New BMW X5 M60e vs AMG GLE 53 Hybrid – Which Is Better?

The battle between BMW and Mercedes-Benz is entering a new electrified chapter, and 2 of the most interesting performance sport utility vehicles are the 2027 BMW X5 M60e xDrive and 2027 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 HYBRID 4MATIC+. Both combine a turbocharged 6-cylinder gasoline engine with electric power, but BMW appears to have the advantage when it comes to outright output.

The new BMW X5 M60e xDrive sits at the performance end of the latest X5 family. Its plug-in hybrid system combines a 3.0-liter M TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor. The gasoline engine produces 426 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, while the electric motor contributes 197 horsepower and 206 pound-feet.

Working together, the system produces a maximum of 612 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. Power is delivered through an 8-speed Steptronic transmission and BMW xDrive all-wheel drive. BMW says the X5 M60e can accelerate from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 155 miles per hour.

The BMW can also operate without using its gasoline engine. Its electric-only top speed reaches 87 miles per hour, while its estimated electric driving range is between 50 and 61 miles under the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure. Charging is supported at up to 11 kilowatts using alternating current.

Mercedes-AMG takes a similar approach with the 2027 GLE 53 HYBRID 4MATIC+. Its 3.0-liter turbocharged inline 6-cylinder engine works with an electric motor to produce a combined 577 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. The electric motor alone produces 181 horsepower and provides an immediate boost when the driver asks for more performance.

The Mercedes-AMG sends its power through an AMG SPEEDSHIFT 9-speed transmission and AMG Performance 4MATIC+ all-wheel drive. Mercedes estimates that the GLE 53 HYBRID can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.4 seconds. It can also travel at speeds of up to 87 miles per hour using electric power alone.

One advantage for Mercedes is charging capability. The GLE 53 HYBRID supports 60-kilowatt direct-current fast charging, allowing the battery to go from 10% to 80% in around 20 minutes under suitable conditions.

Looking strictly at the numbers, BMW has the advantage in maximum output. The X5 M60e offers 35 more horsepower and 37 more pound-feet of torque than the Mercedes-AMG. Interestingly, the Mercedes still posts a slightly quicker quoted sprint, although its 0-to-60-mile-per-hour figure cannot be directly compared with BMW’s longer 0-to-62-mile-per-hour test.

These 2 performance sport utility vehicles show where the German luxury market is heading. Instead of using electrification only to improve efficiency, BMW and Mercedes-AMG are using electric motors to create seriously powerful everyday performance machines. The bigger question is whether buyers will prefer the more powerful BMW or the fast-charging and aggressively tuned Mercedes-AMG.