Mercedes-Benz Eqe53 vs Audi SQ8
What's the difference?

Mercedes-Benz Eqe53

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2022 price

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Audi SQ8

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2025 price

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Rolls-Royce Spectre (bev)

Summary

2022 Mercedes-Benz Eqe53

2025 Audi SQ8

By Tom White

By Emily Agar

Safety Rating

Electric motor type

Permanent Magnet

Twin Turbo V8, 4.0L

Vehicle type

Battery Electric

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Electric range

500 km

11.9L/100km (combined)

Energy consumption

21.8 kWh/100km

Battery capacity

90.50 kWh

Seating

Likes

Spacious, futuristic interior
Solid range and charging speed
Drive experience defied expectations

Understated but elegant looks
Gusty engine that delivers serious power
Comfortably fits a large family

Dislikes

Controversial exterior design
Big footprint but small boot
Poor rear visibility

Never hits any thrilling notes
Technology is harder than it needs to be
Internal storage could be better

2022 Mercedes-Benz Eqe53 Summary

The EQE is more than an important car for Mercedes. Not only is it the German titan’s latest electric offering, on all-new underpinnings, but it represents the very future of its passenger car range.

It adopts a completely new shape and design language, but it also puts its fastest foot forward, launching with the 53 AMG variant first in Australia, by the end of 2022.

We travelled to Europe to sample it for the first time ahead of its Australian arrival to find out what the future of Mercedes feels like, but also how its go-fast AMG division has managed to leave its mark on an electric car.

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2025 Audi SQ8 Summary

The Audi SQ8 has had a mid-life refresh but this upper large SUV still offers luxury with its powerful V8 engine that fans know and love, as well as the features you would expect in a top model.

It competes against the Mercedes-AMG GLE and Porsche Cayenne but we’re family testing the SQ8 to see how it handles domestic life.

Keep reading to see what we’ve discovered.

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Deep dive comparison

2022 Mercedes-Benz Eqe53 2025 Audi SQ8

Verdict

In the wild new world of fully electric cars there isn’t really an ‘average’ of what to expect. If there was, I’m sure the EQE 53 would exceed it. Its electrification brings the ambiance of a luxury car, while its performance reminds you of what AMG is capable of.

There’s a bit of the mechanical engagement of AMG missing, a relatively small boot, and some won’t be sold on the function-over-form looks, but the EQE 53 is a pleasantly surprising look at the future of fast Mercedes.

Verdict

The Audi SQ8 isn’t your typical performance SUV. It’s more refined and less flashy. The tech can be more complicated than it needs to be and if you’re wanting that V8 soundscape, you won’t find it here.

However, the handling and on road experience are superb plus you can comfortably haul the family around and look good doing it.

Mercedes-Benz Eqe53 vs Audi SQ8 What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Mercedes-Benz Eqe53 vs Audi SQ8
What's the difference?