Compare the2026 Audi Q5VS 2026 Mercedes GLC

Both the Q5 and GLC have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The 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.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Audi Q5 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Mercedes GLC has not been tested.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the 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 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 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 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 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 Q5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the GLC’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Audi pays for scheduled maintenance on the Q5 for 3 years and 30,000 miles. Audi will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 1 visits). Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the GLC.

The Audi 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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 6 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The 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.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi Q5 is faster than the Mercedes GLC:

The 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 Q5 offers a standard 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 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 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 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 Q5 Prestige handles at .88 G’s, while the GLC 300 4MATIC pulls only .87 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Q5 Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GLC 300 4MATIC (26.6 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.3 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Q5 Prestige has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the GLC (9.5 vs. 8.2 inches), allowing the Q5 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

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

The 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 Q5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the GLC with its rear seat folded (57.9 vs. 56.3 cubic feet).

The 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 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 Q5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The GLC doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Q5’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. 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 GLC’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.