Compare the2023 Mercedes CLSVS 2023 Audi A8

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 A8’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 A8 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the CLS and the A8 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, 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 27 more horsepower (362 vs. 335) than the A8’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mercedes CLS is faster than the Audi A8:

On the EPA test cycle the CLS 450 4MATIC gets better fuel mileage than the A8 (22 city/30 hwy vs. 19 city/28 hwy).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes CLS higher (6 out of 10) than the Audi A8 (5). This means the CLS produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A8 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 an eight-speed automatic is available for the A8.

For better traction and acceleration, the CLS has larger rear tires than the A8 (275/35R19 vs. 255/45R19). The CLS’ rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the A8 (275/35R19 vs. 265/40R20).

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 A8’s standard 45 series tires. The CLS’ optional 275/30R20 rear tires have a lower 30 series profile than the A8’s optional 35 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 A8 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

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 A8 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The CLS 450 4MATIC handles at .90 G’s, while the A8 55 TFSI pulls only .89 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the CLS’ turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the A8’s (39 feet vs. 42.2 feet).

The Mercedes CLS may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 pounds less than the Audi A8.

The CLS is 1 foot shorter than the A8, making the CLS easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The CLS’ standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The A8 doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

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 A8 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. Heated windshield washer fluid costs extra on the A8.

The CLS is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The A8 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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