Compare the2023 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain WagonVS 2023 Audi A6 Allroad

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 A6 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 A6 Allroad doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon and the A6 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon is safer than the Audi A6 Allroad:

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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon is safer than the Audi A6 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.

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 27 more horsepower (362 vs. 335) than the A6 Allroad’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon is faster than the Audi A6 Allroad:

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the A6 Allroad (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 E-Class All-Terrain Wagon higher (6 out of 10) than the Audi A6 Allroad (5). This means the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A6 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 A6 Allroad.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon stops shorter than the A6 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 A6 Allroad’s 45 series tires.

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 A6 Allroad doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

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 A6 Allroad doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The E 450 4MATIC All-Terrain handles at .89 G’s, while the A6 Allroad Prestige pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the A6 Allroad’s (39 feet vs. 40 feet).

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has standard seating for 7 passengers; the A6 Allroad can only carry 5.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has .4 inches more front legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the A6 Allroad.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s cargo area provides more volume than the A6 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 A6 Allroad doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’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 A6 Allroad’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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 A6 Allroad doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer cornering lights.

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

The Mercedes E-Class comes in coupe, convertible, sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Audi A6 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 A6 Allroad only retains 42.05% to 42.6%.

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