Compare the2025 Mercedes GLEVS 2025 Audi Q8

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

Safety

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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 GLE are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Q8 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Mercedes 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 Q8 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

Both the GLE and the Q8 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors 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:

	GLE	Q8
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	84	296
Neck Injury Risk	24%	30%
Neck Stress	208 lbs.	235 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	209	238
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	31%	34%
Neck Compression	31 lbs.	117 lbs.

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the GLE is much safer than the Q8:

	GLE	Q8
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Chest Rating
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	MARGINAL

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:

	GLE	Q8
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	40	60
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.7 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	103	141
Spine Acceleration	40 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	677 lbs.	684 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	15 inches
HIC	264	282
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	49 G’s

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

The Mercedes GLE (with optional crash prevention) has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 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 is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

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 GLE’s warranty.

Reliability

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.

Engine

The GLE 450’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 40 more horsepower (375 vs. 335) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The GLE 450e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 46 more horsepower (381 vs. 335) and 110 lbs.-ft. more torque (479 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The GLE 580’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 175 more horsepower (510 vs. 335) and 169 lbs.-ft. more torque (538 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes GLE is faster than the Audi Q8:

	GLE 450	GLE 450e	Q8
Zero to 60 MPH	5.6 sec	5.5 sec	5.9 sec
Quarter Mile	14.2 sec	14 sec	14.4 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the GLE 450e running on electricity gets better mileage than the Q8 (57 city/63 hwy MPGe vs. 17 city/23 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the GLE running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Q8:

			MPG
GLE
	RWD	350 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/28 hwy
	AWD	450e 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	21 city/26 hwy
		350 2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/26 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/25 hwy
Q8
	AWD	3.0 turbo V6 Hybrid	17 city/23 hwy

The GLE 450e can travel with zero emissions for 50 miles. The Q8 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes GLE, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Q8.

Brakes and Stopping

The GLE stops much shorter than the Q8:

	GLE	Q8
60 to 0 MPH	115 feet	141 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The GLE 580’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 Q8’s optional 40 series tires.

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 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The GLE 450/580 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.

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 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the GLE’s turning circle is 4.2 feet tighter than the Q8’s (39.4 feet vs. 43.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the GLE has a 2.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 (7.9 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the GLE to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLE Airmatic’s minimum ground clearance is 3.4 inches higher than on the Q8 (9.2 vs. 5.8 inches).

Chassis

The Mercedes GLE may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 250 pounds less than the Audi Q8.

The design of the Mercedes GLE amounts to more than styling. The GLE has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .29 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Q8 (.39) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the GLE get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

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

The GLE has 3.4 inches more front headroom and .7 inches more rear legroom than the Q8.

Cargo Capacity

The GLE has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q8 with its rear seat up (33.3 vs. 30.5 cubic feet). The GLE has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q8 with its rear seat folded (74.9 vs. 60.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the GLE easier. The GLE’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.7 inches, while the Q8’s liftover is 33.7 inches.

The GLE’s cargo area is larger than the Q8’s in almost every dimension:

	GLE	Q8
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	40”/76.5”	41.1”/75.4”
Min Width	43.7”	39.8”
Height	35.5”	29”

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the GLE’s optional second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Q8 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

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 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The GLE’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Q8 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLE to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Q8 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

The Q8’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The GLE’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.

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 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.

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 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Model Availability

The GLE is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q8 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

The Mercedes GLE outsold the Audi Q8/SQ8/RS Q8 by over six to one during 2024.

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