Verdict
The Audi Q8 e-tron costs RM465,990, RM32,898 less than the GLE, and brings a 114 kWh battery, 582 km EV range and 170 kW DC charging against the Mercedes’ 31 kWh, 114 km and no DC charging rate stated. Its 402 hp, 664 Nm dual-motor drivetrain also reaches 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, 0.5s ahead. The GLE counters with Malaysian CKD assembly, a four-year warranty, 210 km/h top speed and ventilated massage front seats. For buyers able to charge regularly, the Audi makes more sense; the Mercedes suits those wanting petrol backup.
Q8 e-tron
Pick the Audi Q8 e-tron if you want 582 km of EV range, 170 kW DC charging and a lower RM465,990 entry price.
GLE
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLE if you want a petrol plug-in hybrid, a four-year warranty and ventilated massage front seats.
Key differences
- Price: Audi Q8 e-tron RM465,990; Mercedes-Benz GLE RM498,888.
- Battery and EV range: Audi 114 kWh and 582 km; Mercedes 31 kWh and 114 km.
- Charging: Audi 22 kW AC and 170 kW DC; Mercedes 11 kW AC and no DC rate stated.
- Performance: Audi 402 hp, 664 Nm and 5.6 seconds to 100 km/h; Mercedes 248 hp engine plus 154 hp motor, 440 Nm motor torque and 6.1 seconds.
- Practicality: Audi has 569 litres of boot space; Mercedes has 490 litres.
- Warranty: Audi has two years; Mercedes has four years.
Q8 e-tron
- 582 km EV range from a 114 kWh battery.
- 170 kW DC charging and 22 kW AC charging.
- Faster 5.6-second 0-100 km/h time and 569-litre boot.
- Two-year vehicle warranty versus the GLE’s four years.
- 200 km/h top speed versus 210 km/h.
- Warning-only lane keeping, where the GLE provides steering correction.
GLE
- Petrol plug-in hybrid powertrain with an 85-litre fuel tank.
- Four-year unlimited-mileage vehicle warranty.
- Ventilated massage front seats, panoramic sliding roof and auto parking.
- RM32,898 more expensive.
- 114 km EV range from a 31 kWh battery versus the Audi’s 582 km and 114 kWh.
- Slower 6.1-second 0-100 km/h time and a smaller 490-litre boot.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM465,990✓ | RM498,888 |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM545 | RM440✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 400V architecture | 16-valve DOHC with Direct Fuel Injection, Turbocharger, Variable Valve Timing with PHEV Assistance |
| Capacity | — | 1,999 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 248 hp at 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | — | 400 Nm at 2,000 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | — | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Number of Motors | 2 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 402 hp✓ | 154 hp |
| Motor Torque | 664 Nm✓ | 440 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | 114 kWh✓ | 31 kWh |
| EV Range | 582 km✓ | 114 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 22 kW✓ | 11 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 170 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 2-stage ratio planetary gearbox with a single gear | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | 2 | 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 | 200 km/h | 210 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,915 mm | 4,924 mm |
| Width | 1,937 mm | 1,947 mm |
| Height | 1,633 mm | 1,772 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,928 mm | 2,995 mm |
| Weight | — | 2,685 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 85 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 569 litres✓ | 490 litres |
| Front Tyre | 265/45R21 | 275/45R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 265/45R21 | 315/40R21 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Alenza 001 | Pirelli P Zero |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 21" 5-Arm Black Turbine Style Alloy Wheels | 21" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 21" 5-Arm Black Turbine Style Alloy Wheels | 21" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Air Suspension | Airmatic with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 (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 | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on front passenger seat and two outer rear passenger seats | Available on two rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Audi pre sense front | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Warning Only | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Digital Matrix LED headlights | LED Reflectors |
| Taillamps | LED Combination with Dynamic Turn Signals | 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 | 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 | 1x 12V Front, 1x front wireless charger, 2x USB-C rear, 1x 12V socket 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 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Manual rear door window shades | Sunroof Shade & Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | 10.1" MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch, Audi connect, Audi smartphone interface and Audi 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 | Passive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered boot | 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 | ✓ | — |
| 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 | 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 Q8 e-tron & GLE for sale
Q8 e-tron vs GLE FAQ
Is the Audi Q8 e-tron or Mercedes-Benz GLE better?
The Audi Q8 e-tron is the better choice for regular EV use, with 582 km range, 170 kW DC charging and a 5.6-second 0-100 km/h time. Choose the GLE for its petrol plug-in hybrid setup, four-year warranty and more lavish front-seat equipment.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz GLE costs RM32,898 more than the Audi Q8 e-tron.
Which one is better for long electric-only journeys?
The Audi Q8 e-tron. Its 114 kWh battery delivers 582 km of EV range and it supports 170 kW DC charging. The GLE has a 31 kWh battery, 114 km EV range and no DC charging rate stated.
