Compare the2022 Mercedes S-ClassVS 2021 Audi A8

The rear seatbelts optional on the S-Class inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The A8 doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

The S-Class’ standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The A8 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The S-Class has standard Maneuvering Brake Function that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The A8 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The S-Class has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the A8’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the S-Class has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the A8.

The S-Class’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The A8 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the S-Class and the A8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

There are over 26 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the S-Class’ warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mercedes 25th in initial quality. With 47 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 32nd.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mercedes 15th in reliability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Audi is ranked 20th.

The S-Class has more powerful engines than the A8:

As tested in Car and Driver the S 500 4MATIC Sedan 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the A8 55 TSFI 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the S-Class gets better mileage than the A8 running its gasoline engine:

The S-Class has 5 gallons more fuel capacity than the A8 60 TFSI e Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (22.2 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes S-Class higher (5 to 6 out of 10) than the Audi A8 (3 to 5). This means the S-Class produces up to 23.4 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A8 every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes S-Class, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the A8.

The S-Class’ optional 255/35R21 front and 285/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A8’s optional 40 series tires.

The S-Class’ drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The A8 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the S-Class Sedan’s wheelbase is 3.5 inches longer than on the A8 55 TSFI (126.6 inches vs. 123.1 inches). The Maybach S-Class Sedan’s wheelbase is 10.6 inches longer than on the A8 55 TSFI (133.7 inches vs. 123.1 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the S-Class is .6 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the A8.

For better maneuverability, the S-Class Sedan w/Rear-Axle Steering’s turning circle is 6.3 feet tighter than the A8’s (35.9 feet vs. 42.2 feet).

The design of the Mercedes S-Class amounts to more than styling. The S-Class has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .22 Cd. That is significantly lower than the A8 (.26 to .28) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the S-Class get better fuel mileage.

The S-Class uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The A8 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The S-Class has 3.8 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom and 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the A8.

The S-Class Sedan has a much larger trunk than the A8 (13.8 vs. 12.5 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Mercedes service is better than Audi. J.D. Power ranks Mercedes 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 5% lower rating, Audi is ranked 12th.

The S-Class has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The A8 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the S-Class to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. Heated windshield washer fluid costs extra on the A8.

The S-Class’ Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The A8 doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Mercedes S-Class comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Audi A8 isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

The Mercedes S-Class outsold the Audi A8/S8 by almost five to one during the 2021 model year.