Compare the2024 Mercedes AMG GLEVS 2024 Audi SQ7

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Mercedes AMG GLE has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The SQ7 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The AMG GLE has standard whiplash protection, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the whiplash protection system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The SQ7 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The AMG 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 SQ7 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG GLE and the SQ7 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, around view monitors, 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 AMG GLE is safer than the Audi SQ7:

	AMG GLE	SQ7
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	84	99
Neck Injury Risk	24%	25%
Neck Compression	17 lbs.	37 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	31%	44%
Neck Compression	31 lbs.	38 lbs.

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

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Mercedes AMG GLE is safer than the SQ7:

	AMG GLE	SQ7
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Max Chest Compression	28 cm	30 cm
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	4%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Tibia index R/L	.42/.42	.57/.7

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 AMG GLE is safer than the Audi SQ7:

	AMG GLE	SQ7
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	40	187
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
Hip Force	287 lbs.	350 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	103	337
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	62 G’s
Hip Force	677 lbs.	888 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	13 inches
HIC	264	290
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	40 G’s

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

Warranty

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

Reliability

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.

Engine

The AMG GLE 63 S’ standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 103 more horsepower (603 vs. 500) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 568) than the SQ7’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the AMG GLE 63 S 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid is faster than the Audi SQ7:

	AMG GLE	SQ7
Zero to 60 MPH	3.2 sec	3.5 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	8.1 sec	9.1 sec
Quarter Mile	11.6 sec	12 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	118 MPH	113 MPH
Top Speed	174 MPH	151 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the AMG GLE 53 gets better fuel mileage than the SQ7 (18 city/23 hwy vs. 15 city/21 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the AMG GLE 63 S’ fuel efficiency. The SQ7 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes AMG GLE higher (5 to 7 out of 10) than the Audi SQ7 (3). This means the AMG GLE produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the SQ7 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes AMG GLE, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the SQ7.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the AMG GLE 63 S CCB’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the SQ7:

	AMG GLE 63 S CCB	SQ7
Front Rotors	16.5 inches	15.8 inches
Rear Rotors	14.6 inches	13.8 inches

The AMG GLE offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The SQ7 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

Tires and Wheels

The AMG GLE’s optional 325/35R22 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the SQ7’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the AMG GLE offers optional 22-inch wheels. The SQ7’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The AMG GLE 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 SQ7; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The AMG 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 SQ7 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the AMG GLE is .3 inches wider in the front and 1.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the SQ7.

For better maneuverability, the AMG GLE’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the SQ7’s (39.4 feet vs. 41 feet).

Chassis

The AMG GLE 53 is 5.1 inches shorter than the SQ7, making the AMG GLE easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The AMG GLE has .6 inches more front headroom and 2.1 inches more rear legroom than the SQ7.

Cargo Capacity

The AMG GLE has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the SQ7 with its rear seat up (33.3 vs. 14.2 cubic feet). The AMG GLE has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the SQ7 with its rear seat folded (74.9 vs. 69.6 cubic feet).

Towing

The AMG GLE’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the SQ7’s (7700 vs. 0 pounds).

Optional Trailer Stability Assist on the AMG 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 SQ7 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the AMG GLE to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The SQ7 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

The SQ7’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The AMG GLE’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The AMG GLE has a 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 SQ7 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

The Mercedes GLE outsold the Audi Q7/SQ7 by over three to one during 2022.