Compare the2025 Audi Q5VS 2025 Mercedes GLC

Both the Q5 and GLC have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q5 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The GLC’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q5. But it costs extra on the GLC.

The Q5’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the GLC.

Both the Q5 and the GLC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Q5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLC’s (12 vs. 5 years).

The Audi Q5’s engines use a cast iron block for durability, while the GLC’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Audi Q5 55 TFSIe’s reliability 21 points higher than the GLC and the Audi Q5 is rated 25 points higher than the GLC.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 10 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Q5 55 TFSI e’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 49 more horsepower (362 vs. 313) than the GLC 350e’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Q5 55 TFSI e is faster than the GLC 300:

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the GLC running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi Q5 uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The GLC requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Q5 Hybrid’s standard fuel tank has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC 350e’s standard fuel tank (14.3 vs. 12.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Q5’s standard fuel tank has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 16.4 gallons).

The Q5 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The GLC doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Q5’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 GLC doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Q5 55 TFSI e’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLC:

The Q5 Prestige’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GLC’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q5 Prestige offers optional 21-inch wheels. The GLC’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Q5 offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The GLC’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Q5 has .2 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room and .6 inches more rear legroom than the GLC.

The Q5 has a much larger cargo volume than the GLC with its rear seat up (25.9 vs. 21.9 cubic feet).

The Q5’s cargo area is larger than the GLC’s in almost every dimension:

Maximum trailer towing in the Mercedes GLC is limited to 3500 pounds. The Q5 offers up to a 4400 lbs. towing capacity.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q5 Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The GLC doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The GLC doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Q5 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 GLC.

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the Mercedes GLC by 84% during 2023.