Compare the2024 Mercedes AMG C-Class SedanVS 2024 Audi S6

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The AMG C-Class Sedan offers an optional Maneuvering Brake Function that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The S6 doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The AMG C-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 S6’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the AMG C-Class Sedan has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and Active Brake Assist automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the S6.

The AMG C-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 S6 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the AMG C-Class Sedan and the S6 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 and rearview cameras.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the AMG C-Class Sedan its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 131 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The S6 has not been tested, yet.

There are over 25 percent more Mercedes dealers than there are Audi dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the AMG C-Class Sedan’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 20 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 AMG C 63 S E’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 227 more horsepower (671 vs. 444) and 310 lbs.-ft. more torque (752 vs. 442) than the S6’s 2.9 turbo V6 hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the AMG C 63 S E is faster than the Audi S6:

On the EPA test cycle the AMG C 43 with its standard engine running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the S6 (20 city/28 hwy vs. 19 city/26 hwy).

The AMG C 63 S E can travel with zero emissions for 7 miles. The S6 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

A nine-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the S6.

The AMG C-Class Sedan offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The S6 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s at 4000 in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The S6 doesn’t offer launch control.

The AMG C-Class Sedan stops much shorter than the S6:

For better traction, the AMG C 63 S E’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S6 (F:265/35R20 & R:275/35R20 vs. 255/35R21).

The AMG C-Class Sedan’s optional 265/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S6’s 35 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the AMG C-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 S6 doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The AMG C-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 S6 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The AMG C 43 handles at .95 G’s, while the S6 Prestige pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The AMG C 43 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the S6 Prestige (24.9 seconds @ .76 average G’s vs. 26 seconds @ 74 average G’s).

The Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the Audi S6.

The AMG C-Class Sedan is 6.4 inches shorter than the S6, making the AMG C-Class Sedan easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The AMG C-Class Sedan has 3 inches more front headroom and .4 inches more front legroom than the S6.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the AMG C-Class Sedan’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The S6 doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the AMG C-Class Sedan to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The S6 doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid. Its standard heated washer nozzles will defrost the washer fluid but not the windshield.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes AMG C-Class has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the S6.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the AMG C-Class Sedan third among compact premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The S6 isn’t in the top three.

The Mercedes C-Class outsold the Audi A6/S6/RS 6 by almost four to one during 2023.