Compare the2023 Audi Q5VS 2023 Mercedes GLB

Both the Q5 and GLB have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q5 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 GLB’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 Q5 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 GLB 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 Q5. But it costs extra on the GLB.

The Q5’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 GLB.

Both the Q5 and the GLB have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

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 standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q5 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The GLB has not been tested, yet.

The Q5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLB’s (12 vs. 5 years).

The Audi Q5’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the GLB’s engine uses an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Q5’s reliability 16 points higher than the GLB.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 18 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Q5 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 40 more horsepower (261 vs. 221) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (273 vs. 258) than the GLB’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Q5 55 TFSI e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 141 more horsepower (362 vs. 221) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 258) than the GLB’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Q5 55 TFSI e is faster than the Mercedes GLB:

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 running on electricity gets better mileage than the GLB:

The Q5 55 TFSI e can travel with zero emissions for 22 miles. The GLB can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Q5’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The GLB doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi Q5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The GLB requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Q5’s standard fuel tank has 2.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLB (18.5 vs. 15.9 gallons).

The Q5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The GLB doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Q5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLB:

The Q5’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the GLB are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Q5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLB (255/45R20 vs. 235/55R18).

The Q5 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the GLB; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the GLB don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The Q5 55 TFSI e has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q5’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The GLB doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For greater off-road capability the Q5 55 TFSI e has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GLB (8 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Q5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Q5 45 TFSI’s minimum ground clearance is .3 inch higher than on the GLB (8.2 vs. 7.9 inches).

The Q5 has 1.8 inches more front shoulder room and 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the GLB.

The Q5 has a much larger cargo volume than the GLB with its rear seat up (25.8 vs. 5.1 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Q5’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The GLB doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Q5 has a 4400 lbs. towing capacity. The GLB has no towing capacity.

The engine in the Q5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the GLB. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

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.

The Q5 Prestige has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The GLB doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The GLB doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q5 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The GLB doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Q5 has standard extendable sun visors. The GLB doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The GLB doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Q5 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the GLB. The Q5 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the GLB.

The Q5 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Q5 will retain 48.77% to 50.66% of its original price after five years, while the GLB only retains 46.13% to 48.36%.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Audi Q5, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes GLB isn't recommended.

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the Mercedes GLB by almost three to one during 2022.