Compare the2025 Mercedes GLE CoupeVS 2025 Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback

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

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The GLE Coupe has a standard Maneuvering Assistant that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The GLE Coupe’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 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the GLE Coupe and the Q8 e-tron Sportback 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.

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 Coupe’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.

For better traction, the GLE Coupe has larger standard tires than the Q8 e-tron Sportback (275/50R20 vs. 255/50R20). The GLE Coupe’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q8 e-tron Sportback (F:285/40R22 & R:325/35R22 vs. 265/45R21).

The GLE Coupe’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Q8 e-tron Sportback Premium ultra’s standard 55 series tires. The GLE Coupe’s optional 325/35R22 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Q8 e-tron Sportback’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLE Coupe has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the Q8 e-tron Sportback Premium ultra.

The GLE Coupe’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 Sportback doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the GLE Coupe is 1.4 inches wider in the front and 3.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Q8 e-tron Sportback.

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

The Mercedes GLE Coupe may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 pounds less than the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback.

The GLE Coupe has 2.4 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room and 1.3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Q8 e-tron Sportback.

The GLE Coupe has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q8 e-tron Sportback with its rear seat up (31.6 vs. 27.2 cubic feet). The GLE Coupe has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q8 e-tron Sportback with its rear seat folded (64.1 vs. 54.5 cubic feet).

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

Optional Trailer Stability Assist on the GLE Coupe 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 Sportback doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The GLE Coupe’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 Sportback’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLE Coupe to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GLE Coupe offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer cornering lights. The GLE Coupe 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 Coupe has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The Q8 e-tron Sportback 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. Only the Q8 e-tron Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The GLE Coupe 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 Sportback doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

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