2015 Audi Q5 vs Mercedes-Benz ML350
The explosion of the mid-size luxury sport utility class has produced some incredible vehicles that combine brawn, style, and comforts into one great package. One of the first to hit the streets of Clearwater & Tampa, Florida was the Mercedes-Benz M-Class, typified by the ML350, which was introduced in 1997. Ten years after the Mercedes-Benz, the Audi Q5 made its debut. While the Q5 was introduced as a compact sport utility, its footprint belies a posh, roomy interior.
Audi Q5
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Standard
Mercedes-Benz ML350
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Serving Clearwater, Tampa, and St. Petersburg
There are plenty of features shared by the Audi Q5 and the Mercedes-Benz ML350, and that are common on many entry-level luxury sport utilities. This includes air conditioning with climate control, Bluetooth audio, heated and cooled seats, and optional navigation systems. Both have sunroofs – while the Mercedes-Benz has a power-tilt and sliding tinted sunroof, the Audi Q5 gets a panoramic sunroof. You can also get a panoramic sunroof on the ML350 as well – it will just cost you extra.
The Audi, though, also comes with convenience features like keyless ignition and technology such as satellite radio that are merely optional on the Mercedes-Benz. Not only that, it receives better trim along with real leather seating, as opposed to the leatherette found in the ML350.
Drivetrain
While the ML350 has better pure power numbers, power isn’t everything. Particularly on some of the curvy roads outside of Largo or the loose sands around Palm Harbor, you want agility and traction. Both the ML350 and the Q5 come with traction control and stability control, along with antilock brakes, but only the Q5 sports standard all-wheel drive. This gives the driver better grip on sandy surfaces, and if you want to get off of the beaten path, the Audi provides more confidence.
Value
The difference in base price only tells part of the story. Sure, the Audi starts off with a $6,000 advantage, but it adds to it immediately with its fuel economy, reducing your regular gas bill. This two-to-six mile per gallon difference can add up quickly, particularly if you use the Q5 as a daily driver. If you look at the other power options available for the Audi – the 3.0 V6, the 2.0 Hybrid, and the Turbo Diesel – you’ll find similar savings.
You might think this would mean that adding features to the Q5 would add up quickly, and overtake the Mercedes-Benz. You would be wrong – the Audi Q5 has wallet-friendly options, and even when fully optioned, it’s still a better bargain than the ML350.
David Jacovides
Crown Audi