Head-to-head
2027 Kia Telluride vs 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
The Kia Telluride wins clearly, 96.5 to 57.5, on tech & comfort, price, fuel & range.
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2027 Kia Telluride
The 2027 Kia Telluride is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Telluride FE Hybrid, i…
vs
A2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
The 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the GLE350 4matic, is EP…
Verdict · default weights
2027 Kia Telluride
Clear winThe Kia Telluride wins clearly, 96.5 to 57.5, on tech & comfort, price, fuel & range.
Tech & comfort 2027 Kia Telluride leads by 97.9
Price 2027 Kia Telluride leads by 42.7
Fuel & range 2027 Kia Telluride leads by 42.4
| Category · weight | 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Classoverall 57.5 | 2027 Kia Tellurideoverall 96.5 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 57.3 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | ||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 57.6 | 100 | ||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | ||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 75.7 | 84.3 | ||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | ||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 70.8 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | ||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 91 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | ||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 2.1 | 100 | ||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | ||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | ||||||||||||
| Overall | 57.5 | 96.5 | ||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class: base trim GLE 350 4MATIC SUV AWD · Kia Telluride: base trim LX FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2027 Kia Telluride wins
- It lists 37 standard driver-assist features against 1.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (47.5 points against 1 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It starts $29,210 lower ($39,190 against $68,400 base MSRP).
Where the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class answers
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 79).
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
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Specifications side by side
54 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Mercedes-Benz GLE-ClassGLE 350 4MATIC SUV AWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $68,400 | — |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 2,000 cc | 2,497 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.0L inline-4 turbo with mild hybrid drive | 2.5L Turbo Hybrid, 4-cyl, GDI, DOHC 16-Valve, P1+P2 motors |
| Fuel injection system | — | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | — | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 255 hp | 274 hp |
| Torque | 295 lb-ft | 311 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| EPA City MPG | — | 20 mpg |
| EPA Combined MPG | — | 22 mpg |
| EPA Highway MPG | — | 26 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | — | 3.51:1 |
| Transmission speeds | 9 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic hybrid |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 7.4 in |
| Overall height | 70.7 in | 69.5 in |
| Overall length | 194 in | 199 in |
| Overall width | 79.7 in | 78.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 118 in | 117 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 74.9 cu-ft | 89.3 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 33.3 cu-ft | 48.7 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | — | 22.3 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 181 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 5 | 8 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.5 in | 41.2 in |
| Second-row headroom | 36.9 in | 40.4 in |
| Third-row headroom | — | 37.4 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 40.3 in | 41.4 in |
| Second-row legroom | 40.9 in | 43 in |
| Third-row legroom | — | 32.1 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,916 lbs | 4,420 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,916 lbs | 4,381 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 6,063 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent double-wishbone | McPherson Strut, Stabilizer and High-Performance Dampers |
| Rear suspension type | Multilink with selective damping | Multi-link and High-Performance Dampers |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Rack-and-pinion with speed-dependent electromechanical power assist | Rack-mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 19.8 ft | 19.6 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 345 mm |
| Front brake type | — | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | — | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 325 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | ventilated disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 19 in | 18 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | forged alloy |
| Wheel width | 8.5 in | 8 in |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 275/55R19 | P235/65 R18 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 22.5 gal | 19 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 91 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | Kia Connect |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | — | 36 months |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 59.3 in | 61.6 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 58.3 in | 61.2 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | — | 55.3 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
125 features · differences first, then sharedSafety38 differ · 38 listed
| Feature | Mercedes-Benz GLE-ClassGLE 350 4MATIC SUV AWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Spot Collision Warning (BCW) with Parallel Exit | — | std |
| Forward Collision Avoidance with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection (FCA) | — | std |
| Smart Cruise Control (SCC) with STOP & GO (S&G) | — | std |
| Forward Collision Avoidance - Junction Turning (FCA-JT) | — | std |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | — | std |
| Lane Following Assist 2 (LFA2) | — | std |
| Rear Cross-Traffic Collision - Avoidance Assist (RCCA) | — | std |
| Dual front advanced airbags | — | std |
| Dual front seat-mounted side airbags | — | std |
| Front center airbag (Between driver and front passenger) | — | std |
| Full-length side curtain airbags | — | std |
| Highway Driving Assist (HDA 1.5) | — | std |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | — | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) | — | std |
| Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control-Curve - NSCC-C | — | std |
| Rear Occupant Alert with Radar Sensors (2nd and 3rd Rows) | — | std |
| Rear View Monitor (RVM) with Parking Guidance-Dynamic | — | std |
| Downhill Brake Control (DBC) | — | std |
| Driver Attention Warning (DAW) | — | std |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) (x4) | — | std |
| Parking Distance Warning - Forward (PDW-F) | — | std |
| Parking Distance Warning - Reverse (PDW-R) | — | std |
| Rear side (2nd row) airbags | — | std |
| Safe Exit Assist (SEA) | — | std |
| Trailer Stability Assist (TSA) | — | std |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) | — | std |
| Digital Extra: 360° camera | std | — |
| Driver's knee airbag | — | std |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | — | std |
| High Beam Assist (HBA) | — | std |
| Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) | — | std |
| Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA) | — | std |
| Rollover sensor | — | std |
| Side impact sensor | — | std |
| Traction Control System (TCS) | — | std |
| Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) | — | std |
| Immobilizer | — | std |
| Tire-Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) high-line | — | std |
Infotainment9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Mercedes-Benz GLE-ClassGLE 350 4MATIC SUV AWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 12.3-inch audio display unit with navigation and ccNC, Wireless Apple CarPlay TM, Android Auto TM, Sirus XM and Bluetooth | — | std |
| Dual Wireless phone charger | — | std |
| Wi-Fi Hotspot | — | std |
| 8 speaker sound system | — | std |
| Steering wheel-mounted Bluetooth Hands-free with Voice activation controls | — | std |
| USB-C Ports: 7 Total — 1 Data and Charging (Front Row) and 6 Charging (2 in each row) | — | std |
| MBUX Superscreen | std | — |
| Steering wheel-mounted audio controls | — | std |
| Telematics Mobile Unit - Embedded Modem (TMU) | — | std |
Convenience6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Mercedes-Benz GLE-ClassGLE 350 4MATIC SUV AWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Push-button start with Smart Key and burglar alarm | — | std |
| Remote Engine Start button on Key Fob | — | std |
| Manual liftgate | — | std |
| 12V Power outlets (x3) | — | std |
| Driver and Passenger's central door lock | — | std |
| Power windows with auto up/down and safety | — | std |
Climate3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Mercedes-Benz GLE-ClassGLE 350 4MATIC SUV AWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-zone (Driver, Front Passenger and Rear) automatic temperature control | — | std |
| Rear ducts - Ceiling Mounted with Diffuse Vents (2nd and 3rd row) | — | std |
| Auto Window Defogger | — | std |
Seating6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Mercedes-Benz GLE-ClassGLE 350 4MATIC SUV AWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Row Bench Seats: 60:40 Split with 1-Touch, Tilt + Slide (Pass. Side), Fold + Slide (Driver Side) | — | std |
| Cloth Upper Seat Back + SynTex Lower seating trim | — | std |
| 6-way Manual Driver Seat | — | std |
| 2nd-row remote folding buttons (in cargo area) | — | std |
| 6-way Manual Passenger Seat | — | std |
| 2nd-row Bench Seats with center armrest with cup holders | — | std |
Interior25 differ · 25 listed
| Feature | Mercedes-Benz GLE-ClassGLE 350 4MATIC SUV AWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4.2-inch color TFT-LCD full segment meter driver cluster | — | std |
| SynTex with genuine stitching steering wheel | — | std |
| Day/night interior rear-view mirror | — | std |
| Floor console with center armrest, cup holders, side handles and storage box | — | std |
| LED illuminated Sun Visors/Vanity Mirrors | — | std |
| Manual tilt and telescopic steering column | — | std |
| SynTex leather wrapped door armrest | — | std |
| Carpet Floor Mats | — | opt |
| Cloth A/B pillar trim | — | std |
| Cloth headliner trim | — | std |
| Dual sunvisors, sliding with vanity mirrors | — | std |
| Front seatback pockets | — | std |
| Hydrographics interior trim | — | std |
| LED 2nd row lamp | — | std |
| LED 3rd row lamp | — | std |
| LED cargo lamp | — | std |
| LED overhead console lamp | — | std |
| Overhead console with sunglass holder | — | std |
| Trip computer | — | std |
| Carpet flooring | — | std |
| Cloth sunvisor | — | std |
| Front and rear side door pockets | — | std |
| Rheostat | — | std |
| Standard door and cargo scuff plates | — | std |
| Standard Pedals | — | std |
Exterior25 differ · 25 listed
| Feature | Mercedes-Benz GLE-ClassGLE 350 4MATIC SUV AWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 18-inch alloy wheels A-Type | — | std |
| LED Projector-style headlights with high and low beams | — | std |
| Body-color, heated and powered outside mirrors with turn signals | — | std |
| 19-inch 5-spoke w/black accents (8.5x19) | std | — |
| 275/55R19, all-season tires | std | — |
| Acoustic Front Windshield | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | — | std |
| LED rear combination lamps | — | std |
| Outside door handles: Flush, Auto-Pop Out Type, Body Colored | — | std |
| Panorama roof | std | — |
| Auto light control (ALC) | — | std |
| Gloss black radiator grille with Matte Black inserts and Dark Metal Bumper Garnish | — | std |
| Lower Grille/Front Bumper: Body-color with gloss black and dark metal | — | std |
| Privacy Rear Windows, 3rd row/Cargo Side Glass and Liftgate Glass | — | std |
| Rear windshield defroster | — | std |
| Solar Front Door Windows and Windshield | — | std |
| Body-color rear spoiler | — | std |
| Dark metal Side Sill and D-Pillar Accent | — | std |
| Gloss black Upper DLO & Beltline | — | std |
| Hidden single muffler | — | std |
| LED High Mounted Stop Lamp, integrated into rear spoiler | — | std |
| Matte Black outer wheel arches and Gloss-Black inner arches | — | std |
| Mud guards | — | opt |
| Temporary spare wheel tire | — | std |
| Low washer fluid warning system | — | std |
Powertrain7 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Mercedes-Benz GLE-ClassGLE 350 4MATIC SUV AWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| All Wheel Drive (AWD) | std | — |
| Front Wheel Drive (FWD) | — | std |
| 2.0L inline-4 turbo with mild hybrid drive | std | — |
| 3.0L inline-6 turbo with mild hybrid drive | std | — |
| 9G-TRONIC 9-speed automatic transmission | std | — |
| Drive Mode Select (DMS): Eco / Normal / Sport / My Drive | — | std |
| Hybrid Integrated Starter-Generator (48V mild hybrid) | std | — |
Chassis2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Mercedes-Benz GLE-ClassGLE 350 4MATIC SUV AWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 4-wheel independent double-wishbone front/multilink rear with selective damping | std | — |
| Rack-and-pinion with speed-dependent electromechanical power assist | std | — |
Cargo4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Mercedes-Benz GLE-ClassGLE 350 4MATIC SUV AWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Towing Hitch | — | opt |
| Tow Mode: Optimizes Towing Performance | — | std |
| Luggage Tray Cover, Foldable | — | std |
| Towing capacity: 7,700 lbs | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPMercedes-Benz GLE-Class
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 0
Owner complaints —
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Kia Telluride
Safety Signal 79 C
NHTSA overall —
Frontal / side / rollover — / — / —
Recalls 3
Owner complaints 35 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Seat Belts (8), Power Train (8), Seats (5)
Top recalls
- high Seat Belts 26V356000 · 6,264 vehicles
- high Seats 26V173000 · 568 vehicles
- high Seat Belts 26V135000 · 14,870 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Mercedes-Benz GLE-ClassGLE 350 4MATIC SUV AWD | Kia TellurideLX FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $68,400 (base trim) | $39,190 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $68,400 – $98,000 7 trims | $39,190 – $56,790 12 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | GLE350 4matic | Telluride FE Hybrid |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 23 | 35 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,550 | $1,900 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | 5 yr / 60,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | — | 10 yr / 100,000 mi |
| Roadside assistance | — | 5 yr |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class or the 2027 Kia Telluride?
The Kia Telluride wins clearly, 96.5 to 57.5, on tech & comfort, price, fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2027 Kia Telluride scores 96.5 and the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class 57.5. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class or the 2027 Kia Telluride?
The 2027 Kia Telluride starts lower — $39,190 against $68,400, a gap of $29,210 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class or the 2027 Kia Telluride?
2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class: no NHTSA rating yet, grade A, 0 recalls. 2027 Kia Telluride: no NHTSA rating yet, grade C, 3 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class and the 2027 Kia Telluride?
Where the 2027 Kia Telluride wins: it lists 37 standard driver-assist features against 1, lists more comfort and tech equipment (47.5 points against 1 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and starts $29,210 lower ($39,190 against $68,400 base MSRP). Where the 2027 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class answers: it has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 100 against 79).