Compare the2025 Mercedes G-ClassVS 2025 Audi Q8

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 G-Class 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 G-Class has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help 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 G-Class and the Q8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Mercedes G-Class weighs 505 to 1859 pounds more than the Audi Q8. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

There are over 25 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the G-Class’ 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 G 550’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 108 more horsepower (443 vs. 335) and 44 lbs.-ft. more torque (413 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The AMG G 63’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 242 more horsepower (577 vs. 335) and 258 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid. The G 580’s standard electric motors produces 244 more horsepower (579 vs. 335) and 490 lbs.-ft. more torque (859 vs. 369) than the Q8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the AMG G 63 4.0 turbo V8 is faster than the Audi Q8:

On the EPA test cycle the G 580 running on electricity gets better mileage than the Q8 (68 city/53 hwy MPGe vs. 17 city/23 hwy).

The G 580 can travel with zero emissions for 239 miles. The Q8 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the G-Class AMG 63’s fuel efficiency. The Q8 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The G-Class has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Q8 (26.4 vs. 22.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

The G-Class AMG 63’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Q8 doesn’t offer launch control.

The G-Class stops much shorter than the Q8:

For better traction, the G-Class’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Q8 (295/40R22 vs. 285/45R21).

The G-Class has a standard full size spare (not available on 580) so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Q8; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The G-Class AMG 63 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 Q8 doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The AMG G 63 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.

For greater off-road capability the G-Class has a 3.7 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Q8 (9.5 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the G-Class to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The G 580’s minimum ground clearance is 4 inches higher than on the Q8 (9.8 vs. 5.8 inches).

The G 550 is 1 foot, 2.6 inches shorter than the Q8, making the G-Class easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The G-Class has 4.8 inches more front headroom and 2.4 inches more rear headroom than the Q8.

The G-Class has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Q8 with its rear seat up (34.8 vs. 30.5 cubic feet). The G-Class has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Q8 with its rear seat folded (68.6 vs. 60.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the G-Class easier. The G-Class’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.3 inches, while the Q8’s liftover is 33.7 inches.

The G-Class 580 can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the G-Class can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Q8 can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the G-Class 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.

The Q8’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The G-Class’ standard 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 G-Class 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 Q8.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes G-Class has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Q8.