Compare the2024 Mercedes GLEVS 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron

The GLE’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GLE and the Q8 e-tron have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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, rear cross-path warning and available lane departure warning systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mercedes GLE is safer than the Audi Q8 e-tron:

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 Mercedes GLE is safer than the Audi Q8 e-tron:

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

The Mercedes GLE (only applies to vehicles with optional Active Brake Assist with Cross-Traffic Function) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Q8 e-tron is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024, though it hasn’t yet been rated in the updated moderate overlap frontal test, a requirement for the “Top Safety Pick Plus” award.

There are over 25 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the GLE’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 20 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 37 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

The GLE 580’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 14 more horsepower (510 vs. 496) than the SQ8 e-tron’s optional electric motors.

As tested in Consumer Reports the GLE 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Audi Q8 e-tron (base engine):

The GLE stops much shorter than the Q8 e-tron:

For better traction, the GLE 580’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q8 e-tron (F:285/40R22 & R:325/35R22 vs. 265/45R21).

The GLE 580’s optional 285/40R22 front and 325/35R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q8 e-tron’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLE 580 offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Q8 e-tron’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the GLE can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The GLE 450 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Q8 e-tron.

The GLE’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLE’s wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer than on the Q8 e-tron (117.9 inches vs. 115.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLE is .3 inches wider in the front and 1.3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Q8 e-tron.

The GLE 450 handles at .83 G’s, while the Q8 e-tron 55 Launch Edition pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the GLE’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Q8 e-tron’s (39.4 feet vs. 40 feet).

For greater off-road capability the GLE Airmatic has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 e-tron (9.2 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the GLE to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Mercedes GLE may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 900 pounds less than the Audi Q8 e-tron.

The design of the Mercedes GLE amounts to more than styling. The GLE has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is lower than the Q8 e-tron (.29 to .32) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GLE get better fuel mileage.

The GLE offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Q8 e-tron can only carry 5.

The GLE has 2.4 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear legroom and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Q8 e-tron.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the GLE’s middle row seats recline. The Q8 e-tron’s rear seats don’t recline.

The GLE has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q8 e-tron with its rear seat up (33.3 vs. 28.5 cubic feet). The GLE has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q8 e-tron with its rear seat folded (74.9 vs. 56.4 cubic feet).

The GLE’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Q8 e-tron’s (7700 vs. 0 pounds).

Optional Trailer Stability Assist on the GLE uses the Electronic Stability Program sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The GLE’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Q8 e-tron’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the GLE to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GLE offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer cornering lights. The GLE also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the GLE has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes GLE has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q8 e-tron.

The GLE offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q8 e-tron doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The GLE’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Q8 e-tron Prestige/Launch Assist’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The Mercedes GLE outsold the Audi Q8 e-tron by almost seven to one during 2023.