Compare the2023 Audi SQ7VS 2022 Mercedes AMG GLE

Both the SQ7 and AMG GLE have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The SQ7 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 SQ7 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 SQ7 Prestige 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 SQ7’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG GLE.

Both the SQ7 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Audi SQ7 is safer than the Mercedes AMG GLE:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The SQ7’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 SQ7’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 71 more horsepower (500 vs. 429) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 384) than the AMG GLE 53’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

For better traction, the SQ7 has larger tires than the AMG GLE (285/40R21 vs. 275/50R20).

The SQ7’s 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’s standard 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the SQ7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the AMG GLE.

The SQ7 has 1.4 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG GLE.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 16% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

Laser headlights, standard on the SQ7 Prestige, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the AMG GLE’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The SQ7 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The AMG GLE doesn’t offer headlight washers.

A manual rear sunshade and rear side window sunshades are optional in the SQ7 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The AMG GLE doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The SQ7 Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The AMG GLE’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The SQ7 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the SQ7 will retain 50.51% to 51.06% of its original price after five years, while the AMG GLE only retains 42.71%.

The SQ7 was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” for 3 of the last 6 years. The AMG GLE has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.