Compare the2023 Infiniti QX80VS 2023 Mercedes GLS

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Infiniti QX80 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Mercedes GLS doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the QX80 are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The GLS doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Infiniti QX80 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The GLS doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The QX80 has standard Active Head Restraints (AHR), which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the AHR system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The GLS doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The QX80 has standard Backup Collision Intervention that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The GLS doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The QX80’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 GLS.

Both the QX80 and the GLS have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

The QX80 comes with a full 4-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The GLS’ 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 10,000 miles sooner.

Infiniti’s powertrain warranty covers the QX80 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the GLS. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the GLS ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The QX80’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the GLS’ (7 vs. 5 years).

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the QX80 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Infiniti will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLS.

The QX80’s 5.6 DOHC V8 produces 38 more horsepower (400 vs. 362) and 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (413 vs. 369) than the GLS 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Infiniti QX80 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The GLS requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The QX80 has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLS (26 vs. 23.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Infiniti QX80’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Mercedes GLS only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The QX80 has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The GLS doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The QX80 has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the GLS; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The QX80 offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the GLS can only carry 7.

The QX80 has .5 inches more front headroom, 4.5 inches more front shoulder room, 5 inches more rear shoulder room and 10.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the GLS.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the QX80’s middle and third row seats recline. The GLS’ third row seats don’t recline.

The QX80’s cargo area provides more volume than the GLS.

The QX80’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the GLS’ (8500 vs. 7700 pounds).

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the QX80, using the Vehicle Dynamic Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the GLS.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 13% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

The QX80’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The GLS does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the QX80 has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the GLS only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the QX80’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the GLS’ headlights, which were rated “Good.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The QX80 Sensory has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The GLS doesn’t offer headlight washers.

The QX80 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 GLS.

The QX80 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The GLS doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the QX80 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the QX80 will cost $3430 to $4240 less than the GLS over a five-year period.

The QX80 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the QX80 will retain 44.39% to 44.89% of its original price after five years, while the GLS only retains 41.62%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the QX80 is less expensive to operate than the GLS because typical repairs cost much less on the QX80 than the GLS, including $522 less for a water pump, $292 less for a muffler, $128 less for front brake pads, $229 less for a starter, $252 less for fuel injection, $105 less for a fuel pump, $265 less for front struts and $37 less for a power steering pump.