2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs BMW X5: Which Luxury SUV Wins Around Richmond?

Which is better, the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE or the BMW X5?

For many Richmond-area families, the Mercedes-Benz GLE vs BMW X5 comparison favors the GLE. It starts at a lower MSRP with standard all-wheel drive, and the GLE 450 offers an optional third row. Every 2027 GLE also has a standard front-passenger touchscreen. The X5 is the pick if straight-line power, fuel economy and included scheduled maintenance matter most to you.

Both SUVs are new for 2027. Mercedes-Benz announced the updated GLE in March 2026, adding the MBUX Superscreen, the MB.OS operating system and fourth-generation MBUX. BMW announced an all-new, fifth-generation X5 in June 2026, with the X5 40 xDrive market launch beginning in October 2026.

Below, we compare price, performance, space, technology, towing, safety ratings and ownership costs. Every figure comes from Mercedes-Benz USA, BMW of North America, the EPA, NHTSA or IIHS. Browse our new Mercedes-Benz GLE inventory as you read.

How do 2027 GLE and BMW X5 prices compare?

The 2027 GLE 350 4MATIC starts at $68,400 MSRP, which is $3,700 below the $72,100 MSRP of BMW’s all-wheel-drive X5 40 xDrive. Both are starting MSRPs that exclude destination, taxes, title and registration, and they are not dealer selling prices. The GLE 350 also starts below the rear-drive X5 40, which BMW lists at $69,800 MSRP and plans to launch in the first quarter of 2027.

Price is not the whole story. The X5 40 xDrive has a larger engine, so the closer power match is the GLE 450 4MATIC at $74,800 MSRP. We cover that matchup in the next section. Want to see the numbers for a specific vehicle? Our finance team can walk you through current finance offers, and you can apply for financing online.

Shopping a 2026 GLE on the lot?

Our Midlothian inventory can include both 2026 and 2027 GLE models while the model years overlap. For the 2026 GLE 350 4MATIC, the EPA rates 19 city, 26 highway and 22 combined mpg. Features differ between model years, so ask your sales consultant which features each vehicle has before you compare.

How do the GLE and X5 compare on power and fuel economy?

The X5 40 xDrive is quicker and more efficient than the GLE 350, while the GLE 450 closes most of the power gap and adds the option of seven seats. Here is how the base all-wheel-drive versions line up.

The GLE 350’s integrated starter-generator can add up to 23 hp and 151 lb-ft of boost. Step up to the GLE 450 4MATIC and you get a 3.0-liter inline-6 with 375 hp and 413 lb-ft. Mercedes-Benz estimates 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds, which is on par with BMW’s 5.1-second estimate for the X5 40 xDrive. The EPA rates the GLE 450 at 19 city, 24 highway and 21 combined mpg.

Want more? The Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 HYBRID is a plug-in hybrid with 577 hp combined, and the AMG GLE 63 S uses a 603-hp V8. Mercedes-Benz has also announced a GLE 500e plug-in hybrid and a V8 GLE 580 for the 2027 range. See our Mercedes-AMG inventory, or learn how Mercedes-Benz plug-in hybrids work.

Which SUV has more room: seats, third row and cargo?

The GLE is the one that can carry seven people, because Mercedes-Benz offers an optional third row on the GLE 450. The GLE 350 seats five. BMW’s published specs for the X5 describe 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats and list no third-row option.

The optional GLE third row folds 50/50, and Mercedes-Benz pairs it with power easy-entry to help passengers climb in. That makes the GLE 450 a practical choice for carpools and visiting family. If you need three rows every day, the larger Mercedes-Benz GLS is the next step up. If five seats is plenty, the GLC is the smaller one.

On cargo space, we are not calling a winner. Mercedes-Benz lists 33.3 to 74.9 cubic feet for the 2027 GLE, but both automakers publish more than one set of figures, and BMW has not yet published cargo space for the 2027 X5. The fair test is your own stroller, golf bag or cooler. Bring them when you schedule a test drive.

How does the GLE’s MBUX Superscreen compare with the X5’s displays?

Every 2027 GLE comes standard with the MBUX Superscreen: three 12.3-inch displays under one glass surface, including a touchscreen for the front passenger. It runs the new MB.OS operating system with fourth-generation MBUX and an AI-based MBUX Virtual Assistant.

Mercedes-Benz says the passenger display can stream video while driving, as long as its camera sees that the driver is keeping their eyes on the road. BMW takes a different route. Every 2027 X5 has BMW Panoramic Vision, a 3D head-up display and a free-cut central display as standard, while a passenger screen is optional. On the GLE, a head-up display is available as an option.

Driver assistance is strong on both. Standard features on the GLE 350 include Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Blind Spot Assist Plus, Exit Warning, a 360° camera and parking assistance. The 2027 X5 comes standard with Driving Assistant Plus. BMW offers an optional Highway Assistant for hands-free driving on suitable limited-access highways at up to 85 mph. That is a point for the X5 if long highway commutes are your routine.

How do the GLE and X5 handle towing, ride and all-weather driving?

The GLE gives you standard 4MATIC all-wheel drive on every model and up to 7,700 lbs of towing with the optional hitch, plus available AIRMATIC air suspension. 4MATIC is fully variable and can send anywhere from 0 to 100% of torque to either axle.

AIRMATIC adds automatic leveling, adjustable ride height and predictive damping that can use Car-to-X data about the road ahead. For the GLE 580, Mercedes-Benz has announced optional E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL, which manages each wheel individually and can lower the rear by more than 2 inches for loading.

For towing, every GLE with the trailer hitch gets ESP trailer stabilization. BMW has not yet published towing capacity for the 2027 X5. The 2026 X5 was rated at 7,200 lbs with its factory hitch. Richmond winters bring the occasional ice or snow day, and Mercedes-Benz notes that “best performance in snow is obtained with winter tires.” We would give the same advice for any all-wheel-drive SUV.

Which is safer, the GLE or the X5?

Neither 2027 model has been rated by IIHS or NHTSA yet. For the 2026 models, the GLE earned a 2025 TOP SAFETY PICK+ (with optional pedestrian front crash prevention) and the X5 earned a 2026 TOP SAFETY PICK+, and each leads in different areas. Here is what the testing agencies published for the 2026 models.

The GLE 350 also comes standard with PRE-SAFE occupant protection and eight air bags, including a front center air bag. Check iihs.org and nhtsa.gov for 2027 results once they are published.

What do warranty and maintenance look like for each SUV?

Both SUVs carry a 4-year or 50,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, but only BMW includes scheduled maintenance for the first 3 years or 36,000 miles. That is a real advantage for the X5.

With the GLE, normal maintenance is the owner’s responsibility. Mercedes-Benz offers Prepaid Maintenance plans in 2-, 3- and 4-year packages that lock in today’s price for future service. Mercedes-Benz lets you prepay a plan up front or, when you buy it at the same time as your vehicle, build it into your monthly payment. Ask our sales team to show you the plan options when you compare.

Service matters after the sale too. Our Mercedes-Benz service department is here in Midlothian, and you can see why owners choose Mercedes-Benz service. For a GLE with Certified Pre-Owned coverage, browse our Certified Pre-Owned inventory and the CPO warranty details.

Which SUV fits driving around Richmond, and how should you compare them?

Match the SUV to your week. A family that needs seven seats will get more from the GLE. A solo highway commuter may value the X5’s efficiency and hands-free highway option. A typical week here might mix Midlothian Turnpike errands, a Powhite Parkway or Chippenham Parkway commute, and weekend trips on I-95 or I-64.

Summers here are hot and humid, so spend time in each cabin with the climate control running. Use these steps to make the comparison fair.

1. Compare like with like.Match the GLE 450 against the X5 40 xDrive for power, or the GLE 350 against the X5 40 xDrive to compare all-wheel-drive starting prices.
2. Check the seats you need.If you need seven, confirm the GLE you are looking at has the optional third row.
3. Drive your real routes.Try a stretch of VA-288 or I-95, a parking lot and a tight driveway.
4. Bring your gear.Car seats, a stroller or golf bags show real cargo space better than any spec sheet.
5. Price the whole picture.Weigh starting MSRP, maintenance plans and your trade-in value together.

Trading in an SUV? Get an estimate with our value your trade tool. Learn more about our Midlothian Mercedes-Benz dealership and our Mercedes-Benz dealer near Richmond page, or see GLE models for sale in Midlothian. Questions? Call our sales team at (804) 587-6113.