Mercedes GLE outsold the Mazda CX-90 by 18% during 2024.

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