Head-to-Head: Mercedes GLE vs Audi Q8

We compared the Audi Q8 and the Mercedes Benz GLE from 2022 to find out which luxury SUV really is the king of the streets.

Luxury SUV Showdown

SUVs are so popular in America right now that multiple legacy sedans are disappearing from automakers lineups. After spending a few days with the Audi Q8 and the Mercedes Benz GLE we can sort of see why. These luxury barges are supremely spacious, incredibly well built, and can be just as quick as 95% of the cars on the road. So we’re comparing everything about these vehicles from their specifications to driving characteristics, interior comfort, as well as each one’s available trims and features. Then, we’ll tell you which one is really the one you want to spend your $70,000+ on.

2022 Mercedes GLE vs 2022 Audi Q8 Specs

Audi sells its 2022 Q8 starting at $71,995. Regardless of trim level you’ll get a twin-turbocharged V6 under the hood. It also uses a 48-volt hybrid assist to handle stop/start operation. The power this engine makes gets sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. The EPA says that the Q8 will get 17 mpg in the city, 22 on the highway and 19 combined.

2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 2.0L I4 - carsforsale.com

Mercedes approaches its luxury SUV a bit differently. First, it starts at just $57,200. Keep in mind that it also starts with a 255-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine too. Buyers can select rear or all-wheel drive. It provides 19 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway. That only applies to the base GLE350 though. Above that is the GLE450 with its turbocharged hybrid inline-six gets 20 mpg city and 25 highway. Of course, it also makes 362-horsepower. Finally, the top of the normal GLE range uses a turbocharged V8 with 483-horsepower. Fuel economy takes a noticeable dip to just 17 mpg in the city and 21 on the highway.

Driving Characteristics

While the Q8 is more than powerful enough to keep up with almost anything, it requires more dip into the throttle that we initially expected. Around the city, that was a tinge annoying until we naturally adapted to the kind of input it requires. Aside from that minor gripe, the Q8 is a masterful driving machine. Body roll is kept to a minimum, the steering is beautifully weighted, and the transmission swaps cogs with the best of them. It’s smooth, easy to place, and confidence inspiring. If there’s any somewhat serious complaint, it’s got to be the large blind-spots created by the rear panels of the car.

The Mercedes doesn’t disappoint either. Even the mill in the GLE350 isn’t all that bad. No, it’s not memorable and detracts from the engagement the other trims offer, but it’s smooth, quiet, and efficient. The mid-range might be the one we’d personally pick since it offers a great blend of economy and power not to mention that it’s got more grunt than the Audi. Finally, the GLE580 is sincerely brutish in the best way. It really demonstrates how a luxury SUV of this price point should feel. The suspension is fantastically tuned to be a perfect long-haul cruiser but keep in mind that it’s not as sharp in the corners as the Q8.

Interior Comfort

Unsurprisingly, the Q8 is very comfortable. The seats have a wide range of adjustment and excellent support and padding. The materials found within feel nice to use and look great too. That attention to build quality shows up on the road too. Inside the car the ride is very quiet and comfortable though we wonder how much better it might be on smaller wheels. As it is, every Q8 runs on 21-inch rims or bigger which doesn’t leave much in the way of sidewall to soak up sharp bumps.

Shut the door after getting into the GLE and the sound it makes reminds us of old-school Mercedes bank-vault door quality. It can even be fitted with a special Acoustic package that quiets the cabin even more than the standard car. It’s such a satisfying experience as was the rest of our time in the GLE. The seats have a massage function that feels great each morning or on long trips and the climate control is quick to react and quiet in its function. The only real complaint we have is how the suspension can feel a bit floaty at times.

Trims and Features

Audi sells the Q8 in three distinct trims and then allows buyers to add additional equipment individually or through packages. The base Q8 trim is called Premium and it comes with LED headlights, an adaptive suspension, heated front seats, leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and a dual-touchscreen infotainment system. It also features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Safety equipment comes in the form of lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision mitigation, and parking sensors.

The Premium Plus adds quad-zone climate control, front seat ventilation, adaptive cruise control, emergency stop assist, and a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

The top trim is the Prestige which gets adaptive air suspension, soft-close doors, and a heads-up display. In addition, it gets features from an Executive package that’s available to Premium Plus buyers. That adds Matrix-design LED headlights, heated rear seats, dynamic turn signal animations, and rear side-window sunshades.

The GLE comes in three distinct trims starting with the GLE350. In addition to the 255-horsepower engine mentioned above it also gets LED headlights, heated front seats, simulated leather upholstery, 19-inch wheels, a sunroof, ambient lighting, and a 12.3-inch infotainment system. It also has Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Mercedes also adds blind-spot monitoring as well as forward collision mitigation.

Above that is the GLE450 with its turbocharged V6 and all-wheel-drive.

Finally, the GLE580 gets a V8 as well as adaptive air suspension, 20-inch wheels, and AMG-Line styling.

All three trims have access to a number of packages. Here are a few to choose from. The Warmth and Comfort package adds rapid-heating front seats, heated front armrests, and heated upper door panels. The Driver Assistance Package Plus adds adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, lane-keeping assist, and speed-limit assist. The Exterior Lighting package adds Long-range LED high beams and automatic adaptive high beams.

The Verdict

There’s no big loser between these two as owners of either will have a great experience for the most part. Typically, we’d give a lot of credit to the vehicle that handles better but in this case, it’s less important. And that’s because these are SUVs, not sports cars so we think comfort should be emphasized. That’s exactly what the Mercedes GLE offers so we’d pick that. It also happens to have more engine options and starts at a lower price overall. It’s a great all-arounder.