Compare the2025 Mercedes GLSVS 2025 Infiniti QX80

The GLS’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The QX80 doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The GLS offers an optional Post Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The QX80 doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the GLS. But it costs extra on the QX80.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the GLS’ standard Downhill Speed Regulation allows you to creep down safely. The QX80 doesn’t offer Downhill Speed Regulation.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The GLS has Car-to-X Communication, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The QX80 doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure or other vehicles.

Both the GLS and QX80 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the GLS has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The QX80’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the GLS uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The QX80 uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the GLS and the QX80 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

There are almost 2 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Infiniti dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the GLS’ warranty.

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 Infiniti With 1 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Infiniti.

The GLS 580’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 60 more horsepower (510 vs. 450) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (538 vs. 516) than the QX80’s 3.5 turbo V6. The Maybach GLS 600’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 100 more horsepower (550 vs. 450) and 22 lbs.-ft. more torque (538 vs. 516) than the QX80’s 3.5 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the GLS 450 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Infiniti QX80:

On the EPA test cycle the GLS gets better mileage than the QX80:

Regenerative brakes improve the GLS’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The QX80 doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The GLS has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the QX80. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

For better stopping power the GLS’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the QX80:

The GLS stops much shorter than the QX80:

For better traction, the GLS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the QX80 (F:285/40R23 & R:325/35R23 vs. 275/60R20).

The GLS’ standard 275/45R21 front and 315/40R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series front and 40 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the QX80’s standard 60 series tires. The GLS’ optional 285/40R23 front and 325/35R23 rear tires have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile than the QX80 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the GLS has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the QX80. The GLS’ optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels on the QX80 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph.

The front and rear suspension of the GLS uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the QX80 Pure, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The GLS offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Infiniti doesn’t offer an active suspension on the QX80.

The GLS’ 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 QX80 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the GLS’ wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than on the QX80 (123.4 inches vs. 121 inches).

The GLS 450 handles at .92 G’s, while the QX80 Autograph AWD pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Maybach GLS 600’s turning circle is 4.3 feet tighter than the QX80’s (35.7 feet vs. 40 feet).

For greater off-road capability the GLS has a greater minimum ground clearance than the QX80 Pure (10.1 vs. 9.6 inches), allowing the GLS to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The GLS Off-Road Package’s minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the QX80 Luxe/Sensory/Autograph (11.3 vs. 10 inches).

The Mercedes GLS may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the Infiniti QX80.

The GLS 450 is 6.3 inches shorter than the QX80, making the GLS easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction lowers the GLS’ center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The QX80 doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

Heated windshield washer fluid is optional on the GLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The QX80 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the GLS has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The QX80 doesn’t offer cornering lights. The GLS also has standard 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 GLS has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The QX80 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the GLS to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The QX80 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The GLS offers an optional center folding armrest for the third row rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and can provide a barrier between children. The QX80 doesn’t offer a third row rear seat center armrest.

Both the Mercedes GLS and the Infiniti QX80 have a standard Qi wireless phone charging system in the front seat. To easily keep personal devices charged in the second row seat, without cables tangling and wearing out, the GLS also offers an optional wireless charging system.

The GLS’ Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The QX80 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Mercedes GLS outsold the Infiniti QX80 by 89% during 2023.