Getting everything you want when buying a larger midsize SUV is often a matter of luck — and dollars. Many SUVs are a good value, offering plenty of standard equipment and not charging a crazy amount for add-ons.
However, if you want everything and you want it to be the best, that’s very doable. The 2025 Acura MDX and 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE represent those two ends of the purchasing spectrum.
The MDX provides consumers plenty for a reasonable price in the luxury SUV arena. Conversely, if you want almost every amenity imaginable, the GLE can be configured just the way the buyer wants — as long as budget isn’t an issue. Let’s check out these two SUVs and see what you can get for your dollar these days.
2025 Acura MDX
With an athletic, sculpted exterior, the Acura MDX looks ready to haul some people somewhere — quickly. The vehicle’s exterior belies the spacious cabin that offers soft-touch materials and leading-edge technology to as many as seven people, with a much more accommodating third row than the one that’s optional in the GLE.
The entire package comes together with a 3.5-liter V6 under the hood, putting out 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, and connected to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The base model MDX features front-wheel drive (FWD), but if you move up to the A-Spec Package, Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) becomes the standard mode. Also, jump to the Type S, and a twin-scroll-turbocharged 355-hp V6 supplants the base engine.
The comfort and convenience tech on the base level model is impressive, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless smartphone charging, Wi-Fi, and Amazon Alexa capability. Beyond it, the Technology Package, A-Spec, Advance Package, Type S, and Type S Advance Package await.
Acura MDX Highlights
Communication: The CabinTalk feature, available in the A-Spec trim level, allows folks sitting up front to broadcast their voices through the sound system, muting the regular audio automatically so that rear passengers can hear them.
AcuraLink: Free for three years, AcuraLink brings features such as maintenance scheduling, automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle location, and remote lock/unlock — to name just a few.
Safe SUV: This family-friendly luxury SUV has earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a 5-star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the MDX models for sale near you.
2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE
The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE gives buyers just about everything in a midsize luxury SUV. One of the advantages of spending big money on a vehicle is that there are so many options, especially in the luxury segment.
Let’s start with an old favorite: power. The base GLE 350 comes with a 255-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. But with a big budget, you can buy your way up to a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, putting out 603 hp for the AMG GLE 63 S. Imagine that kind of flexibility across the board: materials for the cabin, electronics, etc. Even the top-level MDX at nearly $75K isn’t going to do that for you.
Last year’s big change for the GLE was the addition of a plug-in hybrid model—the GLE 450e 4Matic. However, Mercedes also offers buyers the option for a more rugged GLE that can handle going further off-road than previous models. This year, Mercedes decided that not everyone wants all-wheel drive so it made a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) variant available for the GLE 350.
Mercedes-Benz GLE Highlights
Hey Mercedes: The voice-activated digital assistant is adept at recognizing commands in natural speech. It can also carry out a greater number of those commands after a 2024 update.
Augmented reality: Superimposing information like direction arrows or street numbers on the image from a forward-facing camera makes navigating much easier. This is now standard in the AMG models and optional elsewhere.
Burmester’s best: This excellent 13-speaker/590-watt surround-sound system is now enhanced with Dolby Atmos to produce an even more immersive audio experience. It’s optional in the regular models and standard in the AMG variants.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the GLE models for sale near you.
Similarities
Although upgrades are available, the pair boasts stylish, attractive exteriors and strong base engines.
Pricing
New 2025 Acura MDX Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (08859)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$52,550 |
$47,972 |
|||
$54,750 |
$50,238 |
|||
$57,950 |
$53,308 |
|||
$60,150 |
$55,771 |
|||
$63,150 |
$58,464 |
|||
$67,650 |
$62,210 |
|||
$69,650 |
$64,105 |
|||
$76,600 |
$71,146 |
New 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (08859)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$63,000 |
$59,087 |
|||
$65,500 |
$61,386 |
|||
$72,500 |
$67,729 |
|||
$72,500 |
$67,744 |
|||
$90,350 |
$84,856 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Acura MDX vehicles and New 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 Acura MDX | 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 3.5-liter 6-cylinder | 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 290 hp @ 6,200 rpm | 255 hp @ 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | 267 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm | 295 lb-ft @ 1,800 rpm |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic | 9-speed automatic/AWD |
| Fuel Economy | 19 city/26 highway/22 combined mpg | 21 city/28 highway/23 combined |
| Also Available | 3.0-liter turbo 6-cylinder/AWD | 3.0-liter 6-cylinder, 4.0-liter biturbo V8, hybrid |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 6 years/70,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 7 | 7 (5 standard) |
| Wheelbase | 113.8 inches | 117.9 inches |
| Overall Length | 198.4 inches | 194.3 inches |
| Width | 78.7 inches | 76.7 inches |
| Height | 67.9 inches | 70.7 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 40.5 feet | 39.5 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 38.5 inches | 40.5 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 38.1 inches | 39.6 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 36.2 inches | N/A |
| Legroom, Front | 41.6 inches | 40.3 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 38.5 inches | 40.9 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 29.1 inches | N/A |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 61.9 inches | 59.3 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 60.3 inches | 58.3 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 55.2 inches | N/A |
| Cargo Volume | 39.1 cubic feet | 33.3 cubic feet |
Conclusion
While they’re both technically 7-seat midsize SUVs, they end up miles apart very quickly. The completely decked-out MDX comes in for about $9,000 more than the base price of the Mercedes GLE 350. On the flip side, you could buy nearly three MDX base models for just one AMG GLE 63 S Coupe. Your budget is the biggest determining factor in which of these SUVs makes more sense for you and your family.
