To help make backing safer, the Highlander Limited/Platinum's cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The GLE doesn't offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Highlander and the GLE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear parking sensors.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2016, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GLE has not been fully tested, yet.

Toyota's powertrain warranty covers the Highlander 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLE. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the GLE ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The Highlander's corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the GLE' (5/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn't pay scheduled maintenance for the GLE.

There are almost 4 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander's warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without their vehicle while it's being repaired. Consumer Reports predicts that the Highlander's reliability will be 28% better than the GLE.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 9th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 14th.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota third in reliability, above the industry average. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 7th.

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander gets better fuel mileage than the GLE:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The GLE requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Highlander stops much shorter than the GLE:

The Highlander XLE AWD handles at .81 G's, while the GLE550e 4MATIC pulls only .71 G's of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Highlander XLE AWD executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver 2 seconds quicker than the GLE550e 4MATIC (27.8 seconds @ .62 average G's vs. 29.8 seconds @ .57 average G's).

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the GLE can only carry 5.

The Highlander has 1.8 inches more front headroom, 3.9 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLE.

The Highlander's cargo area provides more volume than the GLE.

The Highlander's optional rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The GLE' rear cargo window doesn't open.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Highlander has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLE only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn't as good.

The Toyota Highlander has won recognition from these important consumer publications: