Compared: 2024 Audi Q3 vs. 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLA

The Q3 offers the better price but falls short on fuel economy.

Christian Gilbertsen | 
Aug 16, 2024 | 2 min read

Split image with a red Mercedes-Benz GLA atop a blue Audi Q3Mercedes-Benz | Audi

As the smallest crossovers in their automakers' lineups, the Mercedes-Benz GLA and Audi Q3 are gateway vehicles to luxury. They're relatively affordable, with starting prices hovering around $40,000, and they come with reasonably long equipment lists.

Other crossovers — including larger models from Audi and Mercedes-Benz — offer better fuel economy than these two small SUVs, but neither the Q3 nor the GLA dip below 20 mpg in the EPA ratings. Here's a deeper look at how these two vehicles compare on features, fuel economy, and price.

Blue Audi Q3 facing the camera driving on a paved road in the hills.Audi

The Benz Costs More Dough

The GLA 250 costs about $43,000, which is some $4,000 more than the $39,000 entry-level Q3. The Audi also comes standard with all-wheel drive (AWD), whereas you have to pony up an extra $2,000 to get it on the Mercedes.

The Benz's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine offers more power, though: 221 horsepower to the Audi's 184 horsepower. Upgrade from the base Q3 40 TFSI to the Q3 45 TFSI model — which packs a 228-hp engine — and the starting price goes up to $41,000 while the crossover's zero-to-60-mph time improves by 1.5 seconds.

Red Mercedes-Benz GLA parked at a mountain overlook.Mercedes-Benz

The Audi Wins on Luxury

In terms of features, the Audi has several advantages over the Benz. For one, it boasts nearly 24 cubic-feet of storage space behind the rear seats, whereas the Mercedes has just 15 cu-ft. The Q3 also comes standard with adaptive cruise control, a panoramic sunroof, and leather upholstery, all of which cost extra on the GLA. Plus, the Audi's three-zone automatic climate control system is superior to its rival's two-zone setup.

Blue Audi Q3 driving on a paved road in the hills.Audi

That said, shoppers may prefer the GLA's dual 10.3-inch screens to the Q3's separated 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 8.8-inch infotainment display. The GLA also provides wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Q3 requires you to move up from its base model to match that cord-free feature.

Red Mercedes-Benz GLA parked on a mountain overlook.Mercedes-Benz

The GLA Is More Fuel Efficient

On EPA test cycles, the front-wheel-drive GLA 250 returns 25/34/28 mpg in city/highway/combined driving, which is a bit better than the AWD version, which gets ratings of 24/32/27 mpg.

The base Q3 is less efficient, seeing 22/29/25 mpg, while the more powerful variant returns 20/28/23 mpg.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.


Written by humans.
Edited by humans.

This site is for educational purposes only. The third parties listed are not affiliated with Capital One and are solely responsible for their opinions, products and services. Capital One does not provide, endorse or guarantee any third-party product, service, information or recommendation listed above. The information presented in this article is believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but is subject to change. The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the product. The material provided on this site is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any Capital One product or service to your unique circumstances. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, you may wish to consult a qualified professional.

Christian Gilbertsen

Christian has been a gearhead since before he could even reach the pedals of a car. After hitting adult height, he got his start in journalism with his college newspaper. Since then he's written for specialty automotive print publications, prominent online outlets, and creative agencies. Outside of editorial work, he has consulted for Fortune 500 companies and continues to hemorrhage money on film photography.


Shop cars