Compare the2023 Audi S6VS 2023 Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan

Both the S6 and AMG C-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 C-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 C-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 C-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 C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The S6’s 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. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

Both the S6 and the AMG C-Class Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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 C-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 42 more horsepower (444 vs. 402) and 73 lbs.-ft. more torque (442 vs. 369) than the AMG C-Class Sedan’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

The S6 has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the AMG C-Class Sedan (19.3 vs. 17.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

For better traction, the S6 has larger tires than the AMG C-Class Sedan (255/35R21 vs. 245/45R18).

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 C-Class Sedan’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the S6 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the AMG C-Class Sedan. The AMG C-Class Sedan’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the S6’s wheelbase is 2.5 inches longer than on the AMG C-Class Sedan (115.3 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the S6 is 1.7 inches wider in the front and .6 inches wider in the rear than on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The S6 has 1.5 inches more front shoulder room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The S6 has a much larger trunk than the AMG C-Class Sedan (13.7 vs. 12.6 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 C-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 C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Both the S6 and the AMG C-Class Sedan have standard heated front seats. The S6 Premium Plus/Prestige also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The S6 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the car heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

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 C-Class Sedan’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.