Compare the2025 GMC YukonVS 2025 Mercedes GLE

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
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Yukon and GLE have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Yukon has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The GLE’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Yukon has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The GLE doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Yukon Ultimate helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The GLE doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Yukon’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLE.

The GMC Yukon’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Mercedes GLE does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Yukon and the GLE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the GMC Yukon is safer than the Mercedes GLE:

	Yukon	GLE
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	23%	24%
Leg Forces (l/r)	152/161 lbs.	301/184 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 flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the GMC Yukon is safer than the Mercedes GLE:

	Yukon	GLE
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	25	40
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	111 lbs.	151 lbs.
Hip Force	118 lbs.	287 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	88	103
Spine Acceleration	24 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	248 lbs.	677 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	239	264

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

Warranty

GMC’s powertrain warranty covers the Yukon 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLE. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the GLE ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Yukon’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the GLE’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 4 times as many GMC dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Yukon’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. With 5 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks GMC higher than Mercedes.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that GMC vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes With 12 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks GMC higher than Mercedes.

Engine

The Yukon has more powerful engines than the GLE:

	Horsepower	Torque
Yukon 5.3 V8	355 HP	383 lbs.-ft.
Yukon 6.2 V8	420 HP	460 lbs.-ft.
GLE 350 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	255 HP	295 lbs.-ft.
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.

The Yukon’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 50 more horsepower (305 vs. 255) and 200 lbs.-ft. more torque (495 vs. 295) than the GLE 350’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Yukon’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 126 lbs.-ft. more torque (495 vs. 369) than the GLE 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid. The Yukon’s 3.0 turbo diesel produces 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (495 vs. 479) than the GLE 450e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the GMC Yukon 5.3 V8 is faster than the GLE 350 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

	Yukon	GLE
Zero to 60 MPH	7.2 sec	7.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	15.8 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.6 MPH	87.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Yukon gets better mileage than the GLE running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
Yukon
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Diesel	20 city/26 hwy
GLE
	AWD	350 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/26 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/25 hwy
		4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	15 city/20 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Yukon V8’s fuel efficiency. The GLE doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Yukon uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 6.2 V8 engine for maximum performance). The GLE requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Yukon has 6.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLE 450e’s standard fuel tank (24 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Yukon has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLE’s standard fuel tank (24 vs. 22.5 gallons).

The Yukon has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The GLE doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the GMC Yukon, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the GLE.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Yukon’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLE:

	Yukon	GLE
Front Rotors	16.1 inches	14.8 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Yukon has larger standard tires than the GLE (275/60R20 vs. 255/50R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Yukon has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the GLE. The Yukon Denali’s optional 24-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the GLE 580.

The GMC Yukon’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Mercedes GLE only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Yukon has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The GLE doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Yukon has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the GLE; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Yukon’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the GLE (120.9 inches vs. 117.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Yukon is 2.8 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than on the GLE.

For greater off-road capability the Yukon AT4 Ultimate Air Ride has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GLE Airmatic (10 vs. 9.2 inches), allowing the Yukon to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Yukon uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The GLE doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Yukon offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the GLE can only carry up to 7.

The Yukon has 1.8 inches more front headroom, 4.2 inches more front legroom, 6.2 inches more front shoulder room, 2 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom and 6.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLE.

Cargo Capacity

The Yukon’s cargo area provides more volume than the GLE.

	Yukon	GLE
Third Seat Folded	72.5 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	33.3 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	121.7 cubic feet	74.9 cubic feet

The Yukon’s cargo area is larger than the GLE’s in every dimension:

	Yukon	GLE
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	24”/54”/89.5”	n.a./40”/76.5”
Max Width	49.5”	n/a
Min Width	49.4”	43.7”
Height	36.5”	35.5”

Both the Yukon and the GLE offer second row automatic folding seats. The Yukon’s third row seats also fold up or down at the press of a switch. The GLE doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Mercedes GLE is limited to 7700 pounds. The Yukon offers up to a 8200 lbs. towing capacity.

The Yukon 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Yukon can be unhitched and driven around locally. The GLE can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Yukon, using the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the GLE.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Yukon’s available exterior PIN entry system. The GLE doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its Mercedes-Benz Emergency Call can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Yukon has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLE only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Yukon’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The GLE doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Yukon has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the GLE.

Both the Yukon and the GLE offer available massaging front seats. The Yukon Denali Ultimate also offers optional massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging second row seats aren’t available in the GLE.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Yukon owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Yukon will cost $2125 to $8105 less than the GLE over a five-year period.

The Yukon will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Yukon will retain 53.72% to 56.98% of its original price after five years, while the GLE only retains 49.45% to 53.48%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Yukon is less expensive to operate than the GLE because typical repairs cost much less on the Yukon than the GLE, including $359 less for a water pump, $136 less for front brake pads, $366 less for a starter, $215 less for fuel injection, $263 less for front struts and $628 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Yukon second among large suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The GLE isn’t in the top three in its category.

The GMC Yukon outsold the Mercedes GLE by 34% during 2024.

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