Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG E-Class SedanVS 2023 Audi S8

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 S8 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 S8’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 S8.

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 S8 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG E-Class Sedan and the S8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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, daytime running lights, around view monitors and available lane departure warning systems.

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 S8 has not been tested, yet.

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.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the AMG E-Class Sedan has a standard 850-amp battery. The S8’s 380-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.

The AMG E 63 S’ standard 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 40 more horsepower (603 vs. 563) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 590) than the S8’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the AMG E 63 S 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid is faster than the Audi S8:

On the EPA test cycle the AMG E-Class Sedan gets better mileage than the S8:

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan higher (5 to 6 out of 10) than the Audi S8 (3). This means the AMG E-Class Sedan produces up to 23.4 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the S8 every 15,000 miles.

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 S8.

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 S8 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 S8 doesn’t offer launch control.

The AMG E-Class Sedan stops shorter than the S8:

For better traction and acceleration, the AMG E-Class Sedan has larger standard rear tires than the S8 (275/30R20 vs. 265/35R21). The AMG E 63 S’ rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the S8 (295/30R20 vs. 265/35R21).

The AMG E 53’s standard 275/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S8’s standard 40 series tires. The AMG E 53’s optional 275/30R20 rear tires have a lower 30 series profile 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 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 S8 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

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 S8 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The AMG E 63 S handles at 1.01 G’s, while the S8 pulls only .94 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the AMG E-Class Sedan’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the S8’s (41 feet vs. 42.3 feet).

The Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 950 pounds less than the Audi S8.

The AMG E 53 is 1 foot, 1.8 inches shorter than the S8, making the AMG E-Class Sedan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The AMG E-Class Sedan has a larger trunk than the S8 (13.1 vs. 12.5 cubic feet).

The AMG E-Class Sedan’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The S8 doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

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 S8 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 S8’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 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 AMG E-Class Sedan’s optional 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 AMG E-Class Sedan has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The S8 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The Mercedes AMG E-Class comes in coupe, convertible and sedan bodystyles; the Audi S8 isn’t available as a coupe or convertible.

Motor Trend selected the E-Class as their 2021 Car of the Year. The S8 has never been chosen.

The Mercedes E-Class/CLS outsold the Audi A8/S8 by almost 12 to one during 2022.