Compare the2025 Audi new Q5VS 2025 Mercedes GLC

Both the new Q5 and GLC have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The new 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 new Q5. But it costs extra on the GLC.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The new Q5 has standard Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. Car-to-X Communication costs extra on the GLC.

The new 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.

The Audi new Q5 offers an optional Top View Camera System and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Mercedes GLC doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the new Q5 and the GLC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seat center airbag, 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 new Q5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLC’s (12 vs. 5 years).

The Audi new Q5’s engine uses 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.

The new Q5’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 13 more horsepower (268 vs. 255) than the GLC 300’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the new Q5 gets better fuel mileage than the GLC 350e running its gasoline engine (22 city/30 hwy vs. 23 city/28 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Audi new 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 new Q5 has 4.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLC 350e’s standard fuel tank (17.2 vs. 12.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The new Q5 offers an available 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 new 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.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the new Q5 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The GLC doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

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

The new Q5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the GLC with its rear seat up (27.6 vs. 21.9 cubic feet). The new Q5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLC with its rear seat folded (57.1 vs. 56.3 cubic feet).

The new Q5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the GLC’s (4400 vs. 3500 pounds).

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The new Q5 Premium Plus/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 new Q5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The GLC doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.