Compare the2022 Audi e-tron GTVS 2022 Mercedes EQS

Both the e-tron GT and EQS have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The e-tron GT 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 EQS’ 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 e-tron GT 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 EQS 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the e-tron GT. But it costs extra on the EQS.

Both the e-tron GT and the EQS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The e-tron GT’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the EQS’ (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 e-tron GT’s standard electric motors produces 193 more horsepower (522 vs. 329) and 53 lbs.-ft. more torque (472 vs. 419) than the EQS 450+’s standard electric motor. The e-tron GT’s electric motors produces 6 more horsepower (522 vs. 516) than the EQS 580 4MATIC’s standard electric motors. The RS e-tron GT’s standard electric motors produces 121 more horsepower (637 vs. 516) than the EQS 580 4MATIC’s standard electric motors.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi e-tron GT is faster than the EQS 580 4MATIC electric motors:

The e-tron GT RS offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The EQS doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

For better traction and acceleration, the e-tron GT has larger standard rear tires than the EQS (285/40R20 vs. 255/45R20). The e-tron GT Prestige/RS’ optional rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the EQS (305/30R21 vs. 265/40R21).

The e-tron GT’s standard 285/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the EQS’ standard 45 series tires. The e-tron GT Prestige/RS’ optional 265/35R21 front and 305/30R21 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the EQS’ optional 40 series tires.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the e-tron GT is 1.7 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than on the EQS.

The RS e-tron GT handles at .95 G’s, while the EQS 580 4MATIC pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The RS e-tron GT executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the EQS 580 4MATIC (24.1 seconds @ .85 average G’s vs. 25.2 seconds @ .76 average G’s).

The Audi e-tron GT may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 750 pounds less than the Mercedes EQS.

The e-tron GT is 10.9 inches shorter than the EQS, making the e-tron GT easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.