Compare the2026 Acura RDXVS 2025 Mercedes GLE Coupe

The Acura RDX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GLE Coupe doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The RDX’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 Coupe.

The Acura RDX comes with a standard Surround-View Camera System and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Mercedes GLE Coupe doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

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

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 Acura RDX is safer than the Mercedes GLE Coupe:

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Acura RDX is safer than the GLE Coupe:

Acura’s powertrain warranty covers the RDX 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLE Coupe. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the GLE Coupe ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the RDX first among compact premium suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The GLE Coupe isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. With 12 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Acura higher than Mercedes.

On the EPA test cycle the RDX gets better mileage than the GLE Coupe:

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

The RDX 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 Coupe doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

The RDX 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 Coupe doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Acura RDX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1050 to 1100 pounds less than the Mercedes GLE Coupe.

The RDX is 7.1 inches shorter than the GLE Coupe, making the RDX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the RDX has an electronically controlled liquid-filled main engine mount. A computer-controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The GLE Coupe uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The RDX uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The GLE Coupe doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The RDX has .4 inches more front shoulder room and .5 inches more rear headroom than the GLE Coupe.

The RDX has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLE Coupe with its rear seat folded (79.8 vs. 64.1 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 11% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 14th.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the RDX has a standard rear wiper. The GLE Coupe doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

The Acura RDX has won recognition from these important consumer publications: