Compare the2023 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain WagonVS 2023 Audi A4 Allroad

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon offers an optional Maneuvering Brake Function that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The E-Class All-Terrain 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 A4 Allroad’s blind spot costs extra.

The E-Class All-Terrain 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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon and the A4 Allroad 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, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon weighs 708 pounds more than the Audi A4 Allroad. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon is safer than the Audi A4 Allroad:

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

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

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has a standard 180-amp alternator. The A4 Allroad’s 150-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has a standard 850-amp battery. The A4 Allroad’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.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 101 more horsepower (362 vs. 261) and 96 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 273) than the A4 Allroad’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Regenerative brakes improve the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the A4 Allroad (21.1 vs. 15.3 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon higher (6 out of 10) than the Audi A4 Allroad (5). This means the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A4 Allroad every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A4 Allroad.

For better stopping power the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the A4 Allroad:

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon stops shorter than the A4 Allroad:

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A4 Allroad’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the A4 Allroad. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon offers optional 20-inch wheels.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The front and rear suspension of the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the A4 Allroad, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The E-Class All-Terrain 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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s wheelbase is 4.8 inches longer than on the A4 Allroad (115.7 inches vs. 110.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 2.7 inches wider in the rear than on the A4 Allroad.

The E 450 4MATIC All-Terrain handles at .89 G’s, while the A4 Allroad Prestige pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon a Mid-Size Station Wagon car, while the A4 Allroad is rated a Small Station Wagon.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has standard seating for 7 passengers; the A4 Allroad can only carry 5.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has .1 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, .4 inches more rear legroom and 2.6 inches more rear shoulder room than the A4 Allroad.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s cargo area provides more volume than the A4 Allroad.

The E-Class All-Terrain 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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors optional at extra cost in the A4 Allroad, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

The A4 Allroad’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’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.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the A4 Allroad.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has a 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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The A4 Allroad Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The Mercedes E-Class comes in coupe, convertible, sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Audi A4 Allroad isn’t available as a coupe, convertible or sedan.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon will retain 47.6% of its original price after five years, while the A4 Allroad only retains 46.18% to 46.44%.

The Mercedes E-Class/CLS outsold the Audi A4/S4 by 23% during 2022.