I don't like Q7 design. But it is so unimotional that nothing bothers me in the exterior. But after seeing the new X5 and GLE, I think the interior is still the best in class. Retractable screen - is the best solution you can imagine. It just makes interior so simple and light.
))) As a company - Mercedes is still the best. But nowadays they don't make cars for my liking.
When Audi finally ditched some roundness, then came MB with all that bar-of-soap inspiration. Nope, not working for me.
I agree - the perception of what denotes class-leading is dependent on what's being measured. To be clear, I am a big fan of this new GLE - despite the minor criticisms expressed - because, as a whole, it looks to be a well-designed, feature-packed and rugged large SUV with, once more, outstanding off-road capability (when appropriately specced) well beyond the realm of the resolutely rough terrain-averse X5. That being said, I've also got nothing against an evolutionary approach to design and the X5 embodies this nicely with a distinct family lineage culminating in what I think is the best looking car in the class. I've been noticing quite a few non M-Sport F15s for whatever reason and they too still look good so that's a testament in itself.
I really like what Volvo's doing at the moment and I think that XC90 is a handsome vehicle but it doesn't quite portray the image I like seeing in cars like the GLE and X5 - namely that of "sporting butch-ness". The XC90 is more upright, stately even, but the GLE and X5 portray a more muscular, nose-down stance that just looks plain lekker to these eyes. I feel the XC60 is Volvo's best looking product at the moment and easily vies for class honours in the looks department.
Absolutely agreed. I feel that the GLE has the edge on the X5 in terms of user-interface (apparently MBUX is the dog's bollocks), suspension and advanced engine tech. The latter subject though is becoming increasingly difficult to unpack in terms of achieving an objectively measured outcome as, ultimately, the tech doesn't really translate into significant differences in real-world use. I for one would steer clear of electrically supercharged 48V systems for a while still and let someone else be the guinea pig. So, BMW's older but tried and trusted inline sixes (which to my mind are still sublime) for me for now.
It's always been a great contender, always been more rugged than the X5 and - thankfully - continues to maintain and improve upon this ethos with the new generation.
Totally disagree. The single-unit "conjoined" component has been designed and implemented as such foremost for the purposes of cost-effectiveness. Think about how futuristic the concept is - not just in technology - but in the areas of cost-saving primarily. This "hardware unit" can be ubiquitously applied irrespective of model and LHD vs RHD orientation. There are far less challenges in terms of fitment and integration within the fascia versus the BMW route let's say. This is not the first time that Mercedes has approached things this way. For a number of model iterations now the hangdown centre console has been designed to be used in both RHD and LHD configurations. Most unlike the driver-oriented consoles, which BMW are renowned for, despite them being a clearly less cost-effective approach because the supply chain has to cater for two different fitments.
I don't know what you're looking at but the change (imo for the worse) is clear that BMW is adopting the aesthetically cleaner rocker switch design for temperature adjustment over the ergonomically superior (imo again) rotary controls in current models. The X5 and 8 Series consoles are the cleanest from BMW ever, I would say.
