Audi Q3 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class: Specs Compared
Also searched as Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class vs Audi Q3 specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Audi Q3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 26 mpg combined versus 25 mpg for the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $800 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Audi Q3 leads in 3. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2026
Audi Q3
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 21 configurations
2016–2026
Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 92 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Audi Q3 | Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 26 mpg ✓ | 25 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 23 mpg | 23 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 30 mpg ✓ | 29 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,350 ✓ | $3,150 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 346 g/mi | 99 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI | SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; PHEV, SIDI, SIDI; FFV |
| Transmissions | Automatic (AM-S7), Automatic (S8), Automatic (S6) | Automatic 9-spd, Automatic 7-spd |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular, Premium | Premium, Premium and Electricity, Premium or E85 |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2026 | 2016–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 21 | 92 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Audi Q3 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class dimensions and size
The Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is 11.4 inches longer than the Audi Q3 on a wheelbase 9.4 inches longer, and 985.5 lbs heavier. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Audi Q3 (2026) | Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class (2019) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 178.3 in | 189.8 in | 11.4 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 73.2 in | 76 in | 2.8 in |
| Height | 63 in | 70.9 in | 7.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 105.5 in | 115 in | 9.4 in |
| Curb weight | 3,942 lbs | 4,927 lbs | 986 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Audi Q3 vs Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Audi Q3 burns about $2,350 of fuel annually against $3,150 for the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. That $800 yearly gap compounds to roughly $4,000 over five years and $6,400 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 versus highway split: the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is the stronger commuter at 23 mpg city, while the Audi Q3 pulls ahead on the interstate at 30 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the Audi Q3 is recorded with 1 distinct engine configuration (SIDI), the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class with 4 (SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; PHEV, SIDI). Across 21 recorded Audi Q3 configurations and 92 for the Mercedes-Benz GLE-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 Q3 is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class with All-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, 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 Small 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.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class emits 99 g/mile of CO2 versus 346 g/mile for the Audi Q3. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
Q3 vs GLE-Class: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Audi Q3 or the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class?
The Audi Q3 is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 26 mpg combined versus 25 mpg for the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, a 1 mpg advantage and costs about $800 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Audi Q3 runs about $2,350 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $3,150 for the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class — a difference of roughly $800 per year.
What engines do the Q3 and GLE-Class offer?
Audi Q3: SIDI. Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class: SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI; PHEV, SIDI, SIDI; FFV.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Audi Q3 as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Q3 comparisons
More GLE-Class comparisons
Comparison id: audi-q3-vs-mercedes-benz-gle-class