Compare the2025 Audi Q8 e-tronVS 2025 Mercedes EQE SUV

Both the Q8 e-tron and EQE SUV have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q8 e-tron 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 EQE SUV’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.

The Audi Q8 e-tron 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 EQE SUV doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Q8 e-tron has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The EQE SUV doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q8 e-tron. But it costs extra on the EQE SUV.

Both the Q8 e-tron and the EQE SUV have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Audi Q8 e-tron achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The EQE SUV has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

The Q8 e-tron’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the EQE SUV’s (12 vs. 5 years).

The Q8 e-tron has more powerful engines than the EQE SUV:

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi Q8 e-tron (base engine) is faster than the EQE SUV 350+ electric motor:

On the EPA test cycle the Q8 e-tron 20" Wheels gets better mileage than the AMG EQE 53+ 4MATIC (77 city/80 hwy vs. 76 city/72 hwy MPGe).

The Q8 e-tron can travel longer on a full charge than the EQE SUV on a full charge:

For better stopping power the Q8 e-tron’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the EQE SUV:

The Q8 e-tron has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the EQE SUV; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the EQE SUV don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

The front and rear suspension of the Q8 e-tron uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the EQE SUV, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

For greater off-road capability the Q8 e-tron has a 2.9 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the EQE SUV (8.1 vs. 5.2 inches), allowing the Q8 e-tron to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Q8 e-tron’s minimum ground clearance is .5 inch higher than on the AMG EQE 53 4MATIC+ (8.1 vs. 7.6 inches).

The front grille of the Q8 e-tron uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The EQE SUV doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Q8 e-tron has .2 inches more front legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the EQE SUV.

The Q8 e-tron has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the EQE SUV with its rear seat up (28.5 vs. 14 cubic feet). The Q8 e-tron has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the EQE SUV with its rear seat folded (56.4 vs. 55 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Q8 e-tron’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The EQE SUV doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Q8 e-tron. The EQE SUV doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q8 e-tron to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The EQE SUV doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Q8 e-tron 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 EQE SUV.

The Q8 e-tron Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The EQE SUV’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.