Compare the2023 Mercedes CLSVS 2023 Audi A6

The CLS 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 A6’s blind spot costs extra.

The CLS’ 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 A6 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CLS and the A6 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

There are over 25 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the CLS’ warranty.

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 CLS’ 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 101 more horsepower (362 vs. 261) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 273) than the A6 45 TFSI’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The CLS’ 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 27 more horsepower (362 vs. 335) than the A6 55 TFSI’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes CLS is faster than the A6 55 TFSI 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the CLS 450 4MATIC gets better fuel mileage than the A6 55 TFSI (22 city/30 hwy vs. 21 city/30 hwy).

The CLS has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the A6 (21.1 vs. 19.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes CLS higher (6 out of 10) than the Audi A6 (5). This means the CLS produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A6 every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes CLS, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A6.

For better stopping power the CLS’ brake rotors are larger than those on the A6:

For better traction and acceleration, the CLS has larger rear tires than the A6 (275/35R19 vs. 245/45R19). The CLS’ rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the A6 (275/35R19 vs. 255/40R20).

The CLS’ standard 245/40R19 front and 275/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A6’s standard 45 series tires. The CLS’ optional 245/35R20 front and 275/30R20 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the A6’s optional 40 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the CLS can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The A6 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The CLS has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The CLS’ 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 A6 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The CLS’ 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 A6 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the CLS’ turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the A6’s (39 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The design of the Mercedes CLS amounts to more than styling. The CLS has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .27 Cd. That is lower than the A6 (.29) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the CLS get better fuel mileage.

The CLS 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 A6 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the CLS to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The A6 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

The CLS 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 A6 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The CLS is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A6 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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