Compare the2024 Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain WagonVS 2024 Audi A6 Allroad

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has standard whiplash protection, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the whiplash protection system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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 and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the A6 Allroad’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon 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 A6 Allroad.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’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 A6 Allroad doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon and the A6 Allroad 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, around view monitors and available lane departure warning systems.

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 36 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 57 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Audi.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 40 more horsepower (375 vs. 335) than the A6 Allroad’s 3.0 turbo V6 hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the E450 All-Terrain gets better fuel mileage than the A6 Allroad (22 city/31 hwy vs. 22 city/30 hwy).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon higher (7 out of 10) than the Audi A6 Allroad (5). This means the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A6 Allroad every 15,000 miles.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A6 Allroad.

For better traction, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the A6 Allroad (F:255/40R20 & R:285/35R20 vs. 245/45R20).

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s optional 255/40R20 front and 285/35R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the A6 Allroad’s 45 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’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 A6 Allroad doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the A6 Allroad (116.6 inches vs. 115.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon is 1.3 inches wider in the rear than on the A6 Allroad.

For better maneuverability, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the A6 Allroad’s (39.4 feet vs. 40 feet).

The design of the Mercedes E-Class All-Terrain Wagon amounts to more than styling. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is lower than the A6 Allroad (.31) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon get better fuel mileage.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has .2 inches more front legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the A6 Allroad.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the A6 Allroad with its rear seat up (33.1 vs. 30 cubic feet). The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has a much larger trunk with its rear seat folded than the A6 Allroad with its rear seat folded (64.6 vs. 63.8 cubic feet).

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s cargo area is larger than the A6 Allroad’s in almost every dimension:

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The A6 Allroad’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the E-Class All-Terrain Wagon offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer cornering lights. The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The E-Class All-Terrain Wagon has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The A6 Allroad doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Mercedes E-Class comes in coupe, convertible, sedan and station wagon bodystyles; the Audi A6 Allroad isn’t available as a coupe, convertible or sedan.

The Mercedes E-Class/CLS outsold the Audi A6/S6/RS 6 by over two to one during 2023.