Compare the2025 Audi new Q5VS 2025 Mercedes GLB

Both the new Q5 and GLB 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 GLB’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 new Q5 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The GLB doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The new Q5 has standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The GLB 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The new Q5 has standard Maneuver Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The GLB doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

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

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 Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The GLB doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

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 GLB.

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 GLB doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the new Q5 and the GLB 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, 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 GLB’s (12 vs. 5 years).

The Audi new Q5’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the GLB’s engine uses 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 47 more horsepower (268 vs. 221) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 258) than the GLB’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

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

The new Q5 has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the GLB (17.2 vs. 15.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 GLB doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the new Q5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the GLB:

The new Q5’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the GLB are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the new Q5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the GLB (255/45R20 vs. 235/55R18).

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. Run-flat tires aren’t available on some tire packages on the GLB.

The new Q5 Prestige has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The new Q5’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The GLB doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The new Q5 has 1.8 inches more front shoulder room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the GLB.

The new Q5 has a much larger cargo volume than the GLB with its rear seat up (27.6 vs. 12.4 cubic feet).

The new Q5 has a 4400 lbs. towing capacity. The GLB has no towing capacity.

The engine in the new Q5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the GLB. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the new Q5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. Heated windshield washer nozzles cost extra on the GLB.

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 GLB doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the new Q5 has standard extendable sun visors. The GLB doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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

Both the new Q5 and the GLB have standard heated front seats. The new Q5 Prestige also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the GLB.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the new Q5 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The GLB doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the Mercedes GLB by over three to one during 2024.