Mercedes-Benz GLE vs Volkswagen Tiguan
Mercedes-Benz GLE
Mercedes' large SUV on the MHA platform.
VS
Volkswagen Tiguan
Volkswagen’s compact family 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 Tiguan
Pick the Tiguan for a roomy, practical family SUV with strong towing and a wide engine range.
Best engine: The 1.5 TSI/eTSI (150 hp) or 2.0 TDI (150 hp).
Read the full guide
Performance
M256 GLE 450 · Petrol vs 1.5 eTSI 150 · Petrol
| Mercedes-Benz GLE | Volkswagen Tiguan | |
|---|---|---|
| Power |
367 hp
Winner
|
150 hp
|
| Torque |
500 Nm
Winner
|
250 Nm
|
| 0–100 km/h |
5,7 s
Winner
|
9,1 s
|
| Top speed |
250 km/h
Winner
|
210 km/h
|
| Power-to-weight |
164,2 hp/t
Winner
|
101,4 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 Tiguan | |
|---|---|---|
| Boot |
630 L
|
652 L
Winner
|
| Boot (seats folded) |
2.055 L
Winner
|
1.650 L
|
| Wheelbase |
3,00 m
Winner
|
2,68 m
|
| Length |
4,92 m
|
4,54 m
|
| Width |
1,95 m
|
1,84 m
|
| Height |
1,80 m
|
1,64 m
|
| Seats |
5
|
5
|
Powertrain & tech
| Mercedes-Benz GLE | Volkswagen Tiguan | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | MHA (rear-wheel-drive base, shared with the GLS) | MQB / MQB Evo (transverse) |
| 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/EA288 Evo diesel · eHybrid PHEV |
| Fuel | Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid | Petrol · Diesel · Plug-in hybrid |
| Transmission | 9G-TRONIC automatic | 6-speed manual · 7-speed DSG |
| Euro standard | Euro 6d-TEMP (early) · Euro 6d (later) | Euro 6 (early) · Euro 6d/6e (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 Tiguan
- DSG fluid service and shift quality
- 1.5 TSI cold-start hesitation (early)
- AdBlue/DPF on 2.0 TDI (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 Tiguan
- Roomy cabin and high seating position
- Wide, efficient engine range
- Strong towing (up to 2,500 kg on 4MOTION diesels)
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 Tiguan
- Bigger and heavier than a T-Roc/Golf
- Higher consumption on powerful 2.0 TSI/R versions
Compare specific generations
Belgian taxes & LEZ
Region
Fuel
Euro norm
First registration
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For sale at dealers
Mercedes-Benz GLE
29 for sale · from € 29.950
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Volkswagen Tiguan
76 for sale · from € 7.950
Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace 2.0 TDI · R-Line · Panoramic roof · Camera · CarPlay
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