Compare the2025 Infiniti QX80VS 2024 Mercedes G-Class

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 G-Class doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The QX80 Autograph has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The G-Class doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

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

The QX80 has a standard Around View® Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The G-Class only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the QX80 and the G-Class have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors 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 G-Class’ 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 G-Class. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the G-Class ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

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

Infiniti pays for scheduled maintenance on the QX80 for 3 years and 45000 miles. Infiniti will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the G-Class.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Infiniti vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti above average in initial quality. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Infiniti vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Infiniti 16 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The QX80’s 3.5 turbo V6 produces 34 more horsepower (450 vs. 416) and 66 lbs.-ft. more torque (516 vs. 450) than the G 550’s standard 4.0 turbo V8.

On the EPA test cycle the QX80 gets better mileage than the G-Class:

The QX80 has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The G-Class doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the QX80 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the G 550.

The Infiniti QX80’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Mercedes G-Class 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 G-Class doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For superior ride and handling, the Infiniti QX80 has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Mercedes G-Class has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The QX80 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The QX80’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 G-Class doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the QX80’s wheelbase is 7.2 inches longer than on the G-Class (121 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the QX80 is 3.3 inches wider in the front and 3.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the G-Class.

For greater off-road capability the QX80 Pure has a greater minimum ground clearance than the G-Class (9.6 vs. 9.5 inches), allowing the QX80 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The QX80 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph’s minimum ground clearance is .5 inch higher than on the G-Class (10 vs. 9.5 inches).

The design of the Infiniti QX80 amounts to more than styling. The QX80 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .37 Cd. That is significantly lower than the G-Class (.55). A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the QX80 get better fuel mileage.

For excellent aerodynamics, the QX80 has standard flush composite headlights. The G-Class has recessed headlights that spoil its aerodynamic shape and create extra drag.

The QX80 uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The G-Class doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The QX80 offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the G-Class can only carry 5.

The QX80 has 54.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the G-Class (161.1 vs. 107).

The QX80 has 5.1 inches more front legroom, 6.4 inches more front shoulder room and 6.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the G-Class.

The QX80’s cargo area provides more volume than the G-Class.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the QX80 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph’s second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The G-Class doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

The QX80’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The G-Class’ swing out door blocks loading from the driver’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the QX80’s power cargo door can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The G-Class doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening cargo door.

The QX80’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the G-Class’ (8500 vs. 7000 pounds).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Infiniti service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Infiniti 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 24% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 17th.

The QX80 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction, incoming text message, infotainment and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The G-Class doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The QX80’s standard Infiniti Intelligent Key allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless-Start standard on the G-Class only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

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 G-Class only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the QX80 has standard extendable sun visors. The G-Class doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air conditioned seats in the front and second seat rows keep the QX80 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The G-Class doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

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 G-Class.

Both the QX80 and the G-Class offer available massaging front seats. The QX80 Autograph also has standard massaging second row seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging rear seats aren’t available in the G-Class.

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

The Infiniti QX80 outsold the Mercedes G-Class by 27% during 2023.