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Andrea Matthews18 Sept 2019
REVIEW

BMW X5 v Mercedes-Benz GLE v Volkswagen Touareg 2019 Comparison

Can Volkswagen's most luxurious Touareg ever beat two other big new German premium SUVs at their own game?

When it comes to large prestige SUVs, the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class have had the glam end of the segment sewn up for the past generation, leaving the Volkswagen Touareg playing a practical but less aspirational second fiddle to its Vorsprung cousin, the Audi Q7, a facelifted version of which is still six months away. But this year's all-new Touareg now promises a lot more luxury, technology and performance, so it’s the perfect time to see how Volkswagen's new flagship SUV stacks up against equally new versions of the two most popular big luxury SUVs in Australia.

Has the Volkswagen Touareg come of age?

The 2019 Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI 4MOTION Launch Edition [Ed: what a mouthful!] caused a bit of fuss when it arrived at Carsales HQ recently. It’s joining our long-term press fleet for a while and, in tricked-up Touareg Launch Edition guise, it has seriously impressed.

When the opportunity arose to put it up against the all-new Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class and the almost-as-new BMW X5 -- Australia's two best-selling large luxury SUVs -- discussion was robust. Would an X5 or GLE buyer ever consider a Touareg? Should they?

With the $90K Launch Edition, Volkswagen is certainly pitching Touareg at prestige SUV buyers. Yes, the 'other' German brand may lack the cache of its prestige counterparts but at this price, for buyers with time on their hands to weigh up the pricing and specification lists, the Touareg certainly ticks all the logical boxes.

But here it is up against fierce competition. The latest BMW X5 has excelled in our previous excursions, as has the new Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, so the new-for-2019 Touareg needs to meet or even beat them not just in terms of value, technology and refinement but driveability, practicality and luxury to take out this win.

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Our three contestants

The Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI was introduced exclusively as a Launch Edition powered by a 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel generating 190kW/600Nm. Costing $89,990 plus on-road costs, the Touareg First Edition is set to be joined next month by more affordable variants.

The high-end Launch Edition arrives with a host of attractive features designed to give the upper end of the market a run for its money.

Included features such as heated and chilled massaging front seats, auto tailgate, four-wheel air suspension, quad-zone air-conditioning, 9.2-inch touch-screen infotainment system, wireless phone charging and four USB ports make a compelling case for the VW.

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Like the Touareg, the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is also a new arrival on our shores. There’s a three-variant range available priced from $99,900 to the range-topping GLE 400d 4MATIC that’s priced at $118,140.

The vehicle we’re testing here is the Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d 4MATIC, the entry-level model powered by a 180kW/500Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission.

Standard features for the GLE 300d include Mercedes Me Connect services, 12.3-inch MBUX infotainment system, head-up display, LED headlights, electric tailgate, 360-degree camera and a suite of driver assist technologies including lane change assist.

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Rounding out our trio of testers is the BMW X5 xDrive30d. Introduced as an all-new model late last year, the 2019 BMW X5 is the stand-out best-seller in the premium large SUV market, commanding a 21 per cent share of the segment.

The xDrive30d is powered by a 195kW/620Nm 3.0-litre straight-six turbo-diesel paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Standard features include adaptive LED headlights, auto-tailgate, head-up display, gesture control, panoramic sunroof and a three-year subscription to BMW ConnectedDrive services but only one year of Apple CarPlay.

Until very recently, the xDrive30d was the most affordable X5 available in Australia at $117,900, but the range has just been expanded with the addition of a new four-cylinder xDrive25d model that slips in under the $100K price-point, which isn't available for test yet.

So what we have here are three big new AWD diesel German luxury SUVs priced within $28K of each other and with comparable equipment and performance, even if the Touareg is the cheapest by $10K, the X5 the priciest by $18K and the GLE is four-cylinder.

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Who will they appeal to?

These vehicles are likely to appeal to well-heeled families with an active lifestyle who are looking for the best technology as well as luxury, space and flexibility.

While drivers in this segment are likely driven by brand, they will also be looking for a high level of specification in exchange for substantial dollars. All three of these vehicles are exceptional all-rounders and each offers enough equipment to make a worthy case for consideration.

Standard safety technologies are to be commended. Autonomous emergency braking systems are present, adaptive cruise systems are easy to use, as do the auto-parking functions, and every car now features the ubiquitous smartphone integration. Mercedes-Benz and BMW also include advanced connectivity solutions that help with travel planning and communication while on the road.

All will accommodate five passengers in style but it’s the Mercedes-Benz GLE that offers the most spacious room in the second row. It is 80mm longer than the previous model and that translates to plenty of legroom in the back.

The BMW X5 is tighter with a hard middle seat in the second row that kids will argue about sitting on, while the Volkswagen Touareg offers generous accommodation and is the only vehicle on test with standard rear window blinds, digital climate control for both sides at the rear and both central and B-pillar air-vents.

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Boot capacity is huge in all three vehicles. The X5 offers the most cargo space at 650 litres, the GLE promises 630 and the Touareg (incidentally the only vehicle to include a collapsible spare wheel in place of run-flat tyres [X5] or an inflator kit [GLE]), has the least at 614 litres.

Fold the second row down and it’s the Mercedes-Benz GLE that offers the most space at 2055 litres; the BMW and Volkswagen carrying 1870 and 1800 litres respectively.

Crucially for many, however, larger families may rule out the Touareg as it is limited to only a five-seat configuration whereas the GLE and X5 are both available in seven-seat form with a third-row option (an extra $3700 for the BMW and $3900 for the Benz).

The GLE we tested was equipped with seven seats, which we found offered good short-term room for an adult passenger but was difficult to get into. We also found operating the electric second row (part of the seven-seat package) too time-consuming to deal with on a regular basis.

In country Australia it’s likely these SUVs will be employed as tow vehicles, and they’re certainly up to the task. With the requisite gear optioned, each vehicle has a braked towing capacity of 3500kg, the X5 having been recently upgraded especially for Australia.

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Option alert

While these vehicles are already on the pricey side, their manufacturers aren’t shy in helping you shell out a few more dollars for extra bells and whistles.

In the case of the Volkswagen Touareg, the extras list is highlighted by an $8000 Innovision Package which adds a massive flush-fit 15-inch touch display with gesture control and an equally classy 12.3-inch TFT digital instrument cluster with customisable menus, plus a premium audio system (without DAB+ digital radio), head-up display, 30 ambient lighting hues around the interior and a gloss-black centre console.

At $112,990 the BMW feels the least well equipped of this trio, even though it has the highest price point. Heated seats are an extra $4000 and don’t offer the ventilated or massaging function of the standard Touareg Launch Edition or the level of seating in the Mercedes-Benz's $3700 luxury seat package.

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Wireless charging is a $900 option in the X5 but it does at least allow for wireless Apple CarPlay that makes phone integration seamless. If you want to add wireless charging to the GLE then you’ll need to plump for the $1400 Vision package that also adds a 13-speaker stereo system and panoramic sliding sunroof

Our GLE 300d test vehicle was fitted with almost the full gamut of upgrade options, which took the price from $99,900 to $127,300 plus ORCs. AIRMATIC suspension added $3400, an AMG Sport package a further $9900, the seven-seat package $3900 and the towbar pack another $1900.

Want prestige metallic paint on your prestige SUV? You’ll be paying $2000 to BMW and Volkswagen, and $3200 for Mercedes’ designo hyacinth red metallic.

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In terms of warranty, Volkswagen offers a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty while BMW and Mercedes-Benz come with only three-year/unlimited-km deals.

If you choose to service your car with a dealer then both BMW and Mercedes offer up-front payment packages so you can bundle your servicing with your vehicle purchase. For the first five years of BMW ownership (or first 80,000km), a basic service package on the X5 will cost $2050.

A similar pack of five services on your GLE will cost $4900. Spreading your costs over the first five years/75,000km at Volkswagen will set you back $3248.

Tyre replacement will be a critical servicing cost. Expect to pay around $580 for the 315/40R21 Pirelli P Zero tyre fitted to the GLE and $450 for the 285/45R20 Goodyear Eagle F1 on the Volkswagen Touareg, while the 305/40R20 Bridgestone Alenza run-flat on the BMW X5 will cost around $660 apiece.

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What do they do well?

Price and specs aside, each of these vehicles is an impressive machine and each tested in isolation would easily earn high praise.

If we were to sum up their characteristics in the forms presented for this comparison we’d rate the X5 as the driver’s SUV, the GLE as the comfy luxe option and the Touareg as the all-rounder that sits betwixt the two.

With a higher engine output and lighter frame the BMW X5 offers the liveliest performance, but on 20-inch wheels the sports suspension delivers a harder ride than the two air-suspension equipped competitors.

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The Touareg does a decent job at matching the X5 for engine grunt, its beefy V6 turbo-diesel proving an impressively quiet unit.

Official decibel meter readings from Green Vehicle Guide show the Touareg is the quietest, reading 73dBA at 2375rpm, compared to the GLE 300d with 79dBA at 3150rpm and the X5 with 80dBA at 3000rpm.

Where the X5 is sharp and responsive, and the Touareg offers untroubled pulling power, the GLE is not really hampered in this test by its smaller engine. It may be down on cylinders but the 2.0-litre engine delivers impressive thrust that makes it feel like a six.

With (optional) AIRMATIC suspension it has a somewhat floaty ride that isn’t as urgent as the X5's, but while it is the largest of all three vehicles it shrinks around you and is easy to pilot. Supported by its impressive tech, which includes an excellent 360-degree camera for parking manoeuvres and lane change assist for travelling in traffic, the GLE is a comfortable place to ride.

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What could they do better?

When it comes to ergonomics, design, technology integration and fit and finish, our trio of testers offered divergent opinions.

Feann favoured the flash technological approach of Mercedes-Benz when it came to the infotainment presentation in the GLE, whereas Nadine and I found some of the customisation options over the top (see video). Fashion maven Nadine thought the rough leather interior of the GLE was modern while Feann found it ‘average.’

In direct contrast to the flashy GLE, the X5 felt rather underdone. In isolation the interior is neat and the infotainment system easy to use, but up against the Mercedes-Benz and the Touareg it feels like a base model. It lacks bling in this company, which is ironic as it’s the most expensive of the three without options added.

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The most recent BMW models we've sampled have included optional upholstery finishes but the xDrive30d is finished in standard Vernasca leather. While the front seats are well upholstered, the leather was not well fitted in the rear, resulting in ruching in the cushion and seat base and an overall poor appearance.

Shortcomings were few in the Volkswagen Touareg but we did note it was missing both DAB+ digital radio and 360-degree surround camera (not to mention a four-ring logo...).

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Which wins, and why?

Brand may be all important at the top end of the market, but pragmatic buyers looking for the biggest bang for their sub-$100K buck should be racing towards the 2019 Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI Launch Edition in their droves.

It offers levels of comfort similar to those found in the GLE and a better, more laid-back ride than the sharply-sprung X5. Yes, the GLE offers more space and the option of a third row, but the Touareg counters with an impressive driveline, extensive standard features list and extra luxe touches that will reward the savvy buyer.

Cabin layout is preferable to both the X5 and the GLE, with a centre console which is the easiest to use – an important factor for drivers who jump in and out of their vehicles multiple times a day. And a longer five-year warranty goes some way to assuaging the question mark over the Volkswagen's reliability.

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Was the Touareg worthy of a shakedown with the best big premium German SUVs? Absolutely. Should the badge snobs give it a second look? Definitely.

None of these are cheap vehicles, but with this level of value and sophistication the new Volkswagen Touareg punches well above its weight.

How much is the 2019 BMW X5 xDrive30d?
Price: $117,900 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 195kW/620Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.2L/100km (ADR Combined); 8.2L/100km (as tested)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP Dec 2018)

How much is the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE 300d 4MATIC?
Price: $99,900 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 180kW/500Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel: 6.9L/100km (ADR Combined); 9.1L/100km (as tested)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP July 2019)

How much is the 2019 Volkswagen Touareg 190TDI 4MOTION Launch Edition?
Price: $89,990 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel
Output: 190kW/600Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.4L/100km (ADR Combined); 7.5L/100km (as tested)
CO2: TBC
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP May 2019)

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Written byAndrea Matthews
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