Compare the2023 Ford MustangVS 2023 Mercedes AMG E-Class Coupe

The Ford Mustang 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 Coupe doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Mustang’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 Coupe.

Both the Mustang and the AMG E-Class Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available rear parking sensors.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Mustang 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Mercedes covers the AMG E-Class Coupe. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the AMG E-Class Coupe ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 8 times as many Ford dealers as there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Mustang’s warranty.

The Mustang has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The AMG E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the car’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 6 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The Mustang GT’s standard 5.0 DOHC V8 produces 21 more horsepower (450 vs. 429) and 26 lbs.-ft. more torque (410 vs. 384) than the AMG E-Class Coupe’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid. The Mustang Mach 1’s standard 5.0 DOHC V8 produces 41 more horsepower (470 vs. 429) and 26 lbs.-ft. more torque (410 vs. 384) than the AMG E-Class Coupe’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Mustang Fastback gets better mileage than the AMG E-Class Coupe:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Mustang uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The AMG E-Class Coupe requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Mustang has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The AMG E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Mustang offers a manual transmission for better acceleration, control and fuel economy. The AMG E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer a manual transmission.

A 10-speed automatic is available on the Ford Mustang, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the AMG E-Class Coupe.

The Mustang Manual’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The AMG E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the Mustang V8 PP/Mach 1’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG E-Class Coupe:

The Mustang stops much shorter than the AMG E-Class Coupe:

For better traction, the Mustang Mach 1’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the AMG E-Class Coupe (F:305/30R19 & R:315/30R19 vs. F:245/40R19 & R:275/35R19).

The Mustang Mach 1’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG E-Class Coupe’s optional 35 series front tires.

The Mustang has a standard space-saver spare (not available on Handling Package/H.O. Package/Mach 1) 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 Coupe; 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 Coupe don’t have a run-flat feature, either.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Mustang is 2.3 inches wider in the rear than on the AMG E-Class Coupe.

The Mustang GT Fastback handles at 1.06 G’s, while the AMG E 53 Coupe pulls only .91 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Mustang GT Fastback executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the AMG E 53 Coupe (23.6 seconds @ .86 average G’s vs. 25.3 seconds @ .74 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Mustang’s turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the AMG E-Class Coupe’s (36.5 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

The Ford Mustang may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 950 pounds less than the Mercedes AMG E-Class Coupe.

The front grille of the Mustang (except Performance Pack) uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The AMG E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Mustang Convertible uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The AMG E-Class Coupe doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Mustang Fastback has 3.2 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more front shoulder room and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the AMG E-Class Coupe.

The Mustang Fastback has a much larger trunk than the AMG E-Class Coupe (13.5 vs. 10 cubic feet).

The Mustang has a 1000 lbs. towing capacity. The AMG E-Class Coupe has no towing capacity.

The Mustang’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 Coupe does not have an oil pressure gauge.

Insurance will cost less for the Mustang owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Mustang with a number “3” insurance rate while the AMG E-Class Coupe is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Mustang is less expensive to operate than the AMG E-Class Coupe because it costs $418 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Mustang than the AMG E-Class Coupe, including $520 less for a water pump, $215 less for a muffler, $683 less for a starter, $319 less for fuel injection, $273 less for a fuel pump, $145 less for front struts and $324 less for a timing belt/chain.

The Ford Mustang outsold the Mercedes E-Class/CLS by almost three to one during 2022.