Verdict
The Audi Q7 costs RM462,272 to the Mercedes-Benz GLE’s RM498,888, saving RM36,616 while bringing seven seats, a 770-litre boot and stronger 333 hp/500 Nm petrol assistance. It is also quicker to 100 km/h at 5.6 seconds versus 6.1 seconds. The GLE counters with a 31 kWh plug-in-hybrid battery, 114 km EV range and 11 kW AC charging, which can transform short daily commutes if charging is available. Its RM440 annual road tax and four-year warranty are significant running-cost advantages over the Q7’s RM1,632 and two years.
Pick the Audi Q7 if you need seven seats, a 770-litre boot and faster 5.6-second 0-100 km/h performance for RM36,616 less.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLE if you can charge regularly and want its 114 km EV range, RM440 road tax and four-year vehicle warranty.
Key differences
- Price: Audi Q7 RM462,272; Mercedes-Benz GLE RM498,888.
- Power and torque: Audi Q7 333 hp and 500 Nm; Mercedes-Benz GLE 248 hp and 400 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h and top speed: Audi Q7 5.6 seconds and 250 km/h; Mercedes-Benz GLE 6.1 seconds and 210 km/h.
- Seats and boot space: Audi Q7 seven seats and 770 litres; Mercedes-Benz GLE five seats and 490 litres.
- Plug-in capability: Audi Q7 has no stated battery or EV range; Mercedes-Benz GLE has a 31 kWh battery, 114 km EV range and 11 kW AC charging.
- Annual road tax and vehicle warranty: Audi Q7 RM1,632 and two years; Mercedes-Benz GLE RM440 and four years.
Q7
- Seven seats and a 770-litre boot
- 333 hp, 500 Nm and 5.6-second 0-100 km/h time
- Adaptive LED Matrix headlamps, adaptive cruise control and all-wheel steering
- RM1,632 annual road tax versus the GLE’s RM440
- Two-year vehicle warranty versus four years
- No stated EV range or AC charging capability
GLE
- 114 km EV range from a 31 kWh plug-in-hybrid battery
- RM440 annual road tax and four-year vehicle warranty
- Front-seat massage and ventilation, plus a panoramic sliding roof
- RM36,616 more expensive
- Five seats and a 490-litre boot versus the Q7’s seven seats and 770 litres
- Slower 6.1-second 0-100 km/h time with 248 hp and 400 Nm
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM462,272✓ | RM498,888 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM1,632 | RM440✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, turbocharged with variable valve timing, 48V Electric Motor Assistance | 16-valve DOHC with Direct Fuel Injection, Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with PHEV Assistance |
| Capacity | 2,995 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 333 hp✓ | 248 hp |
| Torque | 500 Nm✓ | 400 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Bore | 84.5 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | — |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 154 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 440 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 31 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 114 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-speed tiptronic | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | 8 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Audi AG | — |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.6 seconds✓ | 6.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 210 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 5,052 mm | 4,924 mm |
| Width | 1,968 mm | 1,947 mm |
| Height | 1,740 mm | 1,772 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,994 mm | 2,995 mm |
| Weight | — | 2,685 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 85 litres | 85 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 770 litres✓ | 490 litres |
| Front Tyre | 285/35R22 | 275/45R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 285/35R22 | 315/40R21 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Turanza T005 | Pirelli P Zero |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 22" Alloys | 21" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 22" Alloys | 21" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Air Suspension, All-wheel steering | Airmatic with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Side | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Electric for rear doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 7 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for three middle row passenger seats and two last row seats | Available on two rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED Projector with Matrix High Beam and Sequential Indicators | LED Reflectors |
| Taillamps | Full OLED Tail lights | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | Powered Front Seats with Massage and Ventilation Functions |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding Middle Row, 50:50 Split-folding Last Row | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic Sliding Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Middle, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Manual Rear Door Window Shades | Sunroof Shade & Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | 10.1" Touchscreen with MIB 3, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen Sound System | 12.3" MBUX Multimedia with Burmester Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera | Yes, with Surround View Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Power Door | Soft-close Doors | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 4 years✓ |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used Q7 & GLE for sale
Q7 vs GLE FAQ
Is the Audi Q7 or Mercedes-Benz GLE better?
The Audi Q7 is the better choice for seven-seat practicality, luggage space and outright performance. Choose the Mercedes-Benz GLE instead if its 114 km EV range suits a chargeable daily commute and lower road tax matters more.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz GLE costs RM36,616 more than the Audi Q7. That extra spend brings a 31 kWh battery, 114 km EV range, 11 kW AC charging and a four-year vehicle warranty.
Which has lower running costs on road tax?
The Mercedes-Benz GLE has much lower annual road tax at RM440, compared with RM1,632 for the Audi Q7. The GLE also has an eight-year/160,000 km battery warranty.