Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG E-Class WagonVS 2023 Audi RS 6

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The AMG E-Class Wagon 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 6 doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The AMG E-Class Wagon 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 6’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the AMG E-Class Wagon 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 6.

The AMG E-Class Wagon’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 6 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG E-Class Wagon and the RS 6 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, 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.

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 Wagon is safer than the Audi RS 6:

	AMG E-Class Wagon	RS 6
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	190	197
Neck Injury Risk	30%	30%
Neck Stress	186 lbs.	322 lbs.
Neck Compression	21 lbs.	64 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	204	354
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	29%	41%
Neck Stress	120 lbs.	228 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	257/126 lbs.	263/331 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 Wagon is safer than the Audi RS 6:

	AMG E-Class Wagon	RS 6
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	132	135
Abdominal Force	149 lbs.	174 lbs.
Hip Force	223 lbs.	262 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	594 lbs.	716 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
HIC	326	395

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

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 Wagon’s warranty.

Reliability

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-Class Wagon’s 4.0 turbo V8 produces 12 more horsepower (603 vs. 591) and 37 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 590) than the RS 6’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes AMG E-Class Wagon is faster than the Audi RS 6:

	AMG E-Class Wagon	RS 6
Zero to 60 MPH	3 sec	3.1 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	4.9 sec	5.1 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	7.3 sec	7.8 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	1.4 sec	1.6 sec
Quarter Mile	11.2 sec	11.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	124 MPH	120.2 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the AMG E 63 S Wagon gets better fuel mileage than the RS 6 (16 city/24 hwy vs. 14 city/21 hwy).

The AMG E-Class Wagon has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the RS 6 (21.1 vs. 19.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes AMG E-Class Wagon higher (5 out of 10) than the Audi RS 6 (3). This means the AMG E-Class Wagon produces up to 16.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the RS 6 every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes AMG E-Class Wagon, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the RS 6.

Brakes and Stopping

The AMG E-Class Wagon stops shorter than the RS 6:

	AMG E-Class Wagon	RS 6
60 to 0 MPH	104 feet	113 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction and acceleration, the AMG E-Class Wagon has larger rear tires than the RS 6 (295/30R20 vs. 275/35R21). The AMG E 63 S Wagon’s rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the RS 6 (295/30R20 vs. 285/30R22).

The AMG E-Class Wagon’s 295/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RS 6’s standard 35 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The AMG E-Class Wagon’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 6 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The AMG E 63 S Wagon handles at .98 G’s, while the RS 6 Avant pulls only .95 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

Chassis

The Mercedes AMG E-Class Wagon may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 pounds less than the Audi RS 6.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the AMG E-Class Wagon has an electronically controlled liquid-filled main engine mount. A computer-controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The RS 6 uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The design of the Mercedes AMG E-Class Wagon amounts to more than styling. The AMG E-Class Wagon has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .32 Cd. That is lower than the RS 6 (.35) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the AMG E-Class Wagon get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The AMG E-Class Wagon has .4 inches more front legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the RS 6.

Cargo Capacity

The AMG E-Class Wagon Wagon has a much larger cargo volume than the RS 6 Avant with its rear seat up (35 vs. 30 cubic feet).

Ergonomics

The AMG E-Class Wagon 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 6 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the AMG E-Class Wagon to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The RS 6 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 Wagon offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The RS 6 doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the AMG E-Class Wagon has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The RS 6 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The AMG E-Class Wagon 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 6 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Model Availability

The Mercedes AMG E-Class comes in coupe, convertible, sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Audi RS 6 isn’t available as a coupe, convertible or sedan.

Recommendations

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its April 2021 issue and they ranked the Mercedes AMG E 63 S Wagon higher than the Audi RS 6 Avant.

Motor Trend selected the E-Class as their 2021 Car of the Year. The RS 6 has never been chosen.

The Mercedes E-Class/CLS outsold the Audi A6/S6/RS 6 by over three to one during 2022.