Compare the2024 Mercedes EQBVS 2024 Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback

The EQB’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the EQB and the Q8 e-tron Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, 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, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

There are over 25 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the EQB’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 20 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Audi With 37 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

On the EPA test cycle the EQB gets better mileage than the Q8 e-tron Sportback:

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the EQB can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The EQB’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the EQB’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Q8 e-tron Sportback’s (38.4 feet vs. 40 feet).

The Mercedes EQB may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 950 to 1150 pounds less than the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback.

The EQB is 9.1 inches shorter than the Q8 e-tron Sportback, making the EQB easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The EQB offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Q8 e-tron Sportback can only carry 5.

The EQB has 2.6 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom and 1.4 inches more rear headroom than the Q8 e-tron Sportback.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the EQB’s middle row seats recline. The Q8 e-tron Sportback’s rear seats don’t recline.

The EQB’s cargo area provides more volume than the Q8 e-tron Sportback.

The EQB’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Q8 e-tron Sportback’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the EQB to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the EQB offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer cornering lights. The EQB also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes EQB has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Q8 e-tron Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige offers wireless charging.

The EQB offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The EQB’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Q8 e-tron Sportback Prestige/Launch Assist’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The EQB is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Q8 e-tron Sportback doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Mercedes EQB outsold the Audi e-tron by 38% during 2023.