Compare the2022 Audi S6VS 2020 Mercedes AMG S-Class

Both the S6 and AMG S-Class have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S6 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 S6 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 S6 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 S6. But it costs extra on the AMG S-Class.

Both the S6 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 S6’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.

On the EPA test cycle the S6 gets better mileage than the AMG S-Class:

Regenerative brakes improve the S6’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The AMG S-Class doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Audi S6 higher (5 out of 10) than the Mercedes AMG S-Class (3 to 5). This means the S6 produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the AMG S-Class every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the S6’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG S-Class:

The S6’s 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 S6’s tires are lower profile than the AMG S 65 Sedan’s 40 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the S6 has standard 21-inch wheels. Only 20-inch wheels are available on the AMG S-Class.

The Audi S6 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 500 pounds less than the Mercedes AMG S-Class.

The S6 is 1 foot, 1.5 inches shorter than the AMG S-Class, making the S6 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The S6 has .7 inches more rear headroom and 3.3 inches more rear legroom than the AMG S-Class.

The S6’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The AMG S-Class doesn’t offer folding rear seats.

The S6’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The AMG S-Class does not have an oil pressure gauge.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The S6 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 S6 has standard extendable sun visors. The AMG S-Class doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The S6 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.

The Audi A6/S6/RS 6 outsold the Mercedes S-Class by 23% during 2020.