Compare the2023 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain WagonVS 2023 Porsche Macan

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Macan doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 Macan doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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 Macan’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s optional Rear Cross-Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. The Macan doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

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 Macan doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon and the Macan 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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

There are almost 2 times as many Mercedes dealers as there are Porsche dealers, which makes it much 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 Porsche vehicles. With 11 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Porsche.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 101 more horsepower (362 vs. 261) and 74 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 295) than the Macan’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon is faster than the Porsche Macan turbo 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon gets better mileage than the Macan:

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Macan (21.1 vs. 17.1 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 Porsche Macan (5). This means the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon produces up to 6.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Macan 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 Macan.

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

For better traction, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has larger tires than the Macan (245/45R19 vs. 235/55R19).

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Macan’s standard 55 series front and 50 series rear 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 Macan 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 Macan, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

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 Macan doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s wheelbase is 5.2 inches longer than on the Macan (115.7 inches vs. 110.5 inches).

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Macan’s (55.7% to 44.3%). This gives the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon more stable handling and braking.

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

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

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Macan doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s available liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Macan doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

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 Macan doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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. An easy entry system costs extra on the Macan.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Macan doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Macan can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Macan’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 Macan doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has standard extendable sun visors. The Macan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

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 Macan.

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 Macan 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 Macan’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 Porsche Macan isn’t available as a coupe, convertible or sedan.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon is less expensive to operate than the Macan because it costs $64 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon than the Macan, including $96 less for a muffler, $223 less for front brake pads, $37 less for a fuel pump, $277 less for front struts and $1 less for a timing belt/chain.

The Mercedes E-Class/CLS outsold the Porsche Macan by 18% during 2022.