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Audi Q5 vs Mercedes GLC - Differences and prices compared

Compare performance (367 HP vs 680 HP), boot space and price (44800 £ vs 50300 £ ) at a glance. Find out which car is the better choice for you – Audi Q5 or Mercedes GLC?

Q5

Two German heavyweights, two different promises

The Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLC share a showroom aisle but they don't sing the same tune — one leans toward measured understatement, the other toward headline-grabbing presence. Think of the Q5 as the polished executive who prefers understatement, and the GLC as the socialite who arrives with a small entourage. Both are pitched at buyers who want premium badges without the drama of a full-size SUV. This duel is about personality as much as practicality.

GLC

Quiet competence versus confident charisma

The Q5 wraps itself in a practiced calm: neat surfaces, predictable manners, and a cockpit that keeps your focus where it belongs. The GLC answers with bolder styling, a roomier feel and touches that announce you spent time choosing it. One plays the long, low note of refinement; the other likes a dramatic chord that catches the eye. Neither is shy, they just attract different kinds of attention.

Q5

How they live with you day-to-day

On a weekday run or school drop-off, the Q5 aims to make life frictionless with a composed ride and user-friendly controls that don't demand attention. The GLC leans into a more theatrical comfort envelope and a more expansive cabin feel that accommodates weekend loads more readily. For city errands and tight parking the Q5's trained manners are reassuring, while longer hauls and bigger cargo tasks show the GLC’s more generous side. Both multitask well, but they prioritize different parts of your routine.

GLC

The story you tell when you drive one

Choosing the Q5 reads as a vote for quiet competence — you're the sort of driver who values precision and a low-key but premium impression. Choosing the GLC signals you like to be noticed: you want presence, a bit more luxury flair and features that feel a touch more indulgent. Neither choice is about excess or austerity alone; they're about what kind of arrival you prefer and which compromises you're willing to accept. It's less about right and wrong, more about which persona you want behind the wheel.

Q5

If what matters to you is sensible everyday sense

If what matters to you is clear-headed value and fuss-free daily usability, the Audi Q5 fits that bill neatly with its sensible cabin layout and predictable behavior. It suits buyers who balance work and family responsibilities and who appreciate a refined drive without headline-seeking gestures. Practicality and a polished, low-drama presentation are its natural habitat. For buyers who budget with their brain and expect a reliable, composed companion, this is a compelling profile.

GLC

If what matters to you is presence and plush comfort

If what matters to you is a stronger emotional pull and a more luxurious feel, the Mercedes GLC leans into that role with confidence and an intent to impress. It suits people who want their car to say something about taste and status, or who simply prefer a slightly more indulgent cabin and a larger, more outward-facing presence. For those who make decisions with image and comfort near the top of the list, this is the car that scratches that itch. If you want to follow up with the cold numbers and where each scores on the checklist, the detailed breakdown is next.

Audi Q5

4.3 (4 Reviews)
rate

Mercedes GLC

4.4 (11 Reviews)
rate

Here’s where it gets real: The technical differences in detail

Q5

Costs and Efficiency:

Looking at overall running costs, both models reveal some interesting differences in everyday economy.

Audi Q5 has a somewhat advantage in terms of price – it starts at 44800 £ , while the Mercedes GLC costs 50300 £ . That’s a price difference of around 5499 £.

Fuel consumption also shows a difference: Mercedes GLC manages with 1.60 L and is therefore decisively more efficient than the Audi Q5 with 2.50 L. The difference is about 0.90 L per 100 km.

As for electric range, the Mercedes GLC performs clearly better – achieving up to 714 km, about 614 km more than the Audi Q5.

GLC

Engine and Performance:

Under the bonnet, it becomes clear which model is tuned for sportiness and which one takes the lead when you hit the accelerator.

When it comes to engine power, the Mercedes GLC has a convincingly edge – offering 680 HP compared to 367 HP. That’s roughly 313 HP more horsepower.

In acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h, the Mercedes GLC is distinct quicker – completing the sprint in 3.50 s, while the Audi Q5 takes 4.50 s. That’s about 1 s faster.

In terms of top speed, the Mercedes GLC performs barely noticeable better – reaching 275 km/h, while the Audi Q5 tops out at 250 km/h. The difference is around 25 km/h.

There’s also a difference in torque: Mercedes GLC pulls significantly stronger with 1020 Nm compared to 580 Nm. That’s about 440 Nm difference.

Q5

Space and Everyday Use:

Cabin size, boot volume and payload all play a role in everyday practicality. Here, comfort and flexibility make the difference.

Both vehicles offer seating for 5 people.

Both models weigh roughly the same – around 1910 kg.

In terms of boot space, the Mercedes GLC offers somewhat more room – 620 L compared to 520 L. That’s a difference of about 100 L.

In maximum load capacity, the Mercedes GLC performs a bit better – up to 1740 L, which is about 267 L more than the Audi Q5.

When it comes to payload, Mercedes GLC minimal takes the win – 600 kg compared to 565 kg. That’s a difference of about 35 kg.

Who wins the race in the data check?

The Mercedes GLC sits well ahead of its rival in the objective data comparison.
This result only shows which model scores more points on paper – not which of the two cars feels right for you.

Audi Q5
Mercedes GLC

Costs and Consumption

View detailed analysis

Engine and Performance

View detailed analysis

Dimensions and Body

View detailed analysis
from about £50,300
GLC

Mercedes GLC

  • Engine Type : Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid, Diesel MHEV, Electric
  • Transmission : Automatic
  • Drive Type : All-Wheel Drive
  • Power HP : 186 - 680 HP
  • Consumption L/100km : 1.6 - 9.7 L
  • Consumption kWh/100km : 14.9 - 16.6 kWh
  • Electric Range : 12 - 714 km

Audi Q5

4.3 (4 Reviews)
rate

The Audi Q5 feels like the sensible luxury choice — polished cabin materials, a calm ride and enough tech to keep commuters and weekend adventurers equally pleased. It won't shout for attention but will quietly check the boxes for buyers who want refinement, space and everyday usability with a dash of Audi charisma.

details

Mercedes GLC

4.4 (11 Reviews)
rate

The Mercedes GLC blends plush cabin comfort and composed road manners into an SUV that feels more grown-up than it looks. It won’t shout for attention, but will quietly please buyers who want refinement, usable space and a touch of luxury without the drama.

details
Audi Q5
Mercedes GLC

Costs and Consumption

Price
44800 - 78900 £
Price
50300 - 126600 £
Consumption L/100km
2.5 - 8.3 L
Consumption L/100km
1.6 - 9.7 L
Consumption kWh/100km
-
Consumption kWh/100km
14.9 - 16.6 kWh
Electric Range
92 - 100 km
Electric Range
12 - 714 km
Battery Capacity
-
Battery Capacity
94 kWh
co2
56 - 189 g/km
co2
0 - 221 g/km
Fuel tank capacity
65 L
Fuel tank capacity
62 - 65 L

Dimensions and Body

Body Type
SUV
Body Type
SUV
Seats
5
Seats
5
Doors
5
Doors
5
Curb weight
1910 - 2245 kg
Curb weight
1910 - 2535 kg
Trunk capacity
433 - 520 L
Trunk capacity
390 - 620 L
Length
4717 mm
Length
4716 - 4845 mm
Width
1900 mm
Width
1890 - 1913 mm
Height
1647 - 1656 mm
Height
1603 - 1644 mm
Max trunk capacity
1388 - 1473 L
Max trunk capacity
1490 - 1740 L
Payload
490 - 565 kg
Payload
475 - 600 kg

Engine and Performance

Engine Type
Plugin Hybrid, Petrol MHEV, Diesel MHEV
Engine Type
Petrol MHEV, Plugin Hybrid, Diesel MHEV, Electric
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission
Automatic
Transmission Detail
Dual-Clutch Automatic
Transmission Detail
Automatic Gearbox, Reduction Gearbox
Drive Type
All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive
Drive Type
All-Wheel Drive
Power HP
204 - 367 HP
Power HP
186 - 680 HP
Acceleration 0-100km/h
4.5 - 8.6 s
Acceleration 0-100km/h
3.5 - 9 s
Max Speed
226 - 250 km/h
Max Speed
210 - 275 km/h
Torque
340 - 580 Nm
Torque
320 - 1020 Nm
Number of Cylinders
4 - 6
Number of Cylinders
4 - 6
Power kW
150 - 270 kW
Power kW
137 - 500 kW
Engine capacity
1968 - 2995 cm3
Engine capacity
1991 - 2989 cm3

General

Model Year
2025
Model Year
2025 - 2026
CO2 Efficiency Class
B, E, F, G
CO2 Efficiency Class
F, G, D, B, E, A
Brand
Audi
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
What drivetrain options does the Audi Q5 have?

The Audi Q5 is available as All-Wheel Drive or Front-Wheel Drive.

The prices shown are estimates based on German list prices, adjusted for local VAT. Local registration taxes (e.g. NoVA, BPM or CO2 malus) are not included. This information is not legally binding.