Replacing a Mercedes GLE with Telluride SXP

[rhilkemann]

I am considering the Telluride SXP to replace my Mercedes GLE - loaded Tell is about $20K less than '20 GLE. Are their other Mercedes owners that have done similar. Do you miss your MB? Are you glad you did it? Would you stay with an older GLE as to go for the Telluride again? Thanks for your thoughts. I would order the SXP with most of the toys.

 

[BubCam]

I am considering the Telluride SXP to replace my Mercedes GLE - loaded Tell is about $20K less than '20 GLE. Are their other Mercedes owners that have done similar. Do you miss your MB? Are you glad you did it? Would you stay with an older GLE as to go for the Telluride again? Thanks for your thoughts. I would order the SXP with most of the toys.

I traded in a GL450 2007 Mercedes with >370K miles For a 2021 SX-P AWD with Tow. I currently have a little over 1200 miles. I love the TELLURIDE, it certainly has more tech than my GL450 but then there is 14 years growth in tech. I did look at GLS and GLE Mercedes and do not regret getting the TELLURIDE. As for long term . . . who know.

 

[noles1983]

Can all you luxury vehicle owners stay on your side of the fence? Us folks would like to actually be able to get our rides and not have to compete with the influx of luxury to Kia people. Thanks. Kidding, sort of.

 

[BubCam]

Can all you luxury vehicle owners stay on your side of the fence? Us folks would like to actually be able to get our rides and not have to compete with the influx of luxury to Kia people. Thanks. Kidding, sort of.

I still had to wait almost 5 years . . .

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[rhilkemann]

I traded in a GL450 2007 Mercedes with >370K miles For a 2021 SX-P AWD with Tow. I currently have a little over 1200 miles. I love the TELLURIDE, it certainly has more tech than my GL450 but then there is 14 years growth in tech. I did look at GLS and GLE Mercedes and do not regret getting the TELLURIDE. As for long term . . . who know.

Thanks for sharing - my MB has only 85T and is in A1 shape, so I would be upgrading for the new technology now available - not out of necessity. Mine is one of the few diesels remaining and gets better mileage than the Kia. I have lots to consider.

 

[jw_tx21]

Thanks for sharing - my MB has only 85T and is in A1 shape, so I would be upgrading for the new technology now available - not out of necessity. Mine is one of the few diesels remaining and gets better mileage than the Kia. I have lots to consider.

If you're comfortable with the cost of maintenance, and don't need the space then keep the GLE for a while. Which version of the GLE are you looking at? The 450? With 85K, your GLE can't be worth much now, as they depreciate rapidly. If you have a 350, then it has a 4-cyl, no? Better for the city anyway. I don't get good mileage in the city, but I don't care.

The GLE is tiny compared to the Telluride... I'd take the SXP any day over the GLE - even over the GLS. I looked at the GLS and couldn't justify that price premium. Nor the maintenance cost.

What will you miss in that GLE? The engine performance. Torque, hosepower. If you want a sport car, stick with it. If you test drive a Telluride, I would guess that you won't be satisfied with the engine response when it's in Comfort or Eco mode. Test it out in Sport mode, and you may want to add a pedal commander.

You should also look at the Porsche Macan - probably a better bet for the GLE competitor. But, a used Cayenne likely provides better value and more space.

 

[blitt]

I have owned 3 MB GL SUV's and one Caddy Escalade before owning my Telly SX P......the Telly is the best in all areas except "raw power" and that is no longer my key feature. The tech, the comfort, the quality are all beyond all of those previous vehicles and I NEVER thought I would be saying that about the KIA brand!

 

[rhilkemann]

Thanks for the comments. I have to say that is a factor for me as well - going from Benz to Kia. I’ve not had much of a test drive on Telly - MB has let me drive their vehicles for a longer test drive Before I have purchased. Local Kia dealer has little inventory.

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[Husker Soze]

We have the smaller GLK. Hands down..the tech on the Kia is way better.

However...power and feel of the actual drive?... MB hands down. I feel like I’m driving on rails on that GLK.

 

[rhilkemann]

Thanks Husker. Hard to beat the ride of a MB.

 

[Sportshot2]

I have owned 3 MB GL SUV's and one Caddy Escalade before owning my Telly SX P......the Telly is the best in all areas except "raw power" and that is no longer my key feature. The tech, the comfort, the quality are all beyond all of those previous vehicles and I NEVER thought I would be saying that about the KIA brand!

I have never owned a European vehicle and at my age I now probably never will. The reports on how the MB and BMW drive are very appealing but the maintenance Costs and questionable long term dependability have shied me away. Too bad, if they were priced closer to the Asian brands I would be in one today. I priced a BMW X3M40i that I thought was perfect for me but it was also 20K more than the T we ordered.

 

[Kyle]

If

What will you miss in that GLE?

The biggest difference you will miss by far is the MB dealer network is a far superior experience than the Kia, but you also pay for that experience with shop rates exceeding $200 an hour. The other part you will have to figure out is your ego, when you say you are driving a Kia and not a Mercedes. If you can get over that, the Kia is equal or better in many ways. Good luck!

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[blitt]

The biggest difference you will miss by far is the MB dealer network is a far superior experience than the Kia, but you also pay for that experience with shop rates exceeding $200 an hour. The other part you will have to figure out is your ego, when you say you are driving a Kia and not a Mercedes. If you can get over that, the Kia is equal or better in many ways. Good luck!

"The biggest difference you will miss by far is the MB dealer network is a far superior experience" Absolutely correct.....When I owned Mercedes, the visits to the dealer service units were far more "professional" and "thorough" than what I experience at KIA.

 

[rhilkemann]

Great comments I have owned 3 MB’s - one new and 2 as preowned certified. You are so correct about the service, always a loaner, appointments, etc - but it does come at high price. Appreciate all the great comments so far.

 

[YEH]

We have the smaller GLK. Hands down..the tech on the Kia is way better.

However...power and feel of the actual drive?... MB hands down. I feel like I’m driving on rails on that GLK.

To be fair, the GLS is a lot smaller and lighter compared to the Telluride.

Something like the GLS (non-performance variant) handles more like the Telluride than the GLK (and now GLC).

The upcoming Genesis GV70 and even the performance variant of the new Tucson will handle more like the small Mercedes CUV.

Mercedes is very good at pushing the tech boundaries, but will be paying $$$ for it.

The new Tucson will be filled with just about all the tech one would really want or need without going overboard like the the new S Class.

Biggest difference between the Telluride and new GLE is more interior room/usable 3rd row) in the Kia, but more power and a nicer interior in the GLE (the interior in the SX-P is premium, but not quite "luxury").

Have to weigh which things are more important for your own needs.

While subjective (to a point), the Telluride looks better.

If decide that more power and lux are higher up on your list, another option Wil be the Genesis GV80 which will be hitting the dealer lots sometime in October.

MSRP undercuts the GLE, but initial demand may see it go for above list (like for the SXP) while discounts can be had on the GLE, so the price gap may not end up being as big.

 

[SSam]

I am moving from a ML350 Bluetech V6 Diesel to SXL 2021. While love for MB quality, space and luxury drove me to choose Telluride as a replacement, it was the dislike for overly complicated German engineering and Bluetec issues that is driving me away from another German car. Also a high cost of break fix and serious software upgrade required with key parts replacement - only dealers seem to access to any major debugging.

One thing which matters to me much and will be missed, is the BOSE acoustics on my present MB. 2021 Telluride just manages to match lot of the features on my 9yrs old MB(i guess it has a little more in terms of safely, surround camera, carplay and a few others)

Offcourse KIA is long way from the customer service compared with any other luxury brand. Value for Money is the biggest motivator....

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[rhilkemann]

To be fair, the GLS is a lot smaller and lighter compared to the Telluride.

Something like the GLS (non-performance variant) handles more like the Telluride than the GLK (and now GLC).

The upcoming Genesis GV70 and even the performance variant of the new Tucson will handle more like the small Mercedes CUV.

Mercedes is very good at pushing the tech boundaries, but will be paying $$$ for it.

The new Tucson will be filled with just about all the tech one would really want or need without going overboard like the the new S Class.

Biggest difference between the Telluride and new GLE is more interior room/usable 3rd row) in the Kia, but more power and a nicer interior in the GLE (the interior in the SX-P is premium, but not quite "luxury").

Have to weigh which things are more important for your own needs.

While subjective (to a point), the Telluride looks better.

If decide that more power and lux are higher up on your list, another option Wil be the Genesis GV80 which will be hitting the dealer lots sometime in October.

MSRP undercuts the GLE, but initial demand may see it go for above list (like for the SXP) while discounts can be had on the GLE, so the price gap may not end up being as big.

Yes I am aware of the Genesis GV80 and will certainly be anxious to see how that looks and handles. From what I have priced out on line should be only $10T over Telluride for the smaller engine model. I am surprised it is not available already given early news of it.

 

[av642]

Yes I am aware of the Genesis GV80 and will certainly be anxious to see how that looks and handles. From what I have priced out on line should be only $10T over Telluride for the smaller engine model. I am surprised it is not available already given early news of it.

This wait for the telluride has me seriously considering the gv80 again. If I can get the gv80 first, I may have to ditch the telluride

 

[alexdrums]

This wait for the telluride has me seriously considering the gv80 again. If I can get the gv80 first, I may have to ditch the telluride

Expect to pay markup on the GV80

 

[av642]

Expect to pay markup on the GV80

More than likely, will have to factor that into the decision.