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Audi Q5 vs. Mercedes-Benz GLS: Size, Seats, Price and Specs

The Q5 is a five-seat SUV; the GLS adds a third row and starts at a substantially higher U.S. MSRP. Compare 2026 specifications and the limits of the available figures.
Entry623 Date Time5 min MechanicCarCody Team

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The Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLS serve different needs: the Q5 is a five-seat SUV, while the GLS is a much larger, three-row SUV with seven seats (or six with the optional configuration). Choose between them first by deciding whether you need that third row. If you do, the GLS is the relevant format; if you do not, the Q5’s lower starting price and smaller vehicle class may make more sense for everyday use.

The figures below are for the U.S. market and model year 2026. Audi’s available specifications are for the Q5 Sportback—not every Q5 body style—and Audi says they are preliminary. Mercedes-Benz figures cover the GLS 450 and GLS 580. Confirm the exact body style, trim, options and local pricing before comparing vehicles.

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At a glance: these are different sizes of SUV

Specification 2026 Audi Q5 Sportback 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580
Seats Five, according to CarsDirect’s comparison of the 2026 Q5 and GLS: CarsDirect comparison Seven; six optional, according to Mercedes-Benz USA Seven; six optional, according to Mercedes-Benz USA
U.S. starting MSRP $55,100; Audi says its specifications are preliminary. Excludes destination, taxes, title, options and dealer charges. $90,250 $116,150
Engine and output 2.0-liter TFSI four-cylinder; 268 hp and 295 lb-ft 3.0-liter turbo inline-six mild hybrid; 375 hp 4.0-liter biturbo V8 mild hybrid; 510 hp and 538 lb-ft
Transmission Quattro seven-speed S tronic Nine-speed 9G-TRONIC automatic Not stated on the cited Mercedes-Benz specification page
0–60 mph 5.8 seconds 5.8 seconds 4.7 seconds
Cargo capacity Not stated on the cited Audi Q5 Sportback specification page 17.4–84.7 cu. ft.; Mercedes-Benz lists the range, but the cited page does not specify the seat configuration for each figure 17.4–84.7 cu. ft.; Mercedes-Benz lists the range, but the cited page does not specify the seat configuration for each figure
Length Not stated on the cited Audi Q5 Sportback specification page 205.0 inches Not stated on the cited Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 page
Towing capacity Not stated on the cited Audi Q5 Sportback specification page 7,700 lb 7,700 lb

Audi’s figures come from its 2026 Q5 Sportback specifications; Mercedes-Benz’s come from its U.S. pages for the GLS 450 and GLS 580. These are manufacturer specifications, not independent road-test results. The table does not treat unlisted figures as zero or infer them from another trim or body style.

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Which one makes more sense for your passengers?

Choose the GLS if a third row is part of the plan

The GLS is the clear choice if you regularly carry more than five people or need the flexibility of a third row. Mercedes-Benz lists seven seats, with a six-seat option, for both U.S. GLS variants shown here. Think about how often the extra seats will be used and whether passengers need to travel in them comfortably; the seat count alone does not establish how usable a row is for a particular family or trip.

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Choose the Q5 if five seats are enough

The cited comparison lists the Q5 as a five-seat vehicle, so it does not match the GLS’s passenger capacity. The comparison data concerns the Q5 nameplate; the manufacturer specifications retrieved here are specifically for the Q5 Sportback. Verify the exact Q5 body style and seating configuration for the vehicle you are considering.

How far apart are their prices?

The cited U.S. manufacturer starting MSRPs are $55,100 for the 2026 Q5 Sportback, $90,250 for the GLS 450 and $116,150 for the GLS 580. These are starting prices, not transaction prices, and the Q5 Sportback and GLS figures are not an exact trim-equivalent comparison. Audi’s Q5 Sportback price excludes destination, taxes, title, options and dealer charges; the GLS prices also should not be treated as out-the-door quotes.

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Compare the specific configurations you would actually buy. Add destination and selected options, then request local quotes that include taxes and fees. Pricing and equipment can vary by market and dealer, so a U.S. starting MSRP is not a price guarantee elsewhere.

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How do their engines and acceleration compare?

The Q5 Sportback specification cited here uses a 268-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The GLS 450 has a 375-hp, 3.0-liter inline-six turbo mild-hybrid powertrain; the GLS 580 steps up to a 510-hp, 4.0-liter biturbo V8 mild hybrid. Those outputs make the GLS 580 the higher-powered option on paper, but horsepower alone does not establish which SUV feels more responsive in everyday driving or rides and handles better.

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Audi and Mercedes-Benz both publish a 5.8-second 0–60 mph time for the Q5 Sportback and GLS 450, respectively; Mercedes-Benz lists 4.7 seconds for the GLS 580. Those are manufacturer figures, not results from a matched independent test, and should not be read as a direct real-world performance comparison.

Which has better fuel economy?

Audi gives the 2026 Q5 Sportback EPA estimates of 21 mpg city, 29 highway and 24 combined. CarsDirect’s comparison reports 21/29/25 mpg for the Q5 and 19/24/21 mpg for the GLS, but its Q5 combined figure does not match Audi’s published figure. Treat that comparison as directional rather than as a definitive, trim-matched EPA result. Check the EPA rating for the exact model, powertrain and configuration before calculating fuel costs.

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The retrieved manufacturer pages do not provide a comparable GLS EPA figure in the specifications summarized here. Do not assume that a third-party comparison applies to every GLS variant or configuration. Fuel expense is only one part of running cost; the available figures do not establish a matched comparison of insurance, tires, maintenance, repairs or depreciation.

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What do the cargo figures tell you?

Mercedes-Benz lists 17.4–84.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity for the GLS 450 and GLS 580. The range is useful only with its seat configuration understood: the cited pages do not attach a particular seat-folding setup to each endpoint. If you need luggage space while all seats are occupied, confirm that exact configuration rather than relying on the maximum-volume figure.

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The cited Audi Q5 Sportback page does not state a cargo-volume figure, so it does not support a direct numeric cargo comparison. Before choosing, check the precise model’s published cargo measurements and try loading the items you regularly carry. A maximum figure with seats folded may not reflect the space available for passengers and bags on an ordinary trip.

Will the GLS be harder to park?

Mercedes-Benz lists the GLS 450 at 205.0 inches long. That gives a concrete indication of its substantial footprint, but the cited Audi page does not provide a Q5 length for a like-for-like comparison. Consider your garage, parking spaces and regular routes, and check dimensions for the exact Q5 body style and GLS variant rather than assuming a measurement for one applies to all.

What should you check before choosing?

  • Passenger pattern: Count how many people you carry on routine trips, not just occasional outings, and decide whether a third row is genuinely needed.
  • Configuration and price: Compare exact trims, options and local fees; do not compare starting MSRPs as if they were equivalent equipped vehicles.
  • Fuel use: Use EPA data for the precise configurations under consideration, especially because the published Q5 combined figures in the cited sources differ.
  • Usable cargo: Check space with the seats in the positions you will actually use, including when all intended passengers are aboard.
  • Safety equipment and ratings: Verify current IIHS and NHTSA ratings for the exact model year, along with which driver-assistance features are standard or optional. The specifications cited here do not establish a safety winner.
  • Ownership costs: Get insurance quotes and compare maintenance, tires and other expected costs for the exact vehicles. The figures available here do not establish which has lower long-term ownership costs.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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