Compare the2025 Mercedes AMG GLCVS 2024 Audi SQ5

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 AMG GLC are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The SQ5 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Mercedes AMG GLC 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 SQ5 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The AMG GLC 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 SQ5 doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The AMG GLC has standard Maneuvering Assistance that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The SQ5 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The AMG GLC’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 SQ5 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG GLC and the SQ5 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mercedes AMG GLC is safer than the SQ5:

The Mercedes AMG GLC achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The SQ5 is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

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 GLC’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 36 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 57 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

The AMG GLC 43’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 67 more horsepower (416 vs. 349) than the SQ5’s 3.0 turbo V6. The AMG GLC 63 S E Performance’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 322 more horsepower (671 vs. 349) and 383 lbs.-ft. more torque (752 vs. 369) than the SQ5’s 3.0 turbo V6.

On the EPA test cycle the AMG GLC 63 S E Performance running on electricity gets better mileage than the SQ5 (36 city/26 hwy MPGe vs. 19 city/24 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the AMG GLC 43 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder Hybrid running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the SQ5 (19 city/25 hwy vs. 19 city/24 hwy).

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes AMG GLC, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the SQ5.

For better stopping power the AMG GLC’s brake rotors are larger than those on the SQ5:

The AMG GLC 63 S E Performance 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 SQ5 doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

For better traction, the AMG GLC has larger tires than the SQ5 (F:265/45R20 & R:295/40R20 vs. 255/45R20).

The AMG GLC’s standard 295/40R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the SQ5’s standard 45 series tires. The AMG GLC’s optional 295/38R21 rear tires have a lower 38 series profile than the SQ5’s optional 40 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the AMG GLC can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The SQ5 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The AMG GLC 63 S E Performance offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The SQ5 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The AMG GLC’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 SQ5 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the AMG GLC’s wheelbase is 2.7 inches longer than on the SQ5 (113.7 inches vs. 111 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the AMG GLC is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the SQ5.

The AMG GLC has 3.2 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more rear headroom and .1 inches more rear shoulder room than the SQ5.

The AMG GLC has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the SQ5 with its rear seat folded (59.3 vs. 54.1 cubic feet).

Optional Trailer Stability Assist on the AMG GLC 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 SQ5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The AMG GLC’s standard easy entry and exit feature raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the SQ5.

The AMG GLC’s standard Keyless-Go allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Start standard on the SQ5 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the AMG GLC to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The SQ5 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

The SQ5’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The AMG GLC’s optional 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 Mercedes AMG GLC has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors costs extra on the SQ5.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes AMG GLC has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the SQ5.

The AMG GLC’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The SQ5 Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.