Compare the2023 Mercedes E-Class SedanVS 2023 Audi A6

The E-Class Sedan’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The A6 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The E-Class Sedan 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 E-Class Sedan’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 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the E-Class Sedan 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 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 Sedan is safer than the Audi A6:

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 Sedan is safer than the Audi A6:

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 Sedan’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the E-Class Sedan third among midsize premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The A6 isn’t in the top three.

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 450 4MATIC Sedan’s standard 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 E 450 4MATIC Sedan 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the A6 55 TFSI 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the E-Class Sedan gets better mileage than the A6:

The E-Class Sedan 450’s standard fuel tank has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the A6 (21.1 vs. 19.3 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes E-Class Sedan higher (6 out of 10) than the Audi A6 (5). This means the E-Class Sedan 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 E-Class Sedan, 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 E 450 4MATIC Sedan’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the A6:

The E-Class Sedan stops shorter than the A6:

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the E-Class Sedan 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 E-Class Sedan 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 Sedan’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 A6 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The E-Class Sedan’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 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the E 350 Sedan’s turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the A6’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.7 feet). The E 450 4MATIC Sedan’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the A6’s (39 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The Mercedes E-Class Sedan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 300 pounds less than the Audi A6.

The E-Class Sedan has .4 inches more front legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the A6.

The E-Class Sedan 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 E-Class Sedan 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.

To better shield the driver and front passenger’s vision, the E-Class Sedan has standard dual-element sun visors that can block glare from two directions simultaneously. The A6 doesn’t offer secondary sun visors.

The Mercedes E-Class comes in coupe, convertible, sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Audi A6 isn’t available as a coupe, convertible or station wagon.

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

Insurance will cost less for the E-Class Sedan owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the E-Class Sedan will cost $310 less than the A6 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the E-Class Sedan is less expensive to operate than the A6 because typical repairs cost much less on the E-Class Sedan than the A6, including $70 less for front brake pads, $59 less for a starter, $1168 less for fuel injection, $89 less for a fuel pump and $115 less for front struts.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Mercedes E-Class Sedan will be $693 to $3882 less than for the Audi A6.

Motor Trend selected the E-Class as their 2021 Car of the Year. The A6 has never been chosen.

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