Compare the2025 Mercedes G-ClassVS 2025 Audi RS 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 RS 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 RS Q8 doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The G-Class’ 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 RS Q8 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the G-Class and the RS 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, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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 580’s standard electric motors produces 232 lbs.-ft. more torque (859 vs. 627) than the RS Q8’s 4.0 turbo V8.

On the EPA test cycle the G 580 running on electricity gets better mileage than the RS Q8 (68 city/53 hwy MPGe vs. 14 city/20 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the G 550 running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the RS Q8 (17 city/19 hwy vs. 14 city/20 hwy).

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

The G-Class has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the RS 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 RS Q8.

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 RS Q8; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The G 550 is 1 foot, 3.3 inches shorter than the RS 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 RS Q8.

The G-Class has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RS 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 RS 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 RS 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 RS 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 RS Q8 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the RS Q8, the G-Class has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The RS 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.