Compare the2024 Audi SQ8VS 2023 Mercedes AMG GLC Coupe

Both the SQ8 and AMG GLC Coupe have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The SQ8 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 AMG GLC Coupe’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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the SQ8’s standard Hill Descent Assist allows you to creep down safely. The AMG GLC Coupe doesn’t offer Hill Descent Assist.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The SQ8 has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The AMG GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the SQ8 Prestige helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The AMG GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The SQ8’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 AMG GLC Coupe.

Both the SQ8 and the AMG GLC Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Audi SQ8 weighs 981 pounds more than the Mercedes AMG GLC Coupe. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the SQ8 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 131 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The AMG GLC Coupe has not been tested, yet.

The SQ8’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG GLC Coupe’s (12 vs. 5 years).

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 SQ8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 115 more horsepower (500 vs. 385) and 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (568 vs. 384) than the AMG GLC Coupe’s 3.0 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Audi SQ8 is faster than the Mercedes AMG GLC Coupe:

Regenerative brakes improve the SQ8’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The AMG GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The SQ8 has 5.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG GLC Coupe (22.5 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the SQ8’s brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG GLC Coupe:

The SQ8 stops shorter than the AMG GLC Coupe:

For better traction, the SQ8 has larger standard tires than the AMG GLC Coupe (285/40R22 vs. 255/45R20). The SQ8’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the AMG GLC Coupe (295/35R23 vs. 255/45R20).

The SQ8’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG GLC 43 Coupe’s standard 45 series front tires. The SQ8’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the AMG GLC 43 Coupe’s optional 40 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the SQ8 has standard 22-inch wheels. Smaller 20-inch wheels are standard on the AMG GLC 43 Coupe. The SQ8’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the AMG GLC 43 Coupe.

The SQ8 offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The AMG GLC Coupe doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The SQ8 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Mercedes doesn’t offer an active suspension on the AMG GLC Coupe.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the SQ8’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the AMG GLC Coupe (117.9 inches vs. 113.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the SQ8 is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than on the AMG GLC Coupe.

The SQ8 Prestige handles at .92 G’s, while the AMG GLC 43 Coupe pulls only .88 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The SQ8 has .8 inches more front legroom, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear legroom and 2 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG GLC Coupe.

The SQ8 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the AMG GLC Coupe with its rear seat up (30.5 vs. 17.6 cubic feet). The SQ8 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the AMG GLC Coupe with its rear seat folded (60.7 vs. 36.1 cubic feet).

The SQ8’s cargo area is larger than the AMG GLC Coupe’s in almost every dimension:

The SQ8’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the AMG GLC Coupe’s (7700 vs. 3500 pounds).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 16% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

The SQ8’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The AMG GLC Coupe’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the SQ8 has a standard rear wiper. The AMG GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The SQ8 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The AMG GLC Coupe doesn’t offer headlight washers.

A manual rear sunshade and power rear side window sunshades are optional in the SQ8 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The AMG GLC Coupe doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

The SQ8 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 AMG GLC Coupe.

The SQ8 offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the AMG GLC Coupe.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi SQ8 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the AMG GLC Coupe.

The SQ8 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 AMG GLC Coupe’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.