Mercedes-Benz GLE vs Renault Arkana

Mercedes-Benz GLE

Mercedes' large SUV on the MHA platform.

Renault Arkana

Renault’s coupé-style compact SUV.

First car

Second car

Pick this one if…

Mercedes-Benz GLE

Pick the GLE for space, comfort and powerful engines in a large premium SUV.

Best engine: The GLE 300 d / GLE 350 d (diesel) or GLE 450 (petrol) — the sweet spot.

Read the full guide

Pick this one if…

Renault Arkana

Pick the Arkana for a striking coupé-SUV with a roomy boot and an efficient hybrid.

Best engine: The 1.3 TCe (petrol) or E-Tech hybrid.

Read the full guide

Performance

M256 GLE 450 · Petrol vs 1.3 TCe 140 · Petrol

	Mercedes-Benz GLE	Renault Arkana
Power	367 hp Winner	140 hp
Torque	500 Nm Winner	260 Nm
0–100 km/h	5,7 s Winner	9,8 s
Top speed	250 km/h Winner	200 km/h
Power-to-weight	164,2 hp/t Winner	105,3 hp/t
CO₂ emissions (WLTP)	220 g/km	132 g/km Winner
Consumption (WLTP)	9,3 L/100km	5,8 L/100km Winner

Dimensions & space

	Mercedes-Benz GLE	Renault Arkana
Boot	630 L Winner	480 L
Boot (seats folded)	2.055 L Winner	1.500 L
Wheelbase	3,00 m Winner	2,72 m
Length	4,92 m	4,57 m
Width	1,95 m	1,82 m
Height	1,80 m	1,58 m
Seats	5	5

Powertrain & tech

	Mercedes-Benz GLE	Renault Arkana
Platform	MHA (rear-wheel-drive base, shared with the GLS)	CMF-B
Drive	All-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive
Engine family	M256/M176 petrol · OM654/OM656 diesel · plug-in hybrid	1.3 TCe mild hybrid · E-Tech Hybrid 145
Fuel	Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid	Petrol · Hybrid
Transmission	9G-TRONIC automatic	6-speed manual · EDC7 · E-Tech automatic
Euro standard	Euro 6d-TEMP (early) · Euro 6d (later)	Euro 6d
LEZ access	Euro 6 diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)	Euro 6d allowed in the LEZ

Reliability & watch-outs

Known issues

Mercedes-Benz GLE

Early OM654 diesel: rocker arm / camshaft concerns
AIRMATIC air suspension can leak at high mileage
9G-TRONIC: fluid changes recommended earlier than official intervals
MBUX/electronics glitches (mostly fixed via updates)

Renault Arkana

Infotainment: freezes and lag
Electrical gremlins (12V battery)
E-Tech hybrid: 12V battery drain

Pros

Mercedes-Benz GLE

630 L boot growing to ~2,055 L — roomy for a large SUV
GLE 450: 367 hp I6 with EQ Boost (48V) and 500 Nm
OM656 2.9 I6 diesel (GLE 350 d: 272 hp / 600 Nm)
GLE 400 e PHEV: 381 hp and 650 Nm, company-car friendly

Renault Arkana

Striking coupé design
Roomy boot (480–513 L)
Efficient E-Tech hybrid available

Cons

Mercedes-Benz GLE

OM654/OM656 diesel: AdBlue/DPF watch-points with lots of short trips
PHEV shrinks boot space (~490 L)
Complex air suspension and electronics need dealer maintenance

Renault Arkana

Sloping roof limits rear headroom
No diesel offered

Driving experience

Mercedes-Benz GLE

Serene, isolating and quietly opulent. Steering is light and relaxed, the ride hushed and composed, and the GLE smothers rough roads and motorway miles alike. 4MATIC adds unflappable all-weather security without asking anything of the driver. AIRMATIC air suspension, where fitted, glides over poor surfaces with real polish. The M256 inline-six is silky with its 48-volt assist, the OM654/OM656 diesels pull strongly and stay quiet, and the GLE 400 e plug-in glides on electric power. The 9G-Tronic shifts almost imperceptibly. Overall a calm, tech-rich luxury SUV built to isolate, not involve.

Renault Arkana

A comfortable long-distance cruiser rather than a dynamic driver's car. Steering is light and accurate enough for daily use, and body control is reasonable, but the ride is firmer than many rivals — especially on larger wheels — and can feel unsettled over sharp bumps. The 1.3 TCe feels responsive once moving, while the E-Tech hybrid prioritises efficiency and can feel less linear under hard acceleration because of its multi-mode transmission. The EDC dual-clutch is smooth at higher speeds but can show low-speed hesitation or judder.