2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE, with its 2024 facelift, retained a unique identity among Mercedes-Benz SUVs. It shared some visual bulk with the GLS-Class, GLC-Class, and GLB-Class, yet its rounded profile paid homage to previous generations and its M-Class predecessor. The GLE's design featured squared-off wheel arches and a horizontal grille and headlights, giving it a wide stance. However, the sharply tapering side glass, windshield, and back window created odd proportions, especially in the GLE Coupe models. Despite not being the most handsome model in the lineup, the GLE's styling adhered closely to the brand's orthodoxy, ensuring it was unmistakably a Benz.

For 2025, Mercedes offered new ways to personalize the GLE, with four new paint colors and Manufaktur interiors available across all models. The interior, with its Yacht Blue option, exuded luxury, featuring Nappa leather upholstery, chunky air vents, mesh speaker grilles for the optional Burmester audio system, and 64-color ambient lighting. These elements combined to create an upscale and special cabin environment.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 maintained its distinctive appearance, drawing retro comparisons to the Lancia Delta while standing out on the road. The mid-cycle refresh brought mild revisions to the lower front fascia, but the "Parametric Pixel" headlights and taillights, round wheel arches, and high rear spoiler remained. The new XRT trim, with red tow hooks and black plastic bumper cladding featuring a "digital camouflage" pattern, added a rugged aesthetic. Exclusive colors like Ultimate Red and Cosmic Blue Pearl, along with new wheel designs, enhanced the Ioniq 5's visual appeal.

Inside, the Ioniq 5's cabin retained its minimalistic and modern feel, with minor changes for functionality. The new XRT trim leaned towards a rugged look with its dark interior and all-weather floor mats. The center console was revised for improved usability, while the overall interior space remained open and uncluttered. The Ioniq 5's interior changes were subtle but effective, maintaining its reputation for a clean and contemporary design.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a diverse range of powertrain options, including a plug-in hybrid and two AMG variants. The GLE 350 featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system, producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It came standard with rear-wheel drive, with 4Matic all-wheel drive available. The GLE 450 4Matic, with a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine, delivered 375 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The GLE 450e 4Matic combined a turbo-four with electric assist for 381 hp and 479 lb-ft, offering an EPA-rated 50 miles of electric range. The GLE 580 4Matic boasted a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with 510 hp and 538 lb-ft.

The AMG GLE 53 4Matic+ and AMG GLE 63 S 4Matic+ performance models rounded out the lineup. The GLE 53's inline-six produced 429 hp and 413 lb-ft, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The GLE 63 S, with a hand-assembled twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, delivered 603 hp and 627 lb-ft, reducing the 0-60 mph time by 1.2 seconds. The GLE 63 S Coupe, with its V8 soundtrack, offered a thrilling driving experience, though the GLE's overall size made it feel larger than it was, even with AMG chassis upgrades.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT introduced a Terrain Mode button on the steering wheel, offering Snow, Mud, and Sand options. These modes adjusted throttle mapping, wheel slip, power distribution, and regenerative braking. The XRT handled off-road conditions well, with all-wheel drive as standard. The Ioniq 5's battery capacity increased for 2025, providing longer ranges. Most trims achieved 318 miles in rear-wheel drive, while the base trim had a 245-mile range. All-wheel drive reduced range slightly, with the XRT offering 259 miles.

Power output varied with powertrain choice. Rear-wheel drive models produced 168 hp and 258 lb-ft with the standard-range battery, or 225 hp and 258 lb-ft with the long-range option. All-wheel drive models featured dual motors, delivering 320 hp and 446 lb-ft. While not staggering, the Ioniq 5's instant torque provided an enjoyable driving experience, even with its weight exceeding 4,000 pounds.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE was available in two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations, though Mercedes did not publish third-row space specs. The GLE offered similar headroom to rivals but slightly less legroom compared to the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, and Genesis GV80. The high seating position provided an SUV-like feel, though outward visibility was limited. The AMG test car's heavily bolstered front seats made entry and exit challenging.

Second-row passengers enjoyed slightly more space than in most competitor SUVs, with headroom comparable to the BMW X5 and more legroom than the BMW, Land Rover Range Rover Sport, and Lexus RX. The GLE offered 33.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 74.9 cubic feet with all seats folded. The center console provided reasonable storage for small items, and the GLE's towing capacity reached 7,700 pounds when properly equipped.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 addressed previous complaints by adding a rear windshield wiper. The movable center console featured fore-and-aft cupholders, with a wireless charging pad and controls for seat and steering wheel heating. Heated front seats were standard, with a heated steering wheel available from the SEL trim. The Limited trim offered front seat ventilation and driver's seat memory, though heated rear seats were unavailable.

Interior dimensions remained unchanged, with headroom measuring 39.1-39.8 inches front and 37.5-38.7 rear. Legroom was generous, with 41.7 inches up front and 39.4 inches in the back. Cargo space measured 26.3 cubic feet with rear seats up, expanding to 58.5 cubic feet with them folded. The "frunk" added .85 cubic feet. The Ioniq 5's headroom was comparable to the Ford Mustang Mach-E, though the latter offered more cargo space. The Ioniq 5 transitioned to the North American Charging System, allowing access to Tesla's Supercharger network, with a Combined Charging System adapter included.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured a pair of 12.3-inch screens, creating a continuous horizontal display. The Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and built-in navigation. Multiple access methods, including a center-console touchpad and steering-wheel touchpads, could be confusing, but the voice recognition system was effective. The AMG GLE 63 S Coupe offered additional settings, including six drive modes and adjustable damper firmness, stability control, and exhaust noise.

Some GLE models featured a dashboard off-road display, showing steering angle, tilt angle, and grade percentage. The "transparent hood" function for the 360-degree camera system displayed the area beneath the front of the vehicle. While not as fun off-road as a Land Rover Range Rover Sport, these features, combined with air suspension, made rough terrain easier to navigate.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 retained its pair of 12.3-inch screens, with improved functionality and faster processing speeds. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The Bose Premium Audio system was available on the XRT and Limited trims, while SE and SEL trims had a six-speaker system. All trims featured standard navigation, dynamic voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity, and five USB-C ports. The Ioniq 5's USB feature allowed customization of the central USB-C port for charging or data transmitting. A head-up display was available on the Limited trim, and a wireless charging pad was included from the SEL trim.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a comprehensive suite of driver-assist features, though some were not standard. Standard features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, crosswind assist, parking assist, a driver attention monitor, and a 360-degree camera system. The Pre-Safe system mitigated collision effects by tightening seatbelts and closing windows. Adaptive cruise control was part of the optional Driver Assistance Package, which added features like evasive steering assist and cross-traffic functionality.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the GLE-Class a 2025 Top Safety Pick+, though its front-crash prevention tech received "Marginal" and "Acceptable" ratings. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not published safety ratings for the 2025 model at press time.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 continued to earn high safety ratings, with the IIHS awarding it a Top Safety Pick+ and the NHTSA giving it five stars. New standard safety features included an enhanced driver attention system, reverse and forward parking-distance warning, and a surround-view monitor on the XRT and Limited trims. Blind-spot collision-avoidance assist was removed from the base trim, replaced by blind-spot collision warning.

Highway Driving Assist 1 and 2 were available, with HDA 1 combining adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. HDA 2, available on SEL, XRT, and Limited trims, added lane-changing capability and machine learning for improved driving style approximation.