Compare the2023 Audi RS 7VS 2023 Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan

Both the RS 7 and AMG E-Class Sedan have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The RS 7 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The AMG E-Class Sedan’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Audi RS 7 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The AMG E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The RS 7 has a standard Secondary Collision Brake Assist, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The AMG E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the RS 7 helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The AMG E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The RS 7’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG E-Class Sedan.

Both the RS 7 and the AMG E-Class Sedan 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, around view monitors, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

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 Audi RS 7 is safer than the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan:

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

The RS 7’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG E-Class Sedan’s (12 vs. 5 years).

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 18 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The RS 7’s 4.0 turbo V8 hybrid produces 162 more horsepower (591 vs. 429) and 206 lbs.-ft. more torque (590 vs. 384) than the AMG E 53’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the RS 7’s fuel efficiency. The AMG E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

For better stopping power the RS 7’s brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG E-Class Sedan:

The RS 7 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The AMG E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The RS 7 stops shorter than the AMG E-Class Sedan:

For better traction, the RS 7 has larger standard tires than the AMG E-Class Sedan (275/35R21 vs. 245/35R20). The RS 7’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the AMG E-Class Sedan (285/30R22 vs. 265/35R20).

The RS 7’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG E 53’s standard 40 series front tires. The RS 7’s optional tires have a lower 30 series profile than the AMG E 53’s optional 35 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the RS 7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the AMG E 53. The RS 7’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the AMG E 53.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the RS 7 is 1.2 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the AMG E-Class Sedan.

For better maneuverability, the RS 7’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the AMG E-Class Sedan’s (40 feet vs. 41 feet).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the RS 7 is quieter than the AMG E 63 S:

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the RS 7’s rear seats recline. The AMG E-Class Sedan’s rear seats don’t recline.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 16% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The RS 7 has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The AMG E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the RS 7 has standard extendable sun visors. The AMG E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The RS 7’s optional Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Remote Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The AMG E-Class Sedan’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

The RS 7 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the RS 7 will retain 48.54% of its original price after five years, while the AMG E-Class Sedan only retains 37.89%.