Mercedes-Benz GLE vs Volkswagen T-Roc

Mercedes-Benz GLE

Mercedes' large SUV on the MHA platform.

Volkswagen T-Roc

Volkswagen’s compact crossover 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…

Volkswagen T-Roc

Pick the T-Roc for a bold crossover look with an elevated seat and city-friendly dimensions.

Best engine: The 1.5 TSI (150 hp) or 2.0 TDI (150 hp).

Read the full guide

Performance

M256 GLE 450 · Petrol vs 1.5 TSI 150 · Petrol

	Mercedes-Benz GLE	Volkswagen T-Roc
Power	367 hp Winner	150 hp
Torque	500 Nm Winner	250 Nm
0–100 km/h	5,7 s Winner	8,5 s
Top speed	250 km/h Winner	205 km/h
Power-to-weight	164,2 hp/t Winner	118,6 hp/t
CO₂ emissions (WLTP)	220 g/km	128 g/km Winner
Consumption (WLTP)	9,3 L/100km	5,6 L/100km Winner

Dimensions & space

	Mercedes-Benz GLE	Volkswagen T-Roc
Boot	630 L Winner	445 L
Boot (seats folded)	2.055 L Winner	1.290 L
Wheelbase	3,00 m Winner	2,59 m
Length	4,92 m	4,23 m
Width	1,95 m	1,82 m
Height	1,80 m	1,57 m
Seats	5	5

Powertrain & tech

	Mercedes-Benz GLE	Volkswagen T-Roc
Platform	MHA (rear-wheel-drive base, shared with the GLS)	MQB A1 (transverse, shared with the Audi Q2)
Drive	All-wheel drive	Front-wheel drive · All-wheel drive
Engine family	M256/M176 petrol · OM654/OM656 diesel · plug-in hybrid	EA211/EA211 Evo petrol · EA888 petrol · EA288 diesel
Fuel	Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid	Petrol · Diesel
Transmission	9G-TRONIC automatic	6-speed manual · 7-speed DSG
Euro standard	Euro 6d-TEMP (early) · Euro 6d (later)	Euro 6 (early) · Euro 6d (later)
LEZ access	Euro 6 diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)	Euro 6 petrol/diesel allowed in the LEZ (Brussels/Antwerp/Ghent)

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)

Volkswagen T-Roc

DSG shift quality or fluid-service neglect
1.5 TSI cold-start hesitation/"kangarooing" (early)
AdBlue/DPF on diesels (short trips)

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

Volkswagen T-Roc

Elevated seating and a usable boot
Agile and compact in town
Wide, efficient TSI/TDI range

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

Volkswagen T-Roc

Smaller boot on 4MOTION versions (~392 l)
Harder interior plastics

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.

Volkswagen T-Roc

Easy, comfortable and a little more involving than most crossovers. The T-Roc steers accurately with decent weighting, rides well enough, and handles tidily for a car of its height, with the 2.0 TSI R version adding genuine pace. Front-drive is the default; 4MOTION adds traction in poor conditions. The 1.5 TSI is the sensible pick — smooth and efficient — the 2.0 TDI is the distance choice, and the 1.0 TSI is adequate for town work. The DSG is smooth; the manual is light. It is a well-rounded compact crossover that feels closer to a Golf than its tall body suggests.