Compare the2023 Mercedes S-ClassVS 2023 Audi S8

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 S8 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 S8 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 use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The S8 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The S-Class has a standard blind spot warning system that 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 S8’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the S-Class has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Audi charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the S8.

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 S8 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the S-Class and the S8 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

There are over 25 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’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 20 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 With 37 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

The Maybach S 680 4MATIC Sedan’s standard 6.0 turbo V12 produces 58 more horsepower (621 vs. 563) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (664 vs. 590) than the S8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the S 580e 4MATIC running on electricity gets better mileage than the S8 (53 city/48 hwy MPGe vs. 15 city/23 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the S-Class running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the S8:

The S 580e 4MATIC can travel with zero emissions for 46 miles. The S8 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

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 S8 (3). This means the S-Class produces up to 23.4 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the S8 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 S8.

The S-Class stops shorter than the S8:

The S-Class’ optional 285/30R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S8’s optional 35 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the S-Class can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The S8 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The S-Class offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Audi doesn’t offer an active suspension on the S8.

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 S8 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the S-Class Sedan’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the S8 (126.6 inches vs. 123.2 inches). The Maybach S-Class Sedan’s wheelbase is 10.5 inches longer than on the S8 (133.7 inches vs. 123.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the S-Class is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 2.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the S8.

For better maneuverability, the S-Class Sedan w/Rear-Axle Steering’s turning circle is 6.4 feet tighter than the S8’s (35.9 feet vs. 42.3 feet).

The Mercedes S-Class may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 550 pounds less than the Audi S8.

The S-Class Sedan 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 S8.

The S-Class Sedan has a larger trunk than the S8 (12.9 vs. 12.5 cubic feet).

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 S8 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. The S8 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

The S8’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The S-Class’ standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the S-Class has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The S8 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the S-Class second among large premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The S8 isn’t in the top three.

The Mercedes S-Class outsold the Audi A8/S8 by almost 10 to one during 2022.