Compare the2022 Audi RS 7VS 2020 Mercedes AMG S-Class

Both the RS 7 and AMG S-Class have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The RS 7 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The AMG S-Class’ child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Audi RS 7 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The AMG S-Class doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The RS 7 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The AMG S-Class doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the RS 7. But it costs extra on the AMG S-Class.

Both the RS 7 and the AMG S-Class have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available night vision systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

The RS 7’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG S-Class’ (12 vs. 5 years).

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 6 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

Regenerative brakes improve the RS 7’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The AMG S-Class doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

For better stopping power the RS 7’s brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG S-Class:

For better traction, the RS 7 has larger standard tires than the AMG S-Class (275/35R21 vs. 255/45R20). The RS 7’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the AMG S-Class (285/30R22 vs. 255/45R20).

The RS 7’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG S-Class’ standard 45 series front and 40 series rear tires. The RS 7’s optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the AMG S 65 Sedan’s 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RS 7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Only 20-inch wheels are available on the AMG S-Class. The RS 7 offers optional 22-inch wheels.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RS 7 is 1.3 inches wider in the front and .3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the AMG S-Class.

The RS 7 is 11.3 inches shorter than the AMG S-Class, making the RS 7 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The RS 7’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The AMG S-Class doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RS 7 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The AMG S-Class doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the RS 7 has standard extendable sun visors. The AMG S-Class doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The RS 7 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the AMG S-Class.