Compare the2023 Audi Q5VS 2023 Mercedes GLE

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Q5 and GLE 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 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 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 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.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q5. But it costs extra on the GLE.

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 GLE.

Both the Q5 and the GLE 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi Q5 is safer than the Mercedes GLE:

	Q5	GLE
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	24%
Leg Forces (l/r)	80/49 lbs.	301/184 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	187	209
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	31 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	90/55 lbs.	401/438 lbs.

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

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 Q5 is safer than the Mercedes GLE:

	Q5	GLE
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	98 lbs.	151 lbs.
Hip Force	279 lbs.	287 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	219	264
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	35 G’s
Hip Force	600 lbs.	615 lbs.

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

Warranty

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

Reliability

The Audi Q5’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the GLE’s engines use 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 23 points higher than the GLE.

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.

Engine

As tested in Car and Driver the Q5 55 TFSI e is faster than the GLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid:

	Q5	GLE
Zero to 60 MPH	4.5 sec	5.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	12.2 sec	13.9 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	4.9 sec	6 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3 sec	3.2 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	3.9 sec	4.3 sec
Quarter Mile	13.2 sec	13.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	104 MPH	100 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPGe
Q5
	AWD	55 TFSI e Electric Motor	60 city/61 hwy
GLE
			MPG
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/25 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	20 city/25 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy
		4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	16 city/21 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the GLE:

			MPG
Q5
	AWD	55 TFSI e 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	25 city/27 hwy
		40 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	23 city/29 hwy
		45 TFSI 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	22 city/29 hwy
GLE
	RWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/25 hwy
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	20 city/25 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/24 hwy
		4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid	16 city/21 hwy

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

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

Transmission

The Q5 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The GLE doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

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 GLE doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Q5	GLE
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	13 inches

The Q5’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs standard on the GLE 350 are solid, not vented.

The Q5 stops much shorter than the GLE:

	Q5	GLE
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	130 feet	132 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Q5 45 TFSI Prestige handles at .79 G’s, while the GLE 350 4MATIC pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Q5 45 TFSI Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the GLE 350 4MATIC (27.2 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Q5 40/45 TFSI’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the GLE’s (38.7 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Q5 55 TFSI e has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GLE (8 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Q5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Audi Q5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 650 pounds less than the Mercedes GLE.

The Q5 is 10 inches shorter than the GLE, making the Q5 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The front step up height for the Q5 is 1.7 inches lower than the GLE (18.3” vs. 20”). The Q5’s rear step up height is 2 inches lower than the GLE’s (18” vs. 20”).

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Q5 easier. The Q5’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 29 inches, while the GLE’s liftover is 30.7 inches.

Servicing Ease

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.

Ergonomics

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 GLE doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the Q5’s headlight performance “Fair,” a higher rating than the GLE’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

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 GLE doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Q5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Q5 will cost $75 to $6360 less than the GLE over a five-year period.

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 GLE only retains 42.92% to 45.8%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q5 is less expensive to operate than the GLE because it costs $82 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q5 than the GLE, including $167 less for a water pump, $74 less for front brake pads, $119 less for fuel injection, $35 less for front struts and $726 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi Q5 will be $13825 to $28755 less than for the Mercedes GLE.

Recommendations

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