Test drive Mercedes GLE series VW Touareg: First class
It's time for the first VW Touareg race with the Mercedes GLE
The ambitions of the new VW Touareg are big - and it shows in the intricate chrome grille. The model is positioned in a segment where the requirements are especially high - here we are looking for design, image, comfort, power, safety and impressive performance in all respects. The time has come for the first competition with one of the main market rivals - the Mercedes GLE.
Not so long ago, the Mercedes GLE managed to win, albeit by a small margin. BMW X5 and Porsche Cayenne in a comparative test of auto, moto and sports. Impressive for a model who will retire at any moment. The GLE is now available with a three-liter diesel engine to compete with the new Touareg, which is currently only available as a 3.0 TDI V6. Needless to say, the third generation of the model takes advantage of all the technological advances that Volkswagen's longitudinal modular vehicle platform offers. The test car boasted chassis options such as four-wheel steering, air suspension and active vibration compensation with adjustable anti-roll bars, which together with the 20-inch wheels raised the price by about BGN 15.
Modern time
Inside the car, the most striking new feature, as you'd expect, is the so-called Innovision Cockpit, which occupies a strikingly large portion of the dashboard. Google-Earth maps are displayed with exceptional levels of contrast and brightness, but it is a fact that you have to get used to some of the functionality of the new tool type. Especially when driving, the likelihood of getting into small fields of sensors to regulate the climate in the cabin or activate the comfort functions of the seats, without taking your eyes off the road, is practically zero. There is no doubt that if you are looking for a contemporary ambience in the interior, this is probably the pinnacle of what is currently possible in the area.
Mercedes looks much more old-fashioned, as evidenced by the large number of buttons and controls. Which of the two cars you like best is a matter of taste and attitude. One of the great things about the GLE is the ability to adjust the seats to their miniature counterparts located in the doors. In fact, the multi-contour seats in the GLE are also excellent, but the optional Ergo-Comfort seats in the VW with power adjustment, fine leather upholstery, remote backrest control and even the ability to adjust the seat width are even better when it's in every way. A point for VW against Mercedes.
Comfort, comfort and more comfort
Basically, Mercedes is synonymous with a long-distance car in which you travel widely, in almost complete silence and without stress. Objectively, this is still a fact, but competition is not dormant and, apparently, in some cases even more convincing. VW provides more comfort, not only in terms of seats - a large and excellent soundproof SUV does not accidentally claim to compete with the best in its class. The motors of both cars are audible only at startup - from now on, pleasant silence reigns in high-quality salons. Both opponents have air suspension and body vibration control, but the VW is even more powerful. Sharp transverse bumps and hatch covers, which are only partially absorbed by the GLE, remain completely invisible to Touareg passengers. On winding roads, the Wolfsburg wobbles a bit and the GLE gets more hectic. The Touareg definitely benefits from having a steerable rear axle and is faster in road tests than the not-so-slow GLE. In everyday life, it is also clearly seen that in the border mode, the VW starts to turn less later and is much easier and more accurate to master than its competitor. Otherwise, at a normal pace, including fast corners on the track, both models stay at the same high level.
Lots of free space
The longer and wider Touareg gives passengers even more room than the spacious GLE, and this is hardly surprising. In addition, thanks to the three-seater rear seat, VW is even more practical, but lags behind in payload (569 versus 615 kg) and maximum cargo volume (1800 versus 2010 liters).
The Volkswagen flagship also shines with a surprisingly large arsenal of the latest active safety offerings, including head-up display, night vision and Trailer Assist.
Even without the weight attached, the Touareg has managed to convince us that its 28 extra horsepower doesn't just exist on paper. At full throttle, it is significantly more energetic than the superbly motorized Mercedes itself. On the other hand, the transmission settings for the model with the three-spoke star in the emblem are one idea more harmonious than for the eight-speed automatic Touareg.
The question remains: GLE 350 d or Touareg 3.0 TDI? You're unlikely to make the wrong choice with either model - and yet the Touareg is the more modern and overall better of the two cars.
CONCLUSION
1. VW
Touareg not only looks confident - in this comparison he manages to win point after point as a joke. Thanks to numerous high-tech solutions, the driving experience is truly impressive.
2. Mercedes
Introduced in 2011, the GLE hasn't been among the most modern of the segment for a long time, but it works great - with good comfort, excellent functionality and pleasant handling, without allowing for shortcomings.
Text: Michael Harnishfeger
Photo: Hans-Dieter Zeifert
