I am working in locking system development at Mercedes: the key has to be on the side of the car where you want to open it. Imagine a thief wants to open the passenger door to grab your stuff and you are standing at the driver door. He won't be successful then. So: feature not bug! Also you have to move the key slightly. If it is laying still it might be inside and behind a wall is the car. So you have to move it slightly so we can detect that it is moving and the driver really has the key and wants to enter.
Regarding your closing comments, sure, Tesla Model X can be purchased for less money, especially if you take the default black interior. But the build quality, interior materials, comfort and noise are orders of magnitude better in the Mercedes and the Audi.
@@badenbaden166to you it is. To others it isn’t. It depends on use case. Also, Tesla severely exaggerates their range. My 2019 e-tron with an official range of 209 miles gets 280 to 290 miles on road trips in Efficiency Mode, while my 2020 Model Y Long Range had an official range of 330, but I couldn’t ever get 280. You could argue that the Model Y is a lot cheaper, it I got the 2019 e-tron 2nd hand and paid slightly more than a Model Y LR.
I don’t think so I’ve sat in both including a 2023 model X and I thought it was almost as good personally, at least on the surface. Definitely better than my old 2019 Vorsprung Audi a5. My model y is better than that
Hey there! I've been the proud owner of an EQE sedan and Model Y for over a year now. Let me tell you, when it comes to build quality, the EQE takes the cake. Sure, it may have a few rattles when you press hard, but when you're driving, you won't hear a peep. On the other hand, the Model Y doesn't have any interior trims to press, but boy, does it rattle like crazy on the road. I mean, I don't go around pressing my car's dashboard just for the sake of getting some likes on social media, you know? So, the EQE is definitely the obvious choice for me. Now, let's talk about this test. It's completely biased, my friend. Don't get me wrong, I do love the etron, but they should be comparing similar trim levels here. Bring on the AMG, not just the base EQE model. Sure, it might be pricier, but the overall package is on a whole different level. Or better yet, let's see how the base etron stacks up against that EQE. You know how it goes, my friend, Mercedes doesn't come cheap...
I love the placement of my chargeport on my e-tron. When it’s pouring rain at a charging station or freezing cold, it’s much better to have it right in front of the driver door versus having to run around to the back passenger side of the vehicle. Not to mention it allows you to pull into fast chargers so you can see their screens more easily versus having to back in.
Everything that you remember being wrapped in leather was never actually wrapped in leather on the previous model. They are just places that we wish were wrapped in leather. Also I'm 99% sure the etron never had the button to drop the suspension from the cargo area, which is odd since every other Audi SUV with air suspension has it. I just got a Q8 etron myself and previously had a 2019 and 2021. While not real impressive on paper, it is definitely the car I want to be in all day.
Appreciate your in-depth review. Having an EQS and a Q8 Etron, just some comments. The EQS and EQE have many components that are the same. The charging door on the EQE is more complex than it looks. With a month, our car had to go back in as the door would not open. MB could have used the same door as they do in ICE cars. Agree that black plastic is very finger print prone. The EQS interior has no rattles after 15 months. Its haptic feedback switches on the sterring wheel are awful. They are not responsive, taking multiple presses to actuate. The Q8 switches are mechanical and are flawless. Our EQS has a light interior. So far touch surfaces have stayed clean, including the steering wheel, but you do have to pay attention to the carpet. Agree about the EQE door handles; they can be a pain. Unfortunately MB is puttiing them in more cars (S and E classes). Overall, I agree the Q8 interior is superior to the EQE and EQS.
I got caught in a freezing rain storm with my '21 eTron at home. Had to use a hair dryer to melt the ice on the charging door to get it open. The retractable mirrors were a problem in the 9F weather as well. Best to turn off the retraction feature during bad winter weather.
I never thought that 53:50 could go so quickly! Thank you both for an excellent and unbiased interior and exterior quality of materials review. The first thing that I did to my 2018 Tesla Model 3’s center console was to cover the piano black with clear paint protection film. Today, after five years it still looks brand new and I still love it. The red exterior was similarly protected and it also looks perfect today, except for the little dents that come with time that are not worth fixing.
Very interesting video! and not entirely surprising about the interior quality! The reason its not a shock is because of what I was told by a Mercedes Engineer a couple of years back I had a 2020 A-Class and I had no end of interior build issues, cheap plastic everywhere, stuff would rattle and buzz, creaking dashboard, loose fitting clips etc. So I took it in for a warranty repair (of which there were 11 issues in the interior!). After fixing them, the Merc engineer said to me that since Mercedes introduced MBUX (their interior UI design) back in 2019, warranty's and repairs for interior issues has gone up something like 400%. This is because pre-MBUX they used to use metal screws, metal parts, and glue to attach and bind things together. Now in MBUX, they ONLY use plastic inside, and no longer use screws or glue, its instead all plastic clips (to make it easier and quicker to take apart, apparently...) So you can literally take your interior dash apart by twisting and applying pressure in certain areas, and because of the cheap plastic clips, they fail after X amount of usage/miles, as bumps in the road and wear and tear loosen them, and they all need replacing after a while. Funny thing was, after he told me this, he said "if you want a good build German car, get a BMW or Audi" 🤣 I'd say that's true for all new BMW's, but Audi's it has to be A4 and up, their new hatchbacks are also cheap inside, just not as cheap as any Mercedes
We have an EQS with the white steering wheel. It's 6 months old, I've only cleaned it once maybe about 3 months in. It still looks brand new. Agree with you about the carpeting under the seat near the floor mat staining immediately though.
Great job. I recently cross-shopped the EQE SUV and agree that many spots on the interior feel cheap and not in line with a $100k vehicle. I felt there was too much gloss black and the showroom car's center console was disgusting with hand and finger prints. Would be great to see a review of the BMW iX build quality.
Hey, not sure if it helps, but BMW is heavily advertising the iX all over social media (that's where I read/watch my ads, lol) over here in Czechia (Europe). Not sure what the name of it is in the US but you pay a fixed amount every month for a fixed period of time (24/36/++) months, and it includes the insurance and service. After that, you return the car. So, this is subsidised because it's only a tiny bit more than for the new 5. Most likely the car does not sell very well.... Meaning you could haggle.
Just picked up a “slightly” used (3k mi.) EQE SUV 350 4 Matic….I agree with you on some points comparing this to the ETRON. I just wanna say, the ETRON is not a ground up SUV. That’s a substantial difference. The EQE feels heavier. Anything that you might find feeling cheap in the EQE is there to save a little on, as you put it, “heft”. I think that you are spot on about the “miss” with the white carpet..though, it’s actually light gray interior, not white. It has a wow factor that the Q8 doesn’t. We are not “dirty” people, so the interior works just fine for us. The interior in the Q8 might be better put together, but, we’ve had a few Audi’s and, while they are nice, they just miss the mark on the bonding factor. It’s a Volkswagen don’t ya know. Mercedes doesn’t have the price point level brands within brands. I absolutely love our EQE with rear steering and tons of creature comforts. You don’t need to spend 98k to enjoy the EQE. We picked up ours for over 30k less, and it’s pretty loaded. I understand your bias towards the Audi. The older one becomes there is a shift toward more comfort, full stop..Thats Mercedes! Over delivering on range, by 10-20% consistently…you can’t say that about Audi…that’s the most profound comparison. Thank you for the excellent reviews.
I’d love to see a comparison between these and the Genesis SUVs cause I don’t think the Germans have more premium materials especially inside. EDIT: I don’t think. I know for a fact. Genesis feel very well put together, nothing feels hollow and they don’t creak.
Best ever e-tron comparison, old vs. new Q8 and one of its closest German fellows. Thanks a lot for all the insightful reflections! They resonated a great deal, as I am up for picking up my "new" used e-tron 2020 tomorrow for a third of the Q8 price, and without the creative cost cutting attributes you highlighted in the video :-)
Great comparison. Love the focus on interior and build quality, fit, and finish. But guys, 2021 Prestige is going for $48K so even if the 2019 is going for $30K it’s not like the newer models are totally affordable yet.
Actually, all the areas that you pointed out that would creek in the MB do NOT when you're driving on the road. It may creek if you push and pull on them physically, but with normal driving there is no creek or rattles.
Materials inside the cockpit need to have a certain level of flexibility that's a safety feature. When you crash you want the interior to be able to absorb the forces....
That is a very good video for showing up the reality. I think that most of your opinions are the point for years. One friend of mine owned an AMG E63s after an Audi RS6. I had the opportunity to check out the Mercedes and boy there was a huge different between the moment wen you open the door and later touching some buttons or the middle console. This car was 120k but the interior wasn't at the right level. Many panels were like those you show in the drivers door. At the first glance Mercedes looks premium but go deeper and then you'll find out. The good old days are gone. And btw Audi is going the same path with the last models. Q3, A1, A3, Q4 and I see some issues even in the E-Tron RS GT. Greetings from Germany
Since you guys brought up price so much... The Prem Plus /w black optics package is 83k.. Some states are giving up to 14-15k off (on a lease you can buy out) and many dealers are giving an additional 5-7k off msrp.. making the car really closer to 61-63k. So the better question is if this is worth 60k..
I really like that you are showing an honest opinion. I can only imagine if either of those was a Tesla, like an X that they were selling over $100,000 the quality is just not there.
I love Audi designs, especially A7S , Q8 and S Sportsback eTron, but too many Audi owners I've spoken with advised me never to buy an Audi unless I lease it before it gets me penniless and homeless due to the high costs of its unreliability.
Great video comparison. Lots of good info. One thing to note: each time you had the camera man bring the mic to pick up the noises on the MB, you were talking through the whole thing. Couldn’t really hear what you were referring to because you narrated it the whole time.
I agree so much on your critique on the door materials. So weird that you can’t even buy a better trim. I disagree, however, on the motorized dual-sided charge ports and covers. It has multiple benefits: (1) when the charger is plugged in, the charge port cover is protected from careless people ripping them off on passing by, yes, happens in Europe on traditional covers, and repair is expensive. (2) in the garage it’s so helpful to have the port on the side closer to the wallcharger. (3) It looks and feels premium, and the other cars look so cheat in comparison. I have my etron for more than 4 years, no problem. Number of activation is max. 365day * 15years = 5500, shouldn’t be a big deal.
I think the Etron is a great car, and I totally am going to wait until I can grab a low mileage two year old one for half price. The resale on them is just abysmal. I do have one caveat though, either the CCS charging network has to get a lot better in the next couple of years, or they have to join NACS charging standard. currently I own an ioniq 5, which I find to be a very nice car, but the road trip charging situation is just awful.
Unfortunately MB's materials and build quality are worse this generation. It's a shame because, in the last gen, you're basically playing the lottery on whether you get a good one. It's going to be a bad decade for MB.
The charge port that goes down like that just seems to be begging for scratches from the charge cable or cable caps. It was a solution looking for a problem IMO.
Gee, I wish you had mentioned the base price for both these cars. I know for the Q8 it is $74.4 K in US. Not too bad. I own a 2019 etron and a 2024 Q8 etron. I agree the 2019 and 2024 are very similar. BUT there are some significant differences: 1. The regen is much stronger on the 2024. I like that. 2. The steering is definitely tuned sportier. 3. The software has been tweaked a little to add some minor features. Most of which, I wish they hadnt! 4. the much longer range
Last weekend I just test drove the e-Tron GT and also looked at this Q8 e-Tron. This seems smaller than Q8 and much lower rim than Q8. It's very confused to name this Q8 e-Tron. SQ8 is a perfect design.
@@OutofSpecDetailing respect. I love this car. Driven it a few times and if they would lower the price just a bit and update the thing, it would be fantastic for european life style. I mean it still is, just outdated.
Really enjoy your build quality videos, though I find this one less useful given that these are press cars. Hard to get a good example of what a customer might take delivery of with a copy that the manufacturer went over with a fine-toothed comb before shipping it out. Still appreciate the thorough design analysis. Nice work.
your are right with Mercedes /EQ cars - they are built only for optics and are lacking assembly quality - i am working for an Tier.-1 interior producer and you see this also in the DV phase. Audi is more conservative and might looks more boring, but is qualitywise far away from Mercedes. All Mercedes cars from 2012 onwards are having a problem with rattle & squeak - plastic parts and only pointly assembled metal fasteners are aging- also those bright colours will be a nightmare due to daily usage and UV /sunlight penetration- just search for those cars, which are more than 3 years used and have >60t miles driven...a real mess. Audi is actually kick out all real leather materials and also more expensive textile /fake leather products - what is a sha,me and a huge mistake
Very interesting deep dive. I heard you have the ID 4 - are you satisfied with it? I got the Skoda Enyaq - an ID 4 variant. And is super happy with it.
Wow! What a content! Guys, i so much like your way of sharing! So clear and qualitative, as well as calm and warm ! Thank you! Enjoyed every moment of video 🎉
Coleton, I saw the video where you blacked out Kyles etron. Sadly I am in Florida not Colorado. Can you give me an idea (range) what I should anticipate being the costs to have the same painting of grill etc that you did for Kyle? TY Much!
The grill was a massive pain, we went the route of full replacement. I’d estimate $1500-$2000 for the grill/labor alone. All of the other trim would probably be around $1000-$1500 to wrap
Agree 100% . Own etron and rented EQS. Bad first impressions. The thing squeaked like no other. Cheap plastic parts all other. The infotainment system was so overly complicated and I'm in tech industry. Unacceptable interior for a car that cost 150K. The seat controls malfunctioned requiring a restart to get them working. So happy with etron. Its a familiar very comfortable place to be. No need to read a thick manual to figure out how to operate the suv.
I am the odd guy out. I buy cars for utility. I have owned both Audis and MBs and have found MBs to have a much lower Total Cost of Ownership. My current MB BEV does everything I want and need at a very low cost per mile. I do use a IDE pickup to tow my travel trailer.
Having owned a 2019 Audi A6 Prestige (which shares many interior components with the Q8 eTron) and now a 2023 Mercedes EQS Sedan. I agree with many of your conclusions. I had an EQE Sedan on order for 5 months. Shortly before it arrived my dealer got another EQE and called me for a test drive. The EQE felt so cheap even though it was over $80k with RWD and the base engine. It was a non AMG appearance package and the front was embarrassing. Cheap unpainted fake plastic vents in front. Even the star patterned grill was optional. The white (Neva Grey) Seats and carpet was shocking and nonsensical. The EQS suffers many of the same issues...however the ride and range are impeccable. I suspect weight savings might be the culprit with some of the poor quality materials in the Mercedes. Also as a ground up EV Mercedes was more cognizant of the environmental friendliness of the material used...the carpet for example jn the EQ Family is made from ♻️ yarn if I remember correctly. The eTron is an adapted ICE Platform from what I understand and shares many parts and interior panels with ICE Cars.
The biggest problem of current Audi design is the taillight. The design is so wrong it can be compared to the previous generation of Honda/Acura taillight and Mercedes round headlight. Because of this, I am stuck with my 1st gen A7, which is a perfect design all around. Among all the current Audi cars, Q8 is the best design.
love my A7.. the 3.0 supercharged engine mated to the ZF8 trans is awesome.. I have 034 Motorsports Stg 2+ tune, running on an E40 file, ported s/c, 107mm/57mm pulleys, MercRacing heat xchanger.. 11.2 sec 1/4 mile @ 124mph...ultimate sleeper!
Mercedes build quality is something I believed in until I bought an EQE Exclusive Luxury saloon July 2023 the roof blind faulty on delivery. It was was rejected and replaced. The replacement had 3 factory borne faults one a paint fault. Next a carpet stud anchor missing and number 3 a washer fluid cap which opened randomly due to a wiring fault months off the road with technicians scratching their heads and asking germany who supllied the wrong wiring diagram. When repaired the washer fluid poured internally into the car then out onto the ground due to being fitted incorrectly. The car wasnt repaired to specification bypass wiring was fitted as opposed to a replaced wiring harness. Also 2 other issues were found due to the compartment being imterfered with during repair. Top priced car and obviously cost cutting in build quality and components. Life long fan of the brand now very sad at what it has become.
Thanks for sharing. I absolutely love the cars but that said, they are for the well heeled buyer and Tesla is the Volkswagen of the EV world. If I should have to choose the Audi just might be the one.
hey max that audi q8 e tron is the launch edition. you said it was the prestige. Thats not true. You can tell its the launch edition because of the body color grille and the light seats with orange light piping
Great review, just when I thought eqe is a great family suv, i absolutely hate that creek sound and those in the video are definitely gonna give me problems in the future.
I do not trust Audi interiors. My Audi looked and felt very high quality but the amount of rattles in the entire car became intolerable. I feel like Audi quality is only on the surface whereas any Mercedes I’ve ever known including ones my Mom and friends have had for years are absolutely solid and rattle free.
You are comparing two things that are completely different, only commonality being they are both German. Q8 Etron- Top of the line car, biggest one they make, equivalent to an S class, but an SUV, retrofitted to be electric (sharing most of the non power train parts with the Lamborghini Urus). EQE - mid level vehicle, equivalent to a compact E class, a dedicated electric car, second generation, much newer gen. I'd say get a Q8, enjoy your life, forget about all of the electric issues until they come up with a second gen.
The EQE is much more refined and has a space aged feel to it. The ride is so quiet it made me feel deaf. You must have been driving with the windows opened.
Great review, first I've seen where manufacturers are inspected with forensic detail. Car manufacturers are really arrogant at times, charging a fortune for car that have areas of outright corner and cost cutting. Old Mercedes models where bomb proof and testament to how much their standards have fallen in build quality.
Your review and comparison was very informative. However, these are PRESS cars handpicked and specially prepared by the manufacturers. A review and comparison of cars randomly purchased would be much more representative of how the cars are built and delivered. The white carpet and white steering wheel in the Mercedes is ridiculously impractical. Lastly, these cars are using technology that will be dated in three years and the depreciation will be around $40,000 at the end of year three.
They should just double down and redesign all the MB electric models. Nobody likes any of them. I’ve only seen a few out in the wild and I work a mile from a huge MB dealer.
i’ve owned a mercedes and an audi and i’ve driven several friends cars of the same and undoubtedly audi destroys mercedes in quality and comfort. i would go as far as saying mercedes has been very low quality
Unfortunately the pro~Audi bias shows through a bit much. A lot of the comments on the EQE are items that are based in specification. We had a Q8 as a rental and found it quite disappointing. Hard creaky plastics, cheap faux leather and poor touchscreen reliability. And objectively, the EQE is quieter.
His commentary was pretty out of touch for me as well, I've been in both of these cars and found the Audi to just be outdated in comparison. It's certainly not more refined, and absolutely not a better interior in any way. This doesn't even address the fact it's slower, less efficient, louder at speed and the touchscreens are less responsive.
Basically it looks cheap and outdated. Plastics, way too much. From the side, it is almost similar to an EQC a 2018 design. I definitely give it a pass.
This review is not balanced! The conclusion I got from the video is that the Audi is better than the Mercedes. Both brands have their own advantages and disadvantages. Mercedes is more futuristic rather than Audi. The maintenance and the build quality of the Audi is a tic better. Nevertheless, Audi has lost some ground in the case of their brand slogan, "Fortschritt durch Technik - progress through technology".
3:50 - that’s because Audi literally took the existing 2019 e-Tron platform (which was always smaller than the ICE Q7 and Q8) and rebadge it Q8 e-Tron with a bigger battery. Why they did that vs building a proper larger electric Q8 from ground up is a mystery. Most likely range efficiency for such a large car, and cost savings since they already had a stand-alone e-tron that sat between the Q5 and Q8 size-wise already. (I do wonder the size of the newer Q6 etron though). That being said, I have the 2022 e-tron (non Q8). Love and hate the car. Amenities are nice, but range and efficiency sucks at avg 210-215 miles range with 2.4mi/kwh. I also think Audi current interior technology (infotainment, Adaptive cruise, driver assist, virtual cockpit) is 5 years outdated now. BMW and Mercedes have surpassed them. Haven’t seen the newer Q6 Etron interior, but hoping it’s closer to the German rivals.
The 2020 e-tron 55 Launch Edition I have is by far the best car for quality I have ever had and fastest, the equipment it comes with is unreal for under £32k used with 30k miles driven and £0 deposit. I have driven Audi's for years, starting with A1, to A4 saloon, A4 Avant black editions to testing 2023 Q8 e-Tron, 2019 e-Tron, 2022 Q4 e-tron and most recenrly tested the 2023 e-Tron GT. I myself bough the 2020 e-Tron 55 Launch Edition and nothing really comes close to it's quality and finish, not even the e-tron GT! which is ultra fast! lol. Let me tell you this now, Audi beat Mercedes and BMW over quality everytime, had them for work cars, the EQE is actually platsicly junk, test drove it. I had the EV6 for 18 months as well, was really nice, pitty it was basic inside and started to fall apart after 12 months.
Those Mercedes rims looks so cheap. Never cared for any of the EQ cars from Mercedes. Cool that some people can afford them, but if I’m paying that much for a car, I want to look good.
There isn’t a single bit of appeal in any of these car-thing blob designs in my opinion. I wouldn’t buy one at half the price. Styling wise, and for usability, give me a 2016 Land Rover LR4 any day.
i was also horrified by the EQ but in my case it was the ergonomics that shocked me. i'm average sized male and i couldn't get comfortable in EQE Sedan. i was only somewhat comfortable in EQE SUV but i was MORE comfortable in E-Tron GT ! which is a car almost a foot less in height ! the EQs were so bad i didn't even bother test driving them. let's face it Mercedes were always designed by douchebags for douchebags - the only thing they had going for them was style, ride quality and exhaust note in AMG models - but the ergonomics were never there.
Audi and Mercedes are not quality brands anymore, materials, paint job, all below average these days not to mention many problems with B class and Mexican build Glb class cars.... . Were the Germans save money on fit and finish, the Japanese are spending more on build quality and fit and finish. Many car journalists in the Netherlands and even Germany consider Japanese car far superior......
Seriously, folks: $91.5k and $98k for midsize SUVs - speaking as a German, what justifies these prices, and what's the deal with this overpriced stuff? Who can afford this?
It's beyond me how you can spend an entire hour on build quality and never even put the cars up on the lift to look at the actual mechanical parts that may fail and cost you the most of everything. This video is basically just a test of how things may sound or appear rather than actual failures. Weird
I am working in locking system development at Mercedes: the key has to be on the side of the car where you want to open it. Imagine a thief wants to open the passenger door to grab your stuff and you are standing at the driver door. He won't be successful then. So: feature not bug! Also you have to move the key slightly. If it is laying still it might be inside and behind a wall is the car. So you have to move it slightly so we can detect that it is moving and the driver really has the key and wants to enter.
Fed up of all the black, white and grey cars so I bought an Ultra Blue Q8 etron - brilliant!
Regarding your closing comments, sure, Tesla Model X can be purchased for less money, especially if you take the default black interior. But the build quality, interior materials, comfort and noise are orders of magnitude better in the Mercedes and the Audi.
Model x have more range. It’s first priority.
@@badenbaden166to you it is. To others it isn’t. It depends on use case. Also, Tesla severely exaggerates their range. My 2019 e-tron with an official range of 209 miles gets 280 to 290 miles on road trips in Efficiency Mode, while my 2020 Model Y Long Range had an official range of 330, but I couldn’t ever get 280. You could argue that the Model Y is a lot cheaper, it I got the 2019 e-tron 2nd hand and paid slightly more than a Model Y LR.
I don’t think so I’ve sat in both including a 2023 model X and I thought it was almost as good personally, at least on the surface. Definitely better than my old 2019 Vorsprung Audi a5. My model y is better than that
Where is it almost as good? It can not even compete with a Corolla on the interior build quality. @@hughshikarii
@@t1328i want to know what you are doing to get 280mi out of an etron. We get barely 200mi at 60mph
Don't know how many times you said that the interior should be nicer for a 90K car... have you looked at 90K Tesla interiors?
Why compare to the worst offender?
Hey there! I've been the proud owner of an EQE sedan and Model Y for over a year now. Let me tell you, when it comes to build quality, the EQE takes the cake. Sure, it may have a few rattles when you press hard, but when you're driving, you won't hear a peep.
On the other hand, the Model Y doesn't have any interior trims to press, but boy, does it rattle like crazy on the road.
I mean, I don't go around pressing my car's dashboard just for the sake of getting some likes on social media, you know? So, the EQE is definitely the obvious choice for me.
Now, let's talk about this test. It's completely biased, my friend. Don't get me wrong, I do love the etron, but they should be comparing similar trim levels here. Bring on the AMG, not just the base EQE model. Sure, it might be pricier, but the overall package is on a whole different level.
Or better yet, let's see how the base etron stacks up against that EQE.
You know how it goes, my friend, Mercedes doesn't come cheap...
I love the placement of my chargeport on my e-tron. When it’s pouring rain at a charging station or freezing cold, it’s much better to have it right in front of the driver door versus having to run around to the back passenger side of the vehicle.
Not to mention it allows you to pull into fast chargers so you can see their screens more easily versus having to back in.
Etrons, including the Q8 Etron, have releases under the hood if the charge port doesn't open and if the connector does not release
Everything that you remember being wrapped in leather was never actually wrapped in leather on the previous model. They are just places that we wish were wrapped in leather. Also I'm 99% sure the etron never had the button to drop the suspension from the cargo area, which is odd since every other Audi SUV with air suspension has it.
I just got a Q8 etron myself and previously had a 2019 and 2021. While not real impressive on paper, it is definitely the car I want to be in all day.
The extra 60 miles of range makes charger station selection on a road trip much more flexable. Loved my '19 & '21 as well but the new Q8 is better.
Appreciate your in-depth review. Having an EQS and a Q8 Etron, just some comments. The EQS and EQE have many components that are the same. The charging door on the EQE is more complex than it looks. With a month, our car had to go back in as the door would not open. MB could have used the same door as they do in ICE cars. Agree that black plastic is very finger print prone. The EQS interior has no rattles after 15 months. Its haptic feedback switches on the sterring wheel are awful. They are not responsive, taking multiple presses to actuate. The Q8 switches are mechanical and are flawless. Our EQS has a light interior. So far touch surfaces have stayed clean, including the steering wheel, but you do have to pay attention to the carpet. Agree about the EQE door handles; they can be a pain. Unfortunately MB is puttiing them in more cars (S and E classes). Overall, I agree the Q8 interior is superior to the EQE and EQS.
Shopping both of these vehicles, this is helpful - thanks!
I got caught in a freezing rain storm with my '21 eTron at home. Had to use a hair dryer to melt the ice on the charging door to get it open. The retractable mirrors were a problem in the 9F weather as well. Best to turn off the retraction feature during bad winter weather.
I never thought that 53:50 could go so quickly! Thank you both for an excellent and unbiased interior and exterior quality of materials review. The first thing that I did to my 2018 Tesla Model 3’s center console was to cover the piano black with clear paint protection film. Today, after five years it still looks brand new and I still love it. The red exterior was similarly protected and it also looks perfect today, except for the little dents that come with time that are not worth fixing.
Very interesting video! and not entirely surprising about the interior quality! The reason its not a shock is because of what I was told by a Mercedes Engineer a couple of years back
I had a 2020 A-Class and I had no end of interior build issues, cheap plastic everywhere, stuff would rattle and buzz, creaking dashboard, loose fitting clips etc. So I took it in for a warranty repair (of which there were 11 issues in the interior!). After fixing them, the Merc engineer said to me that since Mercedes introduced MBUX (their interior UI design) back in 2019, warranty's and repairs for interior issues has gone up something like 400%. This is because pre-MBUX they used to use metal screws, metal parts, and glue to attach and bind things together. Now in MBUX, they ONLY use plastic inside, and no longer use screws or glue, its instead all plastic clips (to make it easier and quicker to take apart, apparently...)
So you can literally take your interior dash apart by twisting and applying pressure in certain areas, and because of the cheap plastic clips, they fail after X amount of usage/miles, as bumps in the road and wear and tear loosen them, and they all need replacing after a while.
Funny thing was, after he told me this, he said "if you want a good build German car, get a BMW or Audi" 🤣 I'd say that's true for all new BMW's, but Audi's it has to be A4 and up, their new hatchbacks are also cheap inside, just not as cheap as any Mercedes
We have an EQS with the white steering wheel. It's 6 months old, I've only cleaned it once maybe about 3 months in. It still looks brand new. Agree with you about the carpeting under the seat near the floor mat staining immediately though.
Great car - I just drove one for a week in the alps - now I think about buying one..
My next ev may be a used Mercedes EQ so that's good to know!
Great job. I recently cross-shopped the EQE SUV and agree that many spots on the interior feel cheap and not in line with a $100k vehicle. I felt there was too much gloss black and the showroom car's center console was disgusting with hand and finger prints. Would be great to see a review of the BMW iX build quality.
Agreed, take a look at the iX!
Hey, not sure if it helps, but BMW is heavily advertising the iX all over social media (that's where I read/watch my ads, lol) over here in Czechia (Europe). Not sure what the name of it is in the US but you pay a fixed amount every month for a fixed period of time (24/36/++) months, and it includes the insurance and service. After that, you return the car. So, this is subsidised because it's only a tiny bit more than for the new 5. Most likely the car does not sell very well.... Meaning you could haggle.
@@godofdun Have to say the range on the iX is nothing short of Magic!
Don’t buy luxury EV yet. The tech is still evolving and you will see huge depreciation if you buy overpriced one now.
At the moment the EV part in Mercedes-Benz is better, more efficient, has longer range, yet the car is cheaper built.
Absolutely agree on the Q8 naming, its nothing more than a marketing thing decided for the refreshed e-tron which should be a Q6.
Just picked up a “slightly” used (3k mi.) EQE SUV 350 4 Matic….I agree with you on some points comparing this to the ETRON.
I just wanna say, the ETRON is not a ground up SUV. That’s a substantial difference. The EQE feels heavier. Anything that you might find feeling cheap in the EQE is there to save a little on, as you put it, “heft”. I think that you are spot on about the “miss” with the white carpet..though, it’s actually light gray interior, not white. It has a wow factor that the Q8 doesn’t. We are not “dirty” people, so the interior works just fine for us. The interior in the Q8
might be better put together, but, we’ve had a few Audi’s and, while they are nice, they just
miss the mark on the bonding factor. It’s a Volkswagen don’t ya know. Mercedes doesn’t have the price point level brands within brands. I absolutely love our EQE with rear steering
and tons of creature comforts. You don’t need to spend 98k to enjoy the EQE. We picked up
ours for over 30k less, and it’s pretty loaded.
I understand your bias towards the Audi. The older one becomes there is a shift toward more comfort, full stop..Thats Mercedes! Over delivering on range, by 10-20% consistently…you can’t say that about Audi…that’s the most profound comparison.
Thank you for the excellent reviews.
Your car looks like a jelly bean. But congrats on not being “dirty”
I have an EQE500 SUV. You dont hear any rattles or creaking while driving. like not even a little.
I’d love to see a comparison between these and the Genesis SUVs cause I don’t think the Germans have more premium materials especially inside.
EDIT: I don’t think. I know for a fact. Genesis feel very well put together, nothing feels hollow and they don’t creak.
Now that I am over the commercial breaks... EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE AND DETAILED REVIEW. BRAVO!
Best ever e-tron comparison, old vs. new Q8 and one of its closest German fellows. Thanks a lot for all the insightful reflections! They resonated a great deal, as I am up for picking up my "new" used e-tron 2020 tomorrow for a third of the Q8 price, and without the creative cost cutting attributes you highlighted in the video :-)
Great review, I’m enjoying my q8 etron and A7, just like the feel Audi made
In the UK, type 2 charging comes as standard on both sides, CCS on drivers side
Great comparison. Love the focus on interior and build quality, fit, and finish. But guys, 2021 Prestige is going for $48K so even if the 2019 is going for $30K it’s not like the newer models are totally affordable yet.
Actually, all the areas that you pointed out that would creek in the MB do NOT when you're driving on the road. It may creek if you push and pull on them physically, but with normal driving there is no creek or rattles.
Materials inside the cockpit need to have a certain level of flexibility that's a safety feature. When you crash you want the interior to be able to absorb the forces....
There is a release mechanism for the charge port under the hood if the electric mechanism fails.
Yeah, but how do you open the hood?
@@OneEyedJacker really??? 🤣
That is a very good video for showing up the reality. I think that most of your opinions are the point for years.
One friend of mine owned an AMG E63s after an Audi RS6. I had the opportunity to check out the Mercedes and boy there was a huge different between the moment wen you open the door and later touching some buttons or the middle console.
This car was 120k but the interior wasn't at the right level. Many panels were like those you show in the drivers door.
At the first glance Mercedes looks premium but go deeper and then you'll find out. The good old days are gone.
And btw Audi is going the same path with the last models. Q3, A1, A3, Q4 and I see some issues even in the E-Tron RS GT.
Greetings from Germany
They have had light interiors forever. It's fine. You can also order black if you want to, there is a choice.
Since you guys brought up price so much... The Prem Plus /w black optics package is 83k.. Some states are giving up to 14-15k off (on a lease you can buy out) and many dealers are giving an additional 5-7k off msrp.. making the car really closer to 61-63k. So the better question is if this is worth 60k..
I wish that was true in CA
I really like that you are showing an honest opinion. I can only imagine if either of those was a Tesla, like an X that they were selling over $100,000 the quality is just not there.
I love Audi designs, especially A7S , Q8 and S Sportsback eTron, but too many Audi owners I've spoken with advised me never to buy an Audi unless I lease it before it gets me penniless and homeless due to the high costs of its unreliability.
Great video comparison. Lots of good info. One thing to note: each time you had the camera man bring the mic to pick up the noises on the MB, you were talking through the whole thing. Couldn’t really hear what you were referring to because you narrated it the whole time.
Great review guys. Fit and finish is often overlooked but it's such an important thing to consider when getting a vehicle.
I agree so much on your critique on the door materials. So weird that you can’t even buy a better trim. I disagree, however, on the motorized dual-sided charge ports and covers. It has multiple benefits: (1) when the charger is plugged in, the charge port cover is protected from careless people ripping them off on passing by, yes, happens in Europe on traditional covers, and repair is expensive. (2) in the garage it’s so helpful to have the port on the side closer to the wallcharger. (3) It looks and feels premium, and the other cars look so cheat in comparison. I have my etron for more than 4 years, no problem. Number of activation is max. 365day * 15years = 5500, shouldn’t be a big deal.
I think the Etron is a great car, and I totally am going to wait until I can grab a low mileage two year old one for half price. The resale on them is just abysmal. I do have one caveat though, either the CCS charging network
has to get a lot better in the next couple of years, or they have to join NACS charging standard. currently I own an ioniq 5, which I find to be a very nice car, but the road trip charging situation is just awful.
Adapters that will allow CCS cars to charge on the Tesla SuCr Network next year will save the day for CCS cars.
Excellent and thorough, gentlemen. Well done.
Audi build quality is excellent, except for Q4, A3, Q3. There is an huge difference between smaller vehicles and their top (A8 & Q7/Q8)
The Q8 comes with a compact spare tire that needs inflated.
There's more to build quality than panel gaps and soft touch plastics.
Unfortunately MB's materials and build quality are worse this generation. It's a shame because, in the last gen, you're basically playing the lottery on whether you get a good one. It's going to be a bad decade for MB.
The charge port that goes down like that just seems to be begging for scratches from the charge cable or cable caps. It was a solution looking for a problem IMO.
I just bought an eqe 350 4 Matic and it goes to 340 miles on full charge
Gee, I wish you had mentioned the base price for both these cars. I know for the Q8 it is $74.4 K in US. Not too bad. I own a 2019 etron and a 2024 Q8 etron. I agree the 2019 and 2024 are very similar. BUT there are some significant differences: 1. The regen is much stronger on the 2024. I like that. 2. The steering is definitely tuned sportier. 3. The software has been tweaked a little to add some minor features. Most of which, I wish they hadnt! 4. the much longer range
Don’t forget the is an SQ8 etron as well - so there is a higher EV in the Audi Q series
Last weekend I just test drove the e-Tron GT and also looked at this Q8 e-Tron. This seems smaller than Q8 and much lower rim than Q8. It's very confused to name this Q8 e-Tron. SQ8 is a perfect design.
Thxxx for this review. It could be interesting to compare also the IX no? 2021 car who is more than ever up to date_ greetings from Belgium
Is that renault tweezy? That has to be the only one in the US?
It is
@@OutofSpecDetailing respect. I love this car. Driven it a few times and if they would lower the price just a bit and update the thing, it would be fantastic for european life style. I mean it still is, just outdated.
Really enjoy your build quality videos, though I find this one less useful given that these are press cars. Hard to get a good example of what a customer might take delivery of with a copy that the manufacturer went over with a fine-toothed comb before shipping it out. Still appreciate the thorough design analysis. Nice work.
Bro, I love your video already and I'm only 20 minutes in. Subscribed!
your are right with Mercedes /EQ cars - they are built only for optics and are lacking assembly quality - i am working for an Tier.-1 interior producer and you see this also in the DV phase. Audi is more conservative and might looks more boring, but is qualitywise far away from Mercedes. All Mercedes cars from 2012 onwards are having a problem with rattle & squeak - plastic parts and only pointly assembled metal fasteners are aging- also those bright colours will be a nightmare due to daily usage and UV /sunlight penetration- just search for those cars, which are more than 3 years used and have >60t miles driven...a real mess. Audi is actually kick out all real leather materials and also more expensive textile /fake leather products - what is a sha,me and a huge mistake
love this video, I've been looking for analyses like that for a long time! Keep it up!!!
Very interesting deep dive. I heard you have the ID 4 - are you satisfied with it? I got the Skoda Enyaq - an ID 4 variant. And is super happy with it.
Wow! What a content! Guys, i so much like your way of sharing! So clear and qualitative, as well as calm and warm ! Thank you! Enjoyed every moment of video 🎉
Great observations and overall review.
Coleton, I saw the video where you blacked out Kyles etron. Sadly I am in Florida not Colorado. Can you give me an idea (range) what I should anticipate being the costs to have the same painting of grill etc that you did for Kyle? TY Much!
The grill was a massive pain, we went the route of full replacement. I’d estimate $1500-$2000 for the grill/labor alone. All of the other trim would probably be around $1000-$1500 to wrap
@@OutofSpecDetailingOh you wrapped it. Wow. I thought it was painted.
Audi as i expected 💪👍
Agree 100% . Own etron and rented EQS. Bad first impressions. The thing squeaked like no other. Cheap plastic parts all other. The infotainment system was so overly complicated and I'm in tech industry. Unacceptable interior for a car that cost 150K. The seat controls malfunctioned requiring a restart to get them working. So happy with etron. Its a familiar very comfortable place to be. No need to read a thick manual to figure out how to operate the suv.
Agreed, the Mercedes interior looks sooo cheap and plastic, everything glued on.
You must have been really unlucky with the EQS you rented. I own one and it’s absolutely flawless. Pure luxury on wheels!
Quality video and comparison. Subbed! 👍👍
Audi easily wins
I am the odd guy out. I buy cars for utility. I have owned both Audis and MBs and have found MBs to have a much lower Total Cost of Ownership. My current MB BEV does everything I want and need at a very low cost per mile. I do use a IDE pickup to tow my travel trailer.
Having owned a 2019 Audi A6 Prestige (which shares many interior components with the Q8 eTron) and now a 2023 Mercedes EQS Sedan. I agree with many of your conclusions. I had an EQE Sedan on order for 5 months. Shortly before it arrived my dealer got another EQE and called me for a test drive. The EQE felt so cheap even though it was over $80k with RWD and the base engine. It was a non AMG appearance package and the front was embarrassing. Cheap unpainted fake plastic vents in front. Even the star patterned grill was optional. The white (Neva Grey) Seats and carpet was shocking and nonsensical. The EQS suffers many of the same issues...however the ride and range are impeccable. I suspect weight savings might be the culprit with some of the poor quality materials in the Mercedes. Also as a ground up EV Mercedes was more cognizant of the environmental friendliness of the material used...the carpet for example jn the EQ Family is made from ♻️ yarn if I remember correctly. The eTron is an adapted ICE Platform from what I understand and shares many parts and interior panels with ICE Cars.
Why would you compare the etron with an EQE? it is more comparable to an EQS.
Ice review!!! Thank you!!
The biggest problem of current Audi design is the taillight. The design is so wrong it can be compared to the previous generation of Honda/Acura taillight and Mercedes round headlight. Because of this, I am stuck with my 1st gen A7, which is a perfect design all around. Among all the current Audi cars, Q8 is the best design.
love my A7.. the 3.0 supercharged engine mated to the ZF8 trans is awesome.. I have 034 Motorsports Stg 2+ tune, running on an E40 file, ported s/c, 107mm/57mm pulleys, MercRacing heat xchanger.. 11.2 sec 1/4 mile @ 124mph...ultimate sleeper!
Mercedes build quality is something I believed in until I bought an EQE Exclusive Luxury saloon July 2023 the roof blind faulty on delivery. It was was rejected and replaced. The replacement had 3 factory borne faults one a paint fault. Next a carpet stud anchor missing and number 3 a washer fluid cap which opened randomly due to a wiring fault months off the road with technicians scratching their heads and asking germany who supllied the wrong wiring diagram. When repaired the washer fluid poured internally into the car then out onto the ground due to being fitted incorrectly. The car wasnt repaired to specification bypass wiring was fitted as opposed to a replaced wiring harness. Also 2 other issues were found due to the compartment being imterfered with during repair. Top priced car and obviously cost cutting in build quality and components. Life long fan of the brand now very sad at what it has become.
Thanks for sharing. I absolutely love the cars but that said, they are for the well heeled buyer and Tesla is the Volkswagen of the EV world. If I should have to choose the Audi just might be the one.
hey max that audi q8 e tron is the launch edition. you said it was the prestige. Thats not true. You can tell its the launch edition because of the body color grille and the light seats with orange light piping
Great review, just when I thought eqe is a great family suv, i absolutely hate that creek sound and those in the video are definitely gonna give me problems in the future.
I do not trust Audi interiors. My Audi looked and felt very high quality but the amount of rattles in the entire car became intolerable. I feel like Audi quality is only on the surface whereas any Mercedes I’ve ever known including ones my Mom and friends have had for years are absolutely solid and rattle free.
If I had a Mercedes and especially a SUV, the first thing I would do is to sell it!
53 minutes. Man cut it down a little dang.
You are comparing two things that are completely different, only commonality being they are both German. Q8 Etron- Top of the line car, biggest one they make, equivalent to an S class, but an SUV, retrofitted to be electric (sharing most of the non power train parts with the Lamborghini Urus). EQE - mid level vehicle, equivalent to a compact E class, a dedicated electric car, second generation, much newer gen. I'd say get a Q8, enjoy your life, forget about all of the electric issues until they come up with a second gen.
I use to be a big merc fan boy…
But the last few years their quality has taken a dip.. Audi an bmw are much better quality
Old etron is also cracking...
I have a white car interior, 5 years, no major stains. I'm not a farmer
The EQE is much more refined and has a space aged feel to it.
The ride is so quiet it made me feel deaf.
You must have been driving with the windows opened.
Can you review Volvo build quality?
Man, did you drive this Mercedes car and did it make any noise? No assumptions here.
Please turn upside down the carpet before make wrong opinion of that, this position is the pre-sale protection position
Great review, first I've seen where manufacturers are inspected with forensic detail. Car manufacturers are really arrogant at times, charging a fortune for car that have areas of outright corner and cost cutting. Old Mercedes models where bomb proof and testament to how much their standards have fallen in build quality.
Your review and comparison was very informative. However, these are PRESS cars handpicked and specially prepared by the manufacturers. A review and comparison of cars randomly purchased would be much more representative of how the cars are built and delivered. The white carpet and white steering wheel in the Mercedes is ridiculously impractical. Lastly, these cars are using technology that will be dated in three years and the depreciation will be around $40,000 at the end of year three.
Is the Mercedes made in USA?
6:18 Ah ok, it is.
Explains the worse build quality.
Every Tesla I’ve been in does not creak and rattle like how badly it does in a Mercedes. Mercedes interior build quality is horrendous now.
They should just double down and redesign all the MB electric models. Nobody likes any of them. I’ve only seen a few out in the wild and I work a mile from a huge MB dealer.
i’ve owned a mercedes and an audi and i’ve driven several friends cars of the same and undoubtedly audi destroys mercedes in quality and comfort. i would go as far as saying mercedes has been very low quality
Mercedes has massive build quality issues…
Especially inside but also with material and f&f
So so many commercial breaks
Unfortunately the pro~Audi bias shows through a bit much. A lot of the comments on the EQE are items that are based in specification. We had a Q8 as a rental and found it quite disappointing. Hard creaky plastics, cheap faux leather and poor touchscreen reliability. And objectively, the EQE is quieter.
His commentary was pretty out of touch for me as well, I've been in both of these cars and found the Audi to just be outdated in comparison. It's certainly not more refined, and absolutely not a better interior in any way. This doesn't even address the fact it's slower, less efficient, louder at speed and the touchscreens are less responsive.
RUclips is full of lies
Basically it looks cheap and outdated. Plastics, way too much. From the side, it is almost similar to an EQC a 2018 design. I definitely give it a pass.
This review is not balanced! The conclusion I got from the video is that the Audi is better than the Mercedes. Both brands have their own advantages and disadvantages. Mercedes is more futuristic rather than Audi. The maintenance and the build quality of the Audi is a tic better. Nevertheless, Audi has lost some ground in the case of their brand slogan, "Fortschritt durch Technik - progress through technology".
3:50 - that’s because Audi literally took the existing 2019 e-Tron platform (which was always smaller than the ICE Q7 and Q8) and rebadge it Q8 e-Tron with a bigger battery. Why they did that vs building a proper larger electric Q8 from ground up is a mystery. Most likely range efficiency for such a large car, and cost savings since they already had a stand-alone e-tron that sat between the Q5 and Q8 size-wise already. (I do wonder the size of the newer Q6 etron though).
That being said, I have the 2022 e-tron (non Q8). Love and hate the car. Amenities are nice, but range and efficiency sucks at avg 210-215 miles range with 2.4mi/kwh. I also think Audi current interior technology (infotainment, Adaptive cruise, driver assist, virtual cockpit) is 5 years outdated now. BMW and Mercedes have surpassed them. Haven’t seen the newer Q6 Etron interior, but hoping it’s closer to the German rivals.
Max IS a very nice name, but....;-)
The 2020 e-tron 55 Launch Edition I have is by far the best car for quality I have ever had and fastest, the equipment it comes with is unreal for under £32k used with 30k miles driven and £0 deposit. I have driven Audi's for years, starting with A1, to A4 saloon, A4 Avant black editions to testing 2023 Q8 e-Tron, 2019 e-Tron, 2022 Q4 e-tron and most recenrly tested the 2023 e-Tron GT. I myself bough the 2020 e-Tron 55 Launch Edition and nothing really comes close to it's quality and finish, not even the e-tron GT! which is ultra fast! lol. Let me tell you this now, Audi beat Mercedes and BMW over quality everytime, had them for work cars, the EQE is actually platsicly junk, test drove it. I had the EV6 for 18 months as well, was really nice, pitty it was basic inside and started to fall apart after 12 months.
Those Mercedes rims looks so cheap. Never cared for any of the EQ cars from Mercedes. Cool that some people can afford them, but if I’m paying that much for a car, I want to look good.
There isn’t a single bit of appeal in any of these car-thing blob designs in my opinion. I wouldn’t buy one at half the price. Styling wise, and for usability, give me a 2016 Land Rover LR4 any day.
Audi dealers reviewing a Mercedes lol
i was also horrified by the EQ but in my case it was the ergonomics that shocked me. i'm average sized male and i couldn't get comfortable in EQE Sedan. i was only somewhat comfortable in EQE SUV but i was MORE comfortable in E-Tron GT ! which is a car almost a foot less in height ! the EQs were so bad i didn't even bother test driving them. let's face it Mercedes were always designed by douchebags for douchebags - the only thing they had going for them was style, ride quality and exhaust note in AMG models - but the ergonomics were never there.
Audi and Mercedes are not quality brands anymore, materials, paint job, all below average these days not to mention many problems with B class and Mexican build Glb class cars.... . Were the Germans save money on fit and finish, the Japanese are spending more on build quality and fit and finish.
Many car journalists in the Netherlands and even Germany consider Japanese car far superior......
Seriously, folks: $91.5k and $98k for midsize SUVs - speaking as a German, what justifies these prices, and what's the deal with this overpriced stuff? Who can afford this?
Cut to the chase… LEXUS
It's beyond me how you can spend an entire hour on build quality and never even put the cars up on the lift to look at the actual mechanical parts that may fail and cost you the most of everything. This video is basically just a test of how things may sound or appear rather than actual failures. Weird