Compare the2023 Audi S6VS 2023 Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan

Both the S6 and AMG E-Class Sedan have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The S6 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 S6 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 S6 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 S6 Prestige 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 S6’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG E-Class Sedan.

Both the S6 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The S6’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 S6’s 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid produces 15 more horsepower (444 vs. 429) and 58 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 384) than the AMG E 53’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the S6 gets better fuel mileage than the AMG E 63 S 4.0 turbo V8 Hybrid (19 city/26 hwy vs. 16 city/24 hwy).

For better stopping power the S6’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG E-Class Sedan:

The S6 stops shorter than the AMG E-Class Sedan:

For better traction, the S6 has larger tires than the AMG E-Class Sedan (255/35R21 vs. 245/35R20).

The S6’s 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.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the S6 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 19-inch wheels are standard on the AMG E 53. The AMG E-Class Sedan’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The S6 has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the AMG E-Class Sedan; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed. Some tire options on the AMG E-Class Sedan don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For better maneuverability, the S6’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the AMG E-Class Sedan’s (39.7 feet vs. 41 feet).

The design of the Audi S6 amounts to more than styling. The S6 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .3 Cd. That is lower than the AMG E-Class Sedan (.32) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the S6 get better fuel mileage.

The S6 has .5 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more rear headroom and 1.2 inches more rear legroom than the AMG E-Class Sedan.

The S6 has a larger trunk than the AMG E-Class Sedan (13.7 vs. 13.1 cubic feet).

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.

The S6’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The AMG E-Class Sedan does not have an oil pressure gauge.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The S6 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 S6 has standard extendable sun visors. The AMG E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The S6 Prestige’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Park Assist Plus Remote 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 S6 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the S6 will retain 46.87% to 46.9% of its original price after five years, while the AMG E-Class Sedan only retains 37.89%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Audi S6 will be $3401 to $8779 less than for the Mercedes AMG E-Class Sedan.