Performance

When it comes to power, the 2018 GLE impresses from the get-go. Its base model comes with a 302-horsepower V-6, while the stronger GLE 550e hybrid can produce up to 436 horsepower when both the gasoline engine and the electric motors are fully engaged. With the V-6 engines on the Audi Q7 and the Acura MDX topping out at 333 and 290 horsepower respectively, the Mercedes-Benz leads in straight-line acceleration. But how well does it handle? With a carefully-tuned base suspension and several different adaptive upgrades, coupled with a very precise steering, the answer is: very well. While the 2018 Q7 offers some high-end models that handle as well, they can’t match the power of the GLE, while the MDX is held back by a sluggish transmission. For a driver who considers strong performance a must-have, the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE is the best selection.

Styling

The best part of buying a new luxury crossover is showing it off as you drive around Nashville, Brentwood & Franklin, TN, so it definitely needs to look the part. The 2018 GLE, 2018 MDX and the 2018 Q7 are all very good-looking vehicles, but their different styles separate them. The Audi Q7 is very conservative, which could be a good look if it didn’t make it too visually similar to its mass-market Volkswagen relatives. The Acura MDX, on the other hand, has a bold and outlandish design, even after it was slightly toned down in the most recent redesign. It is a striking and unique design, but it is too busy and unusual to be considered among the most stylish vehicles. The Mercedes-Benz GLE manages to incorporate both traditional and modern elements in its design, standing out through the unique Mercedes-Benz design language. Of the three cars, it is easily the most good-looking, and the perfect choice for the style-conscious drivers among us.

Safety

Even those drivers that are not planning on using their mid-size luxury crossover as a family vehicle will appreciate having a full suite of advanced systems keeping them safe from an accident. This generation’s key features are present on all three vehicles, including forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and a rearview camera. However, when it comes to advanced optional features, some of the cars are missing features found on the others. The Acura MDX, for instance, lacks a pre-collision preparedness system that pre-tenses seatbelts and locks doors and windows when an imminent collision is detected, which both the Mercedes-Benz GLE and the Audi Q7 offer. The Q7, however, only offers a low-speed version of its forward collision warning system as standard, with the full version as an optional upgrade. The 2018 GLE has all of the safety features found on its two competitors, as well as some that are unique to it, such as crosswind assistance and a drowsiness monitor. That makes the 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLE the safest car of the three, and the better one for anyone who is concerned for their safety and that of their family when they are driving.