Audi e-tron S vs Mercedes-Benz G-Class: Specs Compared

Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Audi e-tron S burns about $1,000 of fuel annually against $1,200 for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. That $200 yearly gap compounds to roughly $1,000 over five years and $1,600 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.

City and highway economy: the Audi e-tron S leads in both cycles — 73 mpg city and 78 mpg highway against 68 and 56 mpg — so its fuel-efficiency advantage holds whether you commute in traffic or cover long highway miles.

Powertrain choice: the Audi e-tron S is recorded with no distinct engine configurations, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class with 4 (SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI, 4.0). Across 8 recorded Audi e-tron S configurations and 34 for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.

Drivetrain and class: the Audi e-tron S is offered with All-Wheel Drive, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class with 4-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.