Compare the2022 Audi RS Q8VS 2021 Mercedes AMG GLE

Both the RS Q8 and AMG GLE have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The RS Q8 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The AMG GLE’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The RS Q8 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The AMG GLE doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the RS Q8 helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The AMG GLE doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The RS Q8’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG GLE.

Both the RS Q8 and the AMG GLE have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the RS Q8 the rating of “Top Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The AMG GLE has not been tested, yet.

The RS Q8’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG GLE’s (12 vs. 5 years).

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 6 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The RS Q8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 162 more horsepower (591 vs. 429) and 206 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 384) than the AMG GLE 53’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

For better stopping power the RS Q8’s brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG GLE:

For better traction, the RS Q8 has larger tires than the AMG GLE (295/40R22 vs. 275/50R20). The RS Q8’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the AMG GLE (295/40R22 vs. 285/40R22).

The RS Q8’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG GLE 53’s standard 50 series tires. The RS Q8’s tires have a lower 35 series profile than the AMG GLE’s optional 40 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RS Q8 has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the AMG GLE 53. The RS Q8’s 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the AMG GLE.

The RS Q8 has .6 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG GLE.

The RS Q8’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the AMG GLE’s (7700 vs. 3858 pounds).

The RS Q8 has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The AMG GLE doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RS Q8 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The AMG GLE doesn’t offer headlight washers.

A manual rear sunshade and power rear side window sunshades are optional in the RS Q8 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The AMG GLE doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The RS Q8 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the AMG GLE.