Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG E-Class SedanVS 2023 Audi RS 5 Sportback

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard Maneuvering Brake Function that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The AMG E-Class Sedan 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. A system to reveal vehicles in the RS 5 Sportback’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the AMG E-Class Sedan 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 RS 5 Sportback.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s 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 RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG E-Class Sedan and the RS 5 Sportback have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available lane departure warning systems.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan is safer than the Audi RS 5 Sportback:

	AMG E-Class Sedan	RS 5 Sportback
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Stress	186 lbs.	232 lbs.
Neck Compression	21 lbs.	55 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	204	236
Chest Compression	.4 inches	1 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	257/126 lbs.	324/341 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan is safer than the Audi RS 5 Sportback:

	AMG E-Class Sedan	RS 5 Sportback
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	132	172
Chest Movement	1.1 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	149 lbs.	219 lbs.
Hip Force	223 lbs.	308 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	215	277
Spine Acceleration	46 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	594 lbs.	777 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	12 inches
HIC	326	333
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	47 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its available vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” to “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the AMG E-Class Sedan the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 174 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RS 5 Sportback has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

There are over 25 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the AMG E-Class Sedan’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard 180-amp alternator. The RS 5 Sportback’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard 850-amp battery. The RS 5 Sportback’s 420-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 50 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.

Engine

The AMG E 63 S’ standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 159 more horsepower (603 vs. 444) and 185 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 442) than the RS 5 Sportback’s 2.9 turbo V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the AMG E 63 S 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid is faster than the Audi RS 5 Sportback:

	AMG E-Class Sedan	RS 5 Sportback
Zero to 60 MPH	3 sec	3.5 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	7 sec	8.7 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	3.9 sec	4.5 sec
Quarter Mile	11.1 sec	11.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	126 MPH	115 MPH
Top Speed	186 MPH	174 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the AMG E 53 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder Hybrid gets better fuel mileage than the RS 5 Sportback (21 city/29 hwy vs. 18 city/25 hwy).

The AMG E-Class Sedan has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the RS 5 Sportback (21.1 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the RS 5 Sportback.

The AMG E-Class Sedan offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The AMG E-Class Sedan 63 S’ launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer launch control.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction and acceleration, the AMG E-Class Sedan has larger standard rear tires than the RS 5 Sportback (275/30R20 vs. 265/35R19). The AMG E 63 S’ rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the RS 5 Sportback (295/30R20 vs. 275/30R20).

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the AMG E-Class Sedan can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The front and rear suspension of the AMG E-Class Sedan uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the RS 5 Sportback, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The AMG E-Class Sedan’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s 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 RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the AMG E-Class Sedan’s wheelbase is 4.4 inches longer than on the RS 5 Sportback (115.7 inches vs. 111.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the AMG E-Class Sedan is 1.6 inches wider in the front and .4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the RS 5 Sportback.

The AMG E 63 S handles at 1.01 G’s, while the RS 5 Sportback pulls only .97 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Passenger Space

The AMG E-Class Sedan has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RS 5 Sportback (97 vs. 91).

The AMG E-Class Sedan has .4 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more rear legroom and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the RS 5 Sportback.

Cargo Capacity

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the AMG E-Class offers cargo security. The RS 5 Sportback’s hatchback body style defeats cargo security.

Ergonomics

The AMG E-Class Sedan 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 RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the RS 5 Sportback, the AMG E-Class Sedan has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s standard easy entry and exit feature raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. Audi does not offer a locking feature on the RS 5 Sportback’s standard power windows.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The RS 5 Sportback’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the AMG E-Class Sedan to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the AMG E-Class Sedan offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the AMG E-Class Sedan has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the AMG E-Class Sedan to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The AMG E-Class Sedan 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 RS 5 Sportback.

The AMG E-Class Sedan offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The RS 5 Sportback doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s Active Parking Assist can parallel park by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The RS 5 Sportback’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Model Availability

The Mercedes AMG E-Class comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Audi RS 5 Sportback isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the AMG E-Class Sedan owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the AMG E-Class Sedan will cost $1785 less than the RS 5 Sportback over a five-year period.

Recommendations

Motor Trend selected the E-Class as their 2021 Car of the Year. The RS 5 Sportback has never been chosen.

The Mercedes E-Class/CLS outsold the Audi A5/S5/RS 5 by 469 units during 2022.