Volkswagen ID. Buzz vs Mercedes-Benz GLE400
What's the difference?

Volkswagen ID. Buzz

$56,880 - $128,880

2025 price

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Mercedes-Benz GLE400

$53,990 - $89,800

2020 price

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Summary

2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE400

By James Cleary

By Matt Campbell

Safety Rating

Electric motor type

—

Diesel Turbo 4, 2.0L

Vehicle type

—

Diesel

Electric range

—

6.9L/100km (combined)

Energy consumption

—

Battery capacity

—

Seating

Likes

Uber-cool design
Practicality
Value

Stunning interior
Superb space
Comprehensive safety kit

Dislikes

Some wind noise
No spare wheel
So-so steering feel

Unpleasant ride
Four-cylinder diesel performance
Challenging styling

2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Summary

You might call it six degrees of Kombi separation. Somewhere, somehow just about all of us have a VW bus lurking in our family and friends' back story. And this is the latest version of that familiar box on wheels to hit the Aussie market.

It’s the premium, sportier, AWD GTX version of the pure-electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz.

This one-box wonder hits the retro-futurist ball out of the park and we attended its local launch to explore whether what’s under the skin supports the promise of its stunning exterior.

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2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE400 Summary

This is the first real Mercedes-Benz GLE. It's the second version of the SUV, but the last one was really just a big update of the old ML, and it never really soared to the heights it could have as a result of that.

But this new version - the 2020 GLE - is exactly that. It's new.

The exterior is new. The engines are new. The underpinnings are new. The interior - yep, you guessed it - new.

The big question is, though, is the GLE a competitor now? Can it stand up against the BMW X5, Maserati Levante, Porsche Cayenne, Range Rover Sport, Volvo XC90 and even the VW Touareg?

Let's find out.

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Deep dive comparison

2025 Volkswagen ID. Buzz 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE400

Verdict

The only way to make this car cooler would be to add a split fold-out windscreen and a tube steel luggage rack on the roof.

It’s fast, super practical, comfortable and guaranteed to put a smile on the face of premium family buyers ready to go for something different. And that smile will extend to just about everyone who lays eyes on it. I love it.

Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer, with travel, accommodation and meals provided.

Verdict

All told, the Mercedes-Benz GLE 2020 model is an improvement in many ways over its predecessor. It's safer, more high-tech, considerably more luxurious and practical inside, and offers better value, too.

But, in 300d guise at least, it's let down by a slightly underdone engine, and suspension that just doesn't do a good enough job on rougher roads. It's close, but not close enough to be best in class.

Maybe that'll be a different case for the higher-grade versions with the most high-tech engines and the tricky optional suspension... we'll have to wait and see.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz vs Mercedes-Benz GLE400 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Volkswagen ID. Buzz vs Mercedes-Benz GLE400
What's the difference?