2021 Audi Q3 vs 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured a massive corporate grille that paired well with its stout, chunky styling, presenting an idea of utility and dynamic handling while primarily delivering on the latter. The cabin echoed this mechanical, modern aesthetic, with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen, putting one of the Q3’s top features front and center. When this interior debuted with the redesigned Q3 for the 2019 model year, it was a standout design. However, Volkswagen's newer interiors have caught up, making the Q3 and other Audi cabins feel modern and refined, but not as special.

Trims for the 2021 Audi Q3 included Premium and Premium Plus. Standard features on the Premium included leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Premium Plus trim added remote start, pushbutton start, remote keyless entry, wireless device charging, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Technology Package, costing $2,700, added a larger touchscreen, a premium stereo, and a digital instrument panel.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe, with its Selenite Gray paint, 22-inch forged aluminum wheels, and generous polished brightwork, looked okay, even if it reminded some of an athletic sneaker from a front three-quarter perspective. Mercedes shelved many of its V8-powered models for 2022, including the AMG GLE 63 S Coupe variant. The remaining AMG GLE 53 Coupe had a base price of $77,800, not including the $1,050 destination charge, and our test vehicle, loaded with options, pushed the MSRP to over $100,000.

Inside, the AMG GLE 53 Coupe was as sumptuous as expected, with high-end materials and a high-tech appearance thanks to its dual-screen instrumentation and infotainment design. The cabin featured Nappa premium leather, a Dinamica simulated suede headliner and steering wheel, and brushed aluminum trim. Ambient lighting enhanced the driving experience at night. However, the vehicle's complexity was masked by a facade of simplicity, and it took time to acclimate to the controls and technology.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, sent through an eight-speed automatic transmission to Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD). The S-Line trim tuned the same engine to put out 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The more potent powertrain provided a lively feel and decent kick off the line, with solid power for passing, especially in Sport mode. The Q3 also featured Audi’s Drive Select with Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, and Off-Road drive modes. The base engine had some turbo lag, most notable under hard acceleration or when cruising on the highway.

The Q3 offered nimble handling and a very comfortable ride, striking a balance between engagement and refined ride quality. It wasn’t a sports car, but it was enjoyable to drive without compromising comfort.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe was equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine making 429 hp at 6,100 rpm and 384 pound-feet of torque from 1,800 rpm to 5,800 rpm. The engine featured EQ Boost, a 48-volt mild-hybrid system designed to add extra power when needed and help conserve fuel. The EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 19 mpg, with our test vehicle achieving 18.5 mpg.

The AMG GLE 53 Coupe featured a SpeedShift nine-speed automatic transmission and an AMG Performance 4Matic+ AWD system with fully variable torque distribution. The AMG Dynamic Select system offered multiple driving modes, and the engine breathed through an AMG sport exhaust system. Performance upgrades included an AMG Active Ride Control suspension and AMG Performance brakes. The GLE Coupe felt taut, nimble, and composed in urban settings and was reasonably comfortable and quiet on the highway. In Sport+ mode, it excelled on winding roads, with impressive grip and braking performance.

The 2021 Audi Q3 provided 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. While the space behind the seats was decent for a subcompact luxury SUV, the overall cargo space was subpar for the class. However, the Q3 made up for it with ample passenger space, comfortable front seats, and impressive rear headroom and legroom. It seated five, but four passengers could comfortably take a road trip.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupe technically held up to five people, but it was more comfortable for four. The sport-bolstered, multi-contour front seats offered numerous power adjustments, heating, ventilation, and massage, making them comfortable on the highway and supportive on winding roads. Forward visibility was fine, but rear visibility was challenging, necessitating the use of available cameras. The back seat provided ample room for adult legs and feet, and the cargo hold offered 27.5 cubic feet of space, expanding to 63.2 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. Comfort upgrades included heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, heated rear seats, a four-zone automatic climate control system, and an Air Balance in-cabin fragrance system.

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi’s MMI system, with standard Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. The upgraded system included a 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation. Other available features included wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit replaced the conventional instrument cluster with a customizable digital display.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupe came standard with the Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system, featuring dual 12.3-inch screens under a single piece of glass. Standard features included a navigation system, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Mercedes Me connected services. Wireless smartphone charging and a Burmester surround-sound audio system were also standard. MBUX was easy to use, with natural voice recognition technology and multiple interaction methods. Optional features included an MBUX Interior Assistant with gesture recognition, an augmented video feature for navigation, a head-up display, a surround-view camera system, and an upgraded Burmester 3D high-end surround-sound system.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard. Optional driver assistance features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition. Available features included a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist.

The 2022 Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupe was equipped with numerous safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, and a blind-spot monitoring system. It also featured Pre Safe Sound, which emitted a “pink noise” tone through the stereo speakers just before a collision to protect hearing. The Emergency Call Service was free and available for the vehicle's lifetime. The Driver Assistance Package added 15 additional systems, including Traffic Jam Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, and Active Emergency Stop Assist. The lane-keeping assistance technology was finely tuned to operate transparently until needed. Crash-test results for the GLE Coupe were unavailable, but the standard GLE received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.